While fractal geometry is a rather young branch of contemporary mathematics, fractal artifacts have been around for quite a long time.

Ron Eglash has given a very interesting talk at TED:
African fractals, in buildings and braids

The braids he is talking about are actually cornrow braids - a traditonal african hair style, which may serve as an example of transformational geometry, but which is not really fractal by any meaningful definition.

Nevertheless the talks is very inspiring in taking a fractal perspective on our world, and can serve as a inspiration for the fractal crafter.