On Etsy alone, searches for “handmade felt storage baskets” have grown 320% year-over-year, with Mongolian and Kyrgyz artisans leading the resurgence. Key trends:

• Heritage Techniques: Traditional wet-felting methods create ultra-durable bins
• Living Wages: 
  $38averagehourlywageforskilledfeltersvs.$

  38averagehourlywageforskilledfeltersvs.4 in factory production

• Customization Boom: 72% of buyers request personalized sizes/colors

Ulan Bator-based artisan Altantsetseg Dorj saw her income triple after launching a line of felt baskets with modern handles. “Our grandmothers’ craft is now paying for university educations,” she says. Platforms like The Citizenry and UNESCO Craft help global customers connect directly with makers.