Samyuktha Menon Instagram – Sometimes, when I wake up at night, I feel invisible hands weaving my destiny⁣ ~⁣ Fernando Pessoa⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Birthdays are also milestones to look back and dream into the future. A year ago around the same time, I went on a discovery to find the awesome nuances of handmade and how it impacts lives and society. Delving deep into mindful consumption and conscious living, the past year has been one where I found myself, leading to the beginning of many journies. ⁣ ⁣ I was born and raised in a small town near Palakkad. The tranquil life there, the simple childhood, untouched by the maddening urbanisation elsewhere always made me inquisitive and yearn to know and learn more. ⁣ ⁣ I went back this past week to revisit one of my childhood memories…the weaving clusters around the region I grew up and saw each morning on my way to school – the street warping had to be moved for my school bus to pass by!⁣ ⁣ Peruvemba Handloom Village was reintroduced to me in a new context and meaning by Save The Loom @savetheloom_org . I have been fortunate to be with them this entire year discovering the amazing richness of our handmade heritage and the work its doing to bring pride and attention in telling stories for the future. ⁣ ⁣ I went around meeting many weavers at their homes and see them work on their traditional pitlooms that they hold so dear , yet keep their children away from. I met the young women who underwent training last year and saw sparkling hope in their eyes to bring new life to a declining craft. The future is in the beauty of handmade. We just need to celebrate and value it more. Another birthday and time for me to reflect within. ⁣ ⁣ #birthday #thoughts #mylandmypride #handmade #joy #happiness #handloom #savetheloom #keralahandloom ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ In Pic: With Weavers from Save The Loom project at Peruvemba Handloom Village. ⁣ ⁣ Photo / Video: @alpiboylla, @nikhilrajphotography⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣