Some days I wish I could go back to my childhood days, not to change anything but to feel a few things all over again; the younger version of my mom and dad, in good health and happiness, the beauty of my mom and the warmth of my dad. Sometimes, I wish I could relive these fond memories of childhood days.
Growing up in a middle-class family where both my parents were working, we did not have many outings or vacations, except the visits to our native place. Come summer, my parents would pack and send us to our grandparents. As my mom used to work in the private sector, the only holiday she had was a Sunday. She should have kept her days off light as she needed to rest and rejuvenate for the coming week. However, she used them for washing her sarees and starching them with homemade rice water.
I get my love for fabrics and sarees from my mother. Her crisp sarees with beautiful pallus and the myriad of colours that decorated her wardrobe made me want to grow up faster, all to embrace the grace of these attires.
A visit to the tailor meant she had bought some fabric to stitch a dress for me. Mix and match was her favourite and I think this passion has been passed on to me, too. Those flowy skirts with simple tops and frilly frocks were all my favourites and still remain, though etched in memory.
Ready-made clothes were for festivals but were still made of cotton. A phase came during college when we all used synthetics. I used to design them carefully with masterji, putting together each element with love. I remember meticulously choosing a belt for a dress or beautiful buttons and laces. And, to date, those are some of my cherished memories of childhood.
After some time, I switched back to cotton and that has stayed until now and will continue to. Corporate life introduced me to Cotton Cottage. I used to love going there just to check out the variety they had. And, my love for handlooms thus began. I used to love shopping for clothes, and I still do, but now, I shop a lot more responsibly.
Looking back to my childhood days, recollecting the relationship our parents had with clothes, I believe their choices were far more responsible and sustainable than ours. Fast forward so many years and sustainability seems to be fading away. With this realisation and the need to complete the circle, to give our kids a better future on this planet, I ventured into sustainable clothing for kids. And, 'The Little Stitch' (formerly, Smiles Handcrafted Clothing) came to life.
As we ensure comfort, simplicity, colours, and prints are the life of our clothes, we also make sure that each piece is handcrafted with natural fabrics, with love and care. As we do our bit for the environment with The Little Stitch, we aim to raise a generation of eco-conscious and sustainability-driven kids.