The New Makers: Monique Lucas on British Craft, YouTube and the Future of Making
Yours For The Making with Robin JohnsonShow Notes
Monique Lucas is the founder and presenter of The New Makers TV, a YouTube series dedicated to telling the stories of British makers, craftspeople and independent creative businesses. After working across interiors, homeware, textiles and content, Monique created The New Makers to give craftspeople a platform to show how their work is actually made and why it matters. In this episode of Yours for the Making, Robin Johnson and Monique explore the changing world of British craft, the realities of running a maker led business and the growing desire for handmade products as AI and mass production accelerate. Monique shares why understanding materials and production can help people make more intentional purchasing decisions, while the conversation tackles greenwashing, sustainability, social media, influencer culture and the pressure on makers to become content creators. Monique also reveals how The New Makers grew from fewer than 100 views per episode to one video reaching 54,000 views, and why patience, conviction and enjoying the creative process matter when building an audience online.
Key Topics Covered ✦ Why Monique Lucas created The New Makers TV to champion British makers and craftspeople ✦ The renewed interest in handmade products and endangered British crafts ✦ Why makers are expected to create, photograph, film and market their own work ✦ Understanding the true value and price of handmade products ✦ Greenwashing, sustainable materials and intentional consumption ✦ How social media can help independent makers build viable businesses ✦ The dangers of comparison, influencer culture and chasing algorithms ✦ Growing a YouTube series from fewer than 100 views to 54,000 views
Watch The Makers TV here: https://www.youtube.com/@thenewmakerstv
Enjoying the show? Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world. Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson, founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop, this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love. Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms. Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg
Key Moments: 0:00 Introducing Monique Lucas and The New Makers TV 01:59 Why Monique created a platform for British makers 03:26 Building and self funding a YouTube series 04:40 How childhood shaped Monique’s connection to home and design 08:42 The growing pressure on makers to become content creators 10:49 Capturing the real stories and processes behind handmade work 14:20 Why AI could drive people back towards traditional craft 18:09 Why handmade products cost more and understanding their true value 23:40 Greenwashing and the problem with sustainability labels 29:07 Why creative careers rarely follow a straight path 34:27 The creative careers young people rarely hear about 37:15 How social media can turn craft into a viable career 41:40 The problems with influencer culture and unrealistic lifestyles 48:24 Escaping comparison and the pressure of the algorithm 51:59 How The New Makers grew from 100 views to 54,000 views
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