India’s vocal for local movement has been widely discussed since 2020 — but it means different things to different people. For large corporations, it’s a branding opportunity. For small handmade businesses, it’s an existential lifeline. When the Indian government and public figures encourage buying local, the ideal beneficiary is exactly what Made of Hands represents: a small business, run by Indians, employing Indian artisans, using materials sourced in India.

Let’s talk about the gift that doesn’t quite land. The one that’s fine — technically thoughtful, adequately wrapped — but met with a polite smile and quietly set aside. We’ve all given one. We’ve all received one. The reason it happens almost always comes down to the same thing: the gift was chosen for the act of giving, not for the person receiving it. It could have been for anyone. And she knew it.