The Quiet Comeback of Handmade
In an age where mass production and digital convenience dominate, there’s a quiet but persistent revival of handmade crafts across India. Whether it’s the rhythmic click of knitting needles, the meditative looping of crochet hooks, or the careful brushstrokes of a personalized sketch, more people are turning to traditional crafts—not just as hobbies, but as meaningful ways to connect with themselves and others.
The reasons are as varied as the crafts themselves. Some find solace in the tactile world of yarn and thread, escaping the relentless pace of screens and deadlines. Others are drawn by nostalgia, recalling afternoons spent learning embroidery or sewing from mothers and grandmothers. The pandemic years, in particular, nudged many to rediscover the satisfaction of making something with their own hands, from scratch.
Crocheting: Not Just for Grandmas
Take crochet, for instance—a craft once relegated to the domain of elderly relatives, now enjoying a renaissance among younger generations. Tutorials on YouTube and Instagram have made it easy for beginners to pick up a hook and start creating, whether it’s a simple coaster or a complex amigurumi doll. The appeal lies in both the process and the product: crochet offers a calming, repetitive motion, and the finished pieces—flowers, pouches, coasters—carry a sense of accomplishment that few store-bought items can match.
Crochet’s resurgence has also been driven by a desire for sustainability and uniqueness. Unlike mass-produced goods, handmade crochet items are one-of-a-kind, often crafted from leftover yarn or upcycled materials. Some crafters, inspired by travel or family tradition, infuse their creations with personal stories and cultural motifs, turning each piece into a memory made tangible.
Art in the Everyday
But the handmade movement isn’t limited to yarn. Across urban India, a new generation of artists is finding ways to blend daily life with creative expression. For some, this means turning the act of cooking or gardening into an art form—arranging fruit into heart shapes or pressing leaves into journals. For others, it’s about capturing the beauty of a rainy afternoon in a slow-motion video, or sketching a hyper-realistic portrait as a gift for a loved one.
Social media has become both a gallery and a classroom, connecting creators with audiences and resources. On platforms like Instagram, it’s not uncommon to stumble upon pages that feel less like shops and more like visual diaries—filled with behind-the-scenes glimpses, process videos, and stories of inspiration.
Studio Chandrika & Co.
One such example is Studio Chandrika & Co., a Hyderabad-based initiative that has quietly built a following among those who appreciate the beauty of the handmade. Its founder, Chandrika, didn’t set out to start a business; she simply followed her lifelong habit of collecting, making, and gifting. From childhood days spent cataloguing leaves and seashells with her grandfather, to adult experiments with painting and folk art, creativity has always been her way of making sense of the world.
A turning point came during a trip to Himachal Pradesh, where Chandrika picked up crochet for the first time. What began as an experiment with local wool soon blossomed into a full-fledged passion: gloves, flowers, dolls, and custom gifts, each crafted with care and a story behind it. Her Instagram feed (@Chandrika_Studio) and website (studiochandrika.in) are filled with images of her latest creations—crochet pouches, hand-drawn sketches, and even video edits inspired by the changing seasons.
What sets Studio Chandrika & Co. apart is not just the variety of products, but the philosophy behind them. Chandrika sees art everywhere: in the way she arranges her belongings, in the rituals of gardening and cooking, and in the joy of sending a handmade gift to someone she loves. Each order is packed personally, photographed, and shared with a sense of pride that’s hard to replicate in mass production.
Why Handmade Matters Now
As India’s creative economy evolves, the value of handmade is being rediscovered—not just for its aesthetic appeal, but for its ability to slow us down and ground us in the present. Crafts like crochet and personalized art offer more than just beautiful objects; they offer stories, connections, and a tangible reminder that everyday life can be a canvas.
For those seeking inspiration, the journey of makers like Chandrika is a gentle nudge to pick up a hook, a brush, or even a camera—and to remember that creativity, in all its forms, is both heritage and hope.
Find more handmade inspiration:
Instagram: @Chandrika_Studio
Website: studiochandrika.in
