The Thread: Revealing Women’s Power
By Yota Samioti
It was in 2022 when Despina’s entrepreneurial spirit inspired me to start a photographic project about her small weaving business in a village in Greece. From the beginning, I saw how committed she was to her craft, passed down from her mother back to the mid-20th century.
While talking with her, I realized that the loom meant more than a mere tool for weaving threads; it stood as a milestone of her independence, freedom, and personal fulfillment. Despite challenges imposed by her parents, who attempted to divert her from the weaving profession since she got married, Despina passionately claimed the life she had envisioned. So I decided that her story was more about resilience and determination than entrepreneurship, with the photobook being the most appropriate medium to present it.
The Thread shows the strength of a woman who weaves her path against societal norms. Each photograph is a chapter and, together, they narrate a story about the essence of a woman’s soul.
Where fire meets the truth , There is a breadth of freedom And with determination and deep love She unravels the knots that suffocate her.
From a young age among the looms She discovers the gift of art weaving her mother’s legacy.
Her life is woven on the loom Where she finds her true essence And with threads and weavings She brings her world to life .
After marriage, dreaming as a weaver is forbidden As she must constantly give care to the parents and mother’s looms are intentionally set on fire…
Her soul is condemned in the ashes For 30 years, she weaves only in her dreams.
But she finds the strength and once again takes hold of the loom of her soul .
Now, she paints with threads and dances to the rhythm of the loom the threads take shape Like musical notes in a melody.
Her fabrics travel to distant places and the world fills with her art Strong and free Passionately weaving the loom of her life.
About Yota Samioti
My photographic journey formally started in 2021 when I studied at post-secondary education in Greece. Since then, photography has transformed from a mere interest into one of the most significant means of my artistic expression.
Working in academia, I draw inspiration for my photographic projects from theoretical knowledge, such as philosophy, psychology, sociology, and literature, being particularly interested in societal issues. I also believe in the transformative power of photography. To me, it is not merely a medium for freezing moments in time, but it can also contribute to positive change, either personal or societal, and to a better world with understanding and empathy.
The Thread (video):