Interview: Desmond Suarez & Ronno Cooke HandMade in America was founded in 1993 with a belief that economic revitalization wasn’t necessarily tied to luring "modern" industry to the region but in making known the hidden heritage and craftspeople that are so vitally a part of western North Carolina. Since then, HandMade has evolved into a nationally recognized, multidimensional institution that has sparked initiatives and creative collaborations in education, small town revitalization and community development, economic development, environmentally sustainable strategies and enhanced opportunities for makers of the handmade object, heritage tourism, and incorporating crafts into building design and furnishing