Among the many doors along Ponsonby Road, few reveal treasures as quietly compelling as those within Handcrafted Modern.
“Handcrafted Modern is our love letter to the culture of handcraft,” says founder Katrina Hodge. Before launching the brand, Katrina found a growing shift towards artisanship, with more people — just like her — valuing the provenance, materials, and techniques behind the objects they bring into their homes. “This shift gave me the confidence to move forward, knowing that craft is not only relevant, but increasingly essential in how we create and consume.
“An appreciation for craft signals a deep respect for the handmade and the stories each piece carries,” Katrina says. “Makers are quietly expanding the language of craft, exploring new materials and techniques that invite us to reconsider what these objects can be.”
Katrina founded the original online store in 2024, guided by a lifelong passion for collecting art and objects, and a desire to foster a more sustainable way of living. Just this year, Handcrafted Modern opened its doors in Ponsonby. “We wanted the space to feel more like a considered home than a traditional retail store. There’s a calmness to the space. Nothing is rushed, and each object has room to be seen,” she adds.
The curation spans textiles, ceramics, woodwork, hand-blown glass, and everyday objects, each chosen for its grounding in natural fibres, handmade processes, and time-honoured techniques. Every piece is selected to bring warmth, texture and a sense of meaning into the home.
By gathering the work of local and international makers, Handcrafted Modern opens a door into the practices and stories of skilled artisans — inviting those who value craft to connect more deeply with the objects they choose.
