Lanona

We recently spoke with the man behind Lanona, Ben Ransom, about seeking inspiration, personal hobbies, and how wanting one pair of custom shoes turned into the creation of many shoes for his very own company.

How was Lanona founded?

Ben: Our brand first started when I went on a search for a custom pair of shoes. I found a shoemaker in the US that had been hand-stitching shoes for over 30 years and recently setup a small operation out of his garage. Through the process of working with him, adjusting designs and observing what a quality shoemaking process looked like, it sparked my interested to start a footwear brand.  I continued to work with this shoemaker for over two years before our brand was launched. In addition to product development, I’ve been lucky to partner with @ocupop for our brand identity and overall design, they’ve been instrumental in telling our story and connecting the dots with where we want to go as a brand.

Were you always interested in starting your own business?

B: I was. I studied Entrepreneurship in college and have family members that ran their own businesses. After school, I focused a lot on experience and sought out diverse opportunities to build a broad range of skills like - marketing and sales for a manufacturing company, field work - installing towers for wind energy farms, and selling vintage gadgets to name a few.

How did you learn the trade of boot making?

B: I don’t personally construct each boot from start to finish and don’t want to take away from the talented craftsmen and women we work with on a daily basis. But all of my knowledge within the industry has been self-taught. I can attribute most of where I’m at now to -  getting out there, not being afraid to ask questions, being humble, and building a network of people you can trust and rely on.

How do your hobbies influence what you make?

B: I enjoy sailing, we have a sailboat on Lake Superior. The Spaulding boat shoe is a direct inspiration from being on the water. It’s definitely my go-to shoe while sailing. Our Harrier outsole is super lightweight and gives surprisingly excellent grip on the boat and dock.

How do you get ideas for new products and photo shoots?

B: A lot of ideas come from vintage footwear. Gokey was a footwear manufacturer based in Minnesota that offered a wide variety of styles and I’m always scanning eBay and other sources for interesting designs they had. As for ideas that are finally produced, we try to envision the customer and how each style will be used on a daily basis. With that in mind, we work towards structuring a photo that would resonate with that vision. Additionally. we’ve been lucky to partner with some really great brand ambassadors who naturally work well with our existing styles and we give them freedom to be creative with our products in the field.

What's been your biggest challenge?

B: Our biggest challenge has been getting our brand in front of people. Lanona is a true bootstrapped operation and we don’t have investors or a trust fund to dip into to put towards a sizable marketing and advertisement budget. We have to rely on word of mouth, and let our products speak for themselves. This is a slow growth approach, but we believe that operating lean now, will pay off down the road.

What are your inspirations?

B: A big part of my inspiration for Lanona is weather related. Having a home base in Minnesota, the elements can get pretty harsh, especially in the winter. Our products need to accommodate for that fluctuation in temperatures and weather conditions. Another inspiration is the focus on sourcing and producing all of our products in the US. Working closely with everyone involved with our production of our brand is inspirational and motivation to continue to grow our business and be competitive within a global market.

What's been your best advice you've been given?

B: As we continue to grow as a brand, I like to keep this saying in mind, which was given to me from @leatherworksmn - “little pigs get bigger, big pigs get slaughtered”

What has been your biggest lesson?

B: Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Focus on what products or services resonate best with your company and build off of that. Don’t compromise quality to accommodate growth.

What's your favorite thing about sharing Lanona with others?

B: The favorite thing is seeing our product out on the streets. It’s great to see what was originally a concept/design/sample, turn into a boot that someone wears around town.

For more on Ben and the story of Lanona, visit www.lanona.co

American Field - Nashville

This past weekend we had the pleasure of being at American Field's first pop-up market in Nashville, Tennessee. Taking place at Track One, just outside from downtown, an eclectic and creative group of American made makers opened up shop to the people of Music City. We wanted to feature a few of our favorite brands in attendance who we feel should be your favorites too. Check 'em out! Photos by Zack Peterson

Be sure to come to the next American Field market happening in Brooklyn, NY on December 3rd and 4th! For more details, click here and don't forget to follow American Field on social media (Instagram, Twitter)!

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B u l l

a n d

B u c k

Boston, MA

Ball and Buck; a brand designed around one mans vision to create the best American made clothing. Created for the man that believes in quality, integrity, tradition, the wildness, and the excellence that only American can produce.

For more on Ball and Buck, visit ballandbuck.com or follow on Instagram, @ballandbuck

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R A N G E R

S T I T C H

Nashville, TN

Nashville local Matt Davidson is the master behind the machine of Ranger Stitch. Creating beautiful custom Chain stitched art in the bed of his Ford Ranger, this one of a kind look is a forever classic.

For more on Ranger Stitch, visit rangerstitch.com or follow on Instagram, @rangerstitch

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T H R O N E

W A T C H E S

Brooklyn, NY

Starting out by giving vintage watch faces new life by re-strapping them with a  new, top quality leather band, Throne Watches has seen much success since launching. Now having made three original lines (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0) as well as various leather goods, the guys at Throne are eager to see what time will tell for them.

For more on Throne Watches, visit thronewatches.com or follow on Instagram, @thronewatches

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L I L Y A N 

J A M E S

Nashville, TN

With a handbag collection made from equestrian leatherwork, Lilyan James' philosophy behind each and every piece is to cater to the everyday woman; creating lifelong bags that are each individualistic in their own way. Whether you're on your way to a meeting, wandering around the city at night, or rushing out the door for brunch, each shape of every accessory is crafted to help you live your best life.

For more on Lilyan James, visit lilyanjames.com or follow on Instagram, @lilyanjames

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W H E A T

& CO.

Nashville, TN

Dan Rouse of Wheat & Co. offers a top notch selection of quality made apparel and lifestyle goods right here in Nashville. Partnering with local barbershop Scouts, the two believe that quality wins all for a purposeful life. 

For more on Wheat & Co, visit wheatandco.com or follow on Instagram, @wheatandco

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M O R T O N

&

M A B E L

Nashville, TN

The best in children's clothing is here, and it's brought to you by Mortan & Mabel. Started on the idea that clothing for growing kids should be simple and timeless, while being made with the finest of fabrics to be passed on for many years. Made in the U.S.A. and working with Soles4Souls, there's no other way to dress the next generation.

 

For more on Morton & Mabel, visit mortonandmabel.com or follow on Instagram, @mortanandmabel

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O'SHEA WOODWORK

Meet Benjamin Shea. He is a maker that runs a small business in Pennsylvania crafting beautiful pieces of wooden furniture. Hearing from him and being able to see his fantastic work was an absolute delight. 

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Photo by  @rafael_fontana

My name is Benjamin Shea and my wife's name is Amanda Shea, together we run O'shea custom woodwork and furniture design located in Lititz, PA 

I always loved working with my hands, creating, building and fixing things. 

I used to be in the music industry but found that I enjoy crafting furniture better. 

I made the jump over to building furniture before I was married, I figured it was the right time and I had recently moved to a farm house that had more room for me to build. 

My wife and I design everything we build, we love working with wood and creating beautiful functional pieces that fit people's need and style. 

We've built so many pieces and in so many styles over the years but have come to find that we love simple and clean lines to our pieces, more mid century/Danish influenced. Our favorite wood to work with is probable walnut because there is so much beauty in it and it's a long lasting wood. 

We have seen that the more we grow and find our own style and make furniture that we love and turn down some jobs because it doesn't represent us that well, the more we grow as a business. 

We live in a farm and live a pretty quiet life, we love it that way. We have 5 dogs and love having them around in the shop. 

We love meeting new clients and making relationships with them, being genuine, thankful and actually caring about people creates a beautiful life in where everyone that you meet becomes a experience that brings more joy to what we do. 

Every piece we make has a lot of attention and that is something that translates and is clear in our products, nothing is just ran through without being looked at over and over. 

From the beginning of the process, quality is never compromised because styles will change and people change but our pieces are made to live long past all that. 

Our lumber is responsibly sourced and we know all our suppliers pretty well, we take our dogs to play with their kids and we try and make it about more than just making money for everybody. 

 Photo by  @rafael_fontana

One of the biggest lessons we have learned is how to communicate better and find out what people want. People don't always know what they want, even when they "know what they want" 

Our products can be found both on our site and on Etsy. We ship everything anywhere in the USA. 

We aren't a big company and we don't plan on having a bunch of employees ever because we don't want to lose contact with our clients and we want to be able to know who they are and they can just call us and talk to us. 

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O'Shea Woodwork is a business that embodies the values that we cherish here at Folk. Family, hard work, authenticity. Check out any of the links below to share you support for the important maker movement that they belong to. 

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ETSY 

OSHEAWOODWORK

           WEBSITE 

OSHEAWOODWORK

INSTAGRAM

@BENSHEA

Our Favorite Southern Maker Instagrams

The Maker Movement is incredibly important to be aware of and a part of. It creates jobs, quality goods, and allows for sustainability, creativity, & durability to thrive. Take the time to support not only the Makers that have stuck out to us below, but also the ones in your area. It is vital that we don't just consume, but we also create. 

ManReady Mercantile @manreadymerc

Founded 4 years ago by Travis Weaver from Zephyr, Texas, ManReady Mercantile is the epitome of what being a maker is all about. Their small business is founded on the principles of honesty, hard work, and integrity. ManReady Mercantile sells a wide array of high quality goods catered specifically, but not exclusively to men. Not only are they makers themselves, but they are always looking to work together and collaborate with other makers to continue creating goods that will last a lifetime. 

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Great Bear Wax Co. @greatbearwaxco

Great Bear Wax Co. are makers who sell memories with a wick. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, GBWCo was founded by Jake Carnley with the idea that lighting a aromatic candle is like igniting a memory or moment. From Lavender  to Tobacco Bay to Rose, the scents they capture in wax are delightfully soothing. The Great Outdoors seem like only a flick of a lighter away when there is one of these Great Bear candles in the room.  

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Loyal Stricklin @loyalstricklin

The craftsman at Loyal Stricklin can be found working in their studio near the railroad tracks in Opelika, Alabama. Fed up with mass produced low-quality goods, Michael Stricklin founded this durable goods company to commit to making goods of the highest quality from the best materials. Their handcrafted and American made leather products are not only appealing to the eye, but durable and practical as well. 

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Lucy's Inspired Jewelry @lucysinspiredjewelery

Lucy's Inspired Jewelry is handcrafted and uniquely made from vintage chandeliers, architectural salvage and found keys. Another maker found in Alabama, Lucy Farmer definitely has a creative eye for design and repurposing. She does not merely craft jewelry, but strives to make a difference in her community. One of those improvements is raising awareness for sex trafficking by donating to a local organization in her city. This maker is using her brand to give inspiration and spread beauty all while making fashionable pieces of jewelry. 

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Sturdy Brothers @sturdybrothers

These two brothers are dedicated to creating waxed canvas and leather goods that are handcrafted with American-made materials. Located in South Georgia, Sturdy Brother's products are made for those who still enjoy getting their hands dirty. Sturdy Brother's lives up to its name by its desire to create and craft beautiful goods that will last, while also rekindling craftsmanship in America. 

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Elizabeth Suzanne @elizsuzann

Elizabeth Suzanne is a clothing company based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Yet, they are so much more than just a style of clothing. A community of diverse and powerful women make up the company and customers of Elizabeth Suzanne. They are committed to making garments from amazing, durable fabrics with designs that are practical, timeless, and elegant. Their commitment to quality and customers is something seldom seen in the retail world today. 

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Old Try @theoldtry

Old Try is home decor for Southerners made by Southerners who are living in Boston. They have expanded to make art for other regions besides the South, so don't worry all of you north of the Mason/Dixie line and in the Wild West. Their decor encapsulates the unique essence and character of each state. It is patriotism with tact and style that is seldom easy to find. 

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J. Stark @starkmade

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, J. Stark creates bags, accessories, and homegoods meant to last. Their goods are crafted with a timeless and authentic aesthetic paired with usefulness and practicality. They have a wide variety of styles and colors to choose from for their products. Sourcing everything from the US of A, this is a true American makers brand that wants to bring us back to the time of hard work and hand made. 

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In God We Must @ingodwemust

In God We Must are makers of provisions and apparel located in Marietta, Georgia. This business is founded on hope, positivity, and perseverance. Check out their website to read the inspirational story of how IGWM was started. Whether it is a ring or a t-shirt, the message of In God We Must is to embrace the pioneering spirit inside of us all. 

Ernest Alexander

After going to grad school and studying business for 3 years, Ernest Sabine found himself in the middle of the recession and the fashion district in New York City. The stock market had just recently crashed and for Ernie it seemed like the perfect time to build something from nothing. Having worked in fashion advertising for several years, Ernie learned the ins and outs of the fashion industry and with a childhood dream he set out to create the perfect men's messenger bag. "I always dreamed of having my own clothing line as a kid," he says, "I always wanted to have my own business."  

When Ernie began Ernest Alexander he explored the fashion district for a workshop that was able to produce canvas messenger bags. He often carried one for business each day and always wished he could have one that perfectly matched his body in motion and at rest. After finding a workshop only two blocks from his office he started sourcing materials for his first collection of messengers. "I started with one style and three colors when I made my first messenger bag," he laughs.  

With the help of twelve very talented seamstresses, Ernie went to work perfecting his first design. "I would design prototypes and test them out for the day. I want my bags to look as fashionable and feel as comfortable and natural while walking and running through the city." With his first design perfected and with three colors available he sold his first 20 bag order, though the power of social media and e-commerce quickly changed that. 

When Ernie first started his brand he wanted it to be something could feel proud of. He was tired of foreign manufacturing and unfair wages and living conditions for the foreign laborers. Finding
the small garment district in New York City to manufacture his bags and accessories was his way of remedying that problem. With his growing popularity and demand for more products, Ernie has not only been able to support the twelve seamstresses who first helped in creating Ernest Alexander, but has also expanded that workshop and created jobs for new workers.

"I wanted to create a brand with heart and meaning, I wanted to know the people who were making products for me. I wanted to stay close to them and be able to visit any time so that I could stay involved in every step of the process." Today he works, manufactures, and sells his bags within a five mile radius, with his flagship store in Soho on Thompson Street only 20 blocks from his workshop. "Opening the store allowed me to not only get into a shopping area that I'd helping grow my brand, but also allowed me to meet my customers face-to-face." With a growing collection of items to offer including men's shirts, bags, accessories, and a small capsule of women's clothing Ernie is slowly growing his brand which started with one messenger bag into a full outfitter. "I want to be able to offer more to my customers and I think the next step will be denim, knits and sweaters, and tailored clothing and suiting," says Ernie. 

Ernie says that the city has played the biggest role in inspiring him to create his clothing brand. "When I need inspiration I go straight to the streets of New York City," he explains. "With so many colors, textures, and personalities the people of New York have their own style, and it inspires me to find new and interesting fabrics and patterns when I source my materials." He also finds inspiration in antiques and often shops at a local antique store called Olde Good things for decor for his store and inspiration for his brand. "My brand focuses on a return to basics with a
modern look at vintage fashion, so visiting antique stores helps me focus on those ideas of classic silhouettes and references to the past." 

When asked what we could expect to see from Ernest Alexander for the holiday season, Ernie listed a few giftable items that will be out just in time for the holidays. Starting this winter he will offer an apron designed for cooks and blacksmiths alike. Inspired by the aprons of craftsmen, it will feature pockets for tools and is constructed of the same high-quality canvas he uses for his bags. Plaid will be a major focus for the brand this year with a line of weekenders, messengers, and other bags made of classic British woolen plaids and Ernie will also offer plaid neckwear to match. 

With workman inspired clothing, a line of utilitarian bags that focus on functionality and style, and classic accessories Ernest Alexander is reviving the American fashion industry. Keeping his focus on the importance of domestic manufacturing and a respect for the history of fashion, Ernie has created a brand that is as classic as it is fresh and modern. "A respect for history and the past has always been important to me, I think it is what fuels this industry and I want to make sure that the people who have worked to keep manufacturing alive here in New York City are recognized."

Website: http://ernestalexander.com/

Instagram: @ernestalexander

Wonderfuel

Every great adventure takes energy, and we like to nourish our bodies when we are on the road and traveling. For our trip to Banff we partnered up with Wonderfuel, an organic coconut based energy drink brand, to nourish and energize ourselves. Below are some of the shots wecaptured in the Canadian Rockies and a question and answer interview we did with Wonderfuel.

Who taught you how to create your products or were you self-taught?

 I was self-taught. I worked with a group of friends and fellow research buddies to formulate a product that everyone said couldn't be done. It was a lot of trial and error, but in the end we were so happy that it worked out and we created several great products that we now love. 

How did you start your company?

 When I traveled to India after college, to study Ayurvedic medicine, I learned of the magic of coconut oil. A few years later, after earning my MBA, I decided to launch Wonderfuel, basing its ingredients on my research in the amazing properties of coconut oil MCTs.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Delays in manufacturing, it's something you can't always predict, especially in the food or drink industry. So, it can be challenging when a customer or wholesaler needs it quickly.

Did you know you would start your own brand, if not what spurred it?

I did, I really wanted to come up with a healthful brand. I wanted to create a brand that encapsulated the essence of organic and natural fuel for the body, not a fuel based on stimulants but on real, healthy fats.

How do your hobbies influence what you make?  

I have always loved to travel, and I love nature photography. That's a large part of what influenced me to make a natural, organic product to fuel my adventures and those of other like myself.

What are your inspirations?

A natural well-being, ancient tradition, a back-to-basics lifestyle, and beauty.

What's your favorite thing about sharing Wonderfuel with others?

Seeing how much joy it brings my customers. I am happy with the product that Wonderfuel turned out to be, and seeing other people enjoy the thing I was so passionate about creating brings me joy as well. 

What's been your best advice you've been given?  

Sell your idea before you make it. Make sure that what you are passionate about creating is something that people are going to buy. It seems strange to say, but it's a great way to know how successful it will be. 

Q & A with Comma Workshop

Our friend at Comma Workshop gives us a glance at the art of quilting and the beauty of being a maker...

Who are you:

I’m Kerry Larkin— I’m a quilter, architect, and a maker. I started Comma Workshop to celebrate experiences and stories while reinvigorating the traditional craft of quilting and through this, create thoughtful, modern-inspired quilts. 

Where are you:

Beautiful Boulder, Colorado, and easily draw inspiration from here. But I also draw inspiration from western Colorado, rural Alabama, rural Pennsylvania. And, anywhere there are lots of trees.

What do you make:

At Comma Workshop, we bring a fresh perspective to the time-honored traditions of quilting and storytelling. We create timeless, sophisticated quilts, with a hint of playfulness that are functional heirlooms for your home. We currently have two collections:

Each of our quilts in our Signature Collection has as an original story or poem quilted directly into it. Stories of nature and adventure, travel and place-making, are thoughtfully stitched into every quilt by a collection of Colorado quilters. The 800+ words in every quilt are a functional part of the quilt holding three layers of fabric together. Wrapping the quilt around oneself, the user is invited to read snippets of the narratives.  

Our new collection, Far & Wide, integrates vintage quilt tops and fabrics that I’ve collected on my travels. These new quilts celebrate stories, place, and experience in fresh, modern way. Historically, quilts carry their own stories with them. The material, the pattern, and the quilt technique chronicle the quilters’ lives and experiences. Thoughtfully integrating these into modern quilts allows me to introduce a new audience to the world of quilts.

Why are you a maker:

I grew up in western Pennsylvania and some of my earliest memories are of me and my sister playing under a large quilt stretched out on a frame where my great-grandma and her sisters sat and hand-quilted (and spoke Pennsylvania Dutch). My great-grandfather was a carpenter and built our cribs and toy boxes. For a while, he traveled the country building farm silos. My grandma was a seamstress and master upholsterer. Making is definitely in my genes. I was lucky enough to have all three of them in my life up until just a few years ago, so I feel like I’m honoring them by carrying on the making tradition.  

Why support makers:

By supporting makers, you are allowing them to cultivate their passion, joy and curiosity. You’re contributing to the local economy and you become part of their story. 

Instagram: commaworkshop

Thistle + Thread

How did you get started creating fiber art?

My grandmother was a quilter, and when I was little she would let me play in her sewing room and experiment with her fabrics and threads. She was patient with me as I learned how to thread a needle and form a straight backstitch, and always created different projects for me to work on while she was working on one of her masterpieces. As I continued to grow and make my way through school, I experimented with other mediums and tried to be a sculptor, sketch artist, and oil painter, but my attention kept going back to fibers. A few years ago I returned to embroidery and hand stitching and decided to treat it like painting on fabric. I moved away from pre-designed patterns and took the things that I had learned from my painting and sketching classes to begin to create my own designs and morph this love of fibers into a new art form for myself.

Who taught you how to create fiber pieces, or were you self-taught?

Much of my skills come from my grandmother and the stitches that she taught me and the rules of fiber that I learned from her, but I have expanded upon that knowledge and changed it a little to make my pieces look the way that I want them to look. Over the past two years I have heavily focused on embroidery, but I am slowly making the transition into introducing some naturally dyed products into my line. The knowledge I learned about the different kinds of fibers and how they react to dyes and their properties has helped me as I have experimented with different dye sources and perfected the products I will be releasing.  

Did you know you would start your own brand, if not what spurred it?

The birth of Thistle and Thread wasn't accidental, but the fact that it is now my full time job definitely is. My husband is from Uganda, and we both lived over there while we were dating. Once we decided that we wanted to get married I moved back to the States to work through his visa process to immigrate to America. We weren't sure how long it was going to take, but we knew that it wasn't going to be a short time, so I started spending more time creating fiber art and decided to sell it to fund travels back to Uganda. The plan was never for Paul and I to stay in the States for more than a few months after our wedding, so I never imagined that I would be creating a business out of my hobby, but plans change and here we are. After our wedding Paul really encouraged me to quit the other job that I was working and pursue this new venture. It has been such a gift to be able to spend each day creating and sharing my work with others.  

How do you get ideas for new products & photo shoots?

I have recently shifted to releasing my pieces in collections as opposed to one new piece at a time. Each collection is meant togo together and work to create a specific look. After the inspiration behind the collection is established I choose the color palette and shapes that will be incorporated. I am so very fortunate to have so many friends who are incredible photographers and have homes that serve as the perfect canvas for some fun styled shoots. So after the collection is complete I will get together with some friends and we plan out a great shoot that highlights the themes show in the pieces. 

What are your inspirations?

At the start of Thistle and Thread I was really unsure where I wanted to take my business stylistically, so I just created what I thought was popular at the time and what I believed would sell. It was really uninspiring and caused me to feel a little lost in my work. About a year ago I decided that I was going to make a shift and create pieces that excited me. It felt like a leap because I had found some success with the pieces that people knew my business for, but thankfully the new pieces came with their own success. I think my customers changed a little, but those who stayed with me and the new ones who joined truly understand the art that I am creating and share the emotions that I am conveying through my work. It has brought a new community to my business that has been really inspiring. My sources for inspiration change as I grow and experience new things, but I am currently loving the colors and shapes found in landscapes Paul and I see as we travel. My studio is above a floral studio, so that always finds a way to influence my pieces as well. 

What's your favorite thing about sharing your art with others?

There's something so great about knowing that people appreciate the things that I create and I can add something special to their homes.

How do your hobbies influence what you make?

Since starting Thistle and Thread I feel like I don't really have any hobbies in the classical sense, but Paul and I love to travel and because of our international background much of my methodology and techniques are drawn from how others are doing this same craft around the world.  

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge in business past a present, is definitely finding work/life balance. I love what I do so much that many times I don't want to stop. There are days where I will start at 8 am and keep going until 11 pm. It's such a great thing to love waking up each morning and diving into work, but my relationships around me were struggling. So, I have been making a strong effort to create office hours and have some structure to my day instead of just going and going without stopping. We are even taking a three week vacation soon that will consist of little to no work, which would have never happened six months ago!!

What's been your best advice you've been given?

"Quit your job and just go after this. You will only have regrets if you don't." —My Husband

TEKKIMA LAUNCH

Tekkima has officially launched!

What is Tekkima? 

Tekkima is an outerwear maker that is committed to developing goods that are durable, practical, and relevant.

What does Tekkima mean?

Tekkima is Estonian, and simply means the act of arising, emerging, and coming into being. The essence of Tekkima is that while each of our journeys are unique, we journey better when we journey together. 

Why is Tekkima special? 

Tekkima's identity is centered around experiencing life to the fullest. Whether that means hustling in urban environments or testing your limits in extreme natural environments.  Tekkima is extraordinary because it is versatile. It makes sense for the fashionable living in the city as well as the adventurous explorer of the great outdoors. Tekkima is the bridge between weather-proof and minimal/tailored - a feat no other outerwear brand has successfully tackled. 

Tekkima is so confident in the culture they have built (adventurous lifestyle complimented by quality product) that they've made everything on their site free shipping and return. This way there is little to no risk with seeing if Tekkima fits your lifestyle. Subscribe by email on www.tekkima.com to receive an additional 10% off! 

Cheers!

Goodfight Mercantile | A Conversation

Continuing our maker conversations series we sat down with the guys behind the curated box collection Goodfight Mercantile. When it comes to boxes the market is flooded, but these guys stand out by including a wide selection of goods that are both useful and beautiful. We especially love that everything is American made! Check them out HERE or continue on below. 

Why are you a maker? We are probably best categorized as a curator of makers. 

What is your business? We are a marketplace that specializes in well-made American Made homewares. Our name is Goodfight Mercantile, inspired by the companies that we feature. Companies that toughed it out and never outsourced production. Those truly fighting the good fight. 

How long have you been a business? We opened 6 months ago, but we’ve been in development for about three years now.

Why support makers? Absolutely to promote jobs, but also we strongly believe that maker culture leads to innovation culture, and we want quality things!

The guys behind Goodfight Mercantile provided us with a bit more about their business:

GoodFight Mercantile, seller of quality home goods produced in America, along with GoodFinds, which offers a curated selection of new handmade and used American-made items, are the brainchild of Jason Seck and Tim Mahoney. Jason, GoodFight Brand Partners Director, brings over a decade of business negotiation and creative production skills, having honed them at The Jim Henson Company. Tim, GoodFight Creative Lead, has vast branding and marketing experience, which he has gained through his work as an Advertising Creative for large national and international brands including Apple, Chevrolet, and Jack Daniels. Their vision for GoodFight was to create the online shopping experience they were seeking: a well-curated selection of quality, American-made home goods.

Soon to join GoodFight were Joel, expert of things; Andi, an expert in branding; Matt, a Creative Director of Copy in advertising; and Chérie, an editor and writer. This rounded out the start-up team, all of whom share a strong interest in spending with purpose (buying less by buying better), keeping their money at home, strengthening community (locally and nationally), and supporting businesses they believe in—even when that means paying a little more. The companies represented on GoodFight are committed to creating long-lasting products domestically; this in the face of strong global marketplace pressures focused on creating cheap, low-quality goods. At GoodFight Mercantile, we are all about championing the movement of producing goods in America. That effort extends to GoodFinds, where we present a curated selection of new handmade and used American-made items. Our curators, who aggregate items for sale from all over the Internet, are focused also on finding quality, well-made home goods—and add in the occasional flair of lovable, heirloom-grade items.

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Savarin & Co. | A Conversation

Wool American Flags Handcrafted in the U.S.A. Savarin & Co. is reviving the art of fine flag making in America. Using Sustainable materials, American manufacturing, and U.S. sourced materials.

I am obsessed with all things Americana. When I first heard of Andrew Savarin from Savarin & Co. I knew I needed to know more about why he started making flags, why he is a maker, and why wool!

Who are you: Andrew Savarin

Where are you: Brooklyn, NY

Why are you a maker: The need to create something with my hands has always been a way for me to express myself starting from as far back as I can remember. I wasn't always a great communicator so making objects was a form of communication for me to get my ideas out into the world. It gave me a chance to explore my natural curiosity for the world. For the flags its a bit different as we are making essentially one object. But because they are handmade each one has its own little personality. So within the framework of the flag there are small nuances which make each piece unique. That is why I love being a maker because these things that you cannot control become a part of the work and are what make it a special experience for me and hopefully for the people who purchase one of our flags. 

Why flags: The American flag is probably one of the most recognizable symbols in the entire world and yet its success has only helped to fuel an industry that uses it solely to make a profit. We chose to make American flags because we want to change that way people view the flag and try to make an impact on one industry that has gone on too long without focusing on quality, sustainability, and responsibility. We're hoping that our flags can be a symbol to inspire change, even in some small way, for how products are produced and consumed in America. 

Why wool: A little known fact: some of our earliest American flags dating back to the 18th century were originally made out of wool fabric. Wool was chosen for flags because of its excellent ability to withstand water and natural resistance to mildews and molds. The absorbent fibers "breathe" by wicking away moisture from the body of the sheep and releasing it into the air. Because of this Wool over 200 years old can still be vibrant and supple. Our flags are proudly made using wool woven at the oldest continuously operated vertical woolen mill in the United States. Woolrich, Pa. Supporting American workers and American manufacturing since 1830.

Why support makers: By supporting a maker you are helping to support a revival of American made goods and fine craftsmanship. 

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Andrew also provided us with a few details about flag making! 

Facts about Our flags!

The wool for their flags is sourced from Woolrich in Pennsylvania, the oldest continuously operated vertical woolen mill in the United States. They chose wool for its sustainability, longevity, and beautiful aesthetic.

A little known fact: some of our earliest American flags dating back to the 18th century were originally made out of wool fabric.

At Savarin & Co. their goal is to create flags of the highest quality that can instill the values and principles upon which the flag was created. They believe that a flag if produced with fine materials and attention to detail can be displayed year round as a work of art.

The signature flag is completely sewn, meaning each star and stripe is individually stitched together by a skilled artisan. There are very few flag makers still producing flags this way because it is a very costly and time consuming method that was phased out by the end of the 19th century and replaced with painted or printed stars.

They believe it is one of the best ways to make a beautiful flag that will last for generations. $3.6 million worth of flags were imported into the U.S. in 2013 from China, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

At Savarin & Co. they believe the best way to make an American flag is using American resources and manufacturing. They want to help create flags while helping to rebuild jobs in their own communities. 

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Tatine

Sometimes inspiration is found in unlikely places. Other times it only seems natural. The ladies over at Tatine seem to find things a little more natural and easy to come by than most. Rock n' Roll is their inspiration but instead of that coming at the hands of marketing and polls it happened through passion. 

The company started by inches not leaps and bounds. Margo Breznik first started teaching herself the art of candle making her tiny Chicago apartments kitchen. Soon after that she opened a store that simultaneously fronted as furniture and home decor while she made candles on the premises as well. As more and more interest grew in what she was creating she decided to go into wholesale. 

"I'm a self taught business person. It's a continuous growing process. One that I love. I'm constantly learning and always challenged.I always aspired to do something creative for a living. I worked in the music business for 10 years, then worked at a foreign and independent film company for 8 years."

A move to New York City came next, and landed her a job working for an architecture firm, but it was mostly numbers all the live long day. Moving back to Chicago she began working for a direct marketing company and according to her "paid the bills", but not being able to express herself in design she filled that need by teaching herself how to make candles after work and every weekend. By researching fragrances for hours upon hours she couldn't wait to get out of work to make candles. So she decided to take a huge risk, quit her job, borrowed $10,000 from family and opened a store to showcase the Tatine brand in 2001.

"I was dying to do a build out, create an atmosphere and share my work for people to bring into their homes. The store was well received and I kept it open for 7 years when I decided to flip the coin, take another huge, scary risk and walk away from what I built, and completely rebrand, redesign and go wholesale."

So the first three months after closing she was scared, tearful, and quite worrisome. She went from having this beautiful store with daily sales, to no income as she was rebuilding and redesigning the entire brand, which takes time and patience.

She kept at it, and invested everything she had into it, and low and behold it paid off for her. Anthropologie came calling and she went into production hand crafting approx. 50,000 individual candles for their stores Nationwide. At this point she was the only employee! Her friends & family helped when they could, but it was a labor of love for her to say the least. They hired her to produce two more lines for them and this combined, resulted her working 8 months solid, 10 to 12 hour days without a single day off. So it is only fitting that some tears fell into the wax of some of those candles. That much work would be exhausting and not without a meltdown or three for anyone, but for her it was the most incredible learning experience and so worth it. Now in her 15th year in business those days are what she leans on to realize what has gotten her to this point. 

We decided to ask her some question about how she made it this far!  

Q: Other than rock n' roll what inspires you?

A: I'd definitely have to say the world of design. In particular I'm very influenced by modern British, Industrial and Scandinavian design; in furniture, interiors, and products. Design magazines are sacred for me I'm constantly on the lookout for the latest trends and things that inspire. This does not mean that I disregard tradition. I find a blending of the two elements most interesting.

In addition, traveling is a constant source of inspiration for me. Any chance I get I'm off exploring! The sights and sounds and scents of places I've traveled to inspire many of our fragrances, in both literal and abstract ways.  

Q: Where do you see the company going over the next 5 years?

A: The sky's the limit! We're experiencing a moment of tremendous growth. One I've worked very hard at attaining. And I have hundreds of ideas! And I like to change things up, keep current. Naturally I anticipate continued growth. 

Q: What are your candles made of? How do you pick your scents?

A: Our candles are made of 100% soy wax. And our scents are a product of a lot of thoughtful blending and experimenting until we get just the right fragrance. I pride myself on our fragrances. I won't put just anything out there until I feel it's unique and the best it can possibly be. It's a task I really enjoy.                                                                                                                

Q: How often do you change scents on both of your products? 

A: We have many classic fragrances which people love. And those we tend to keep around. However, I do love change. So I am consistently unveiling new scents in all of our collections. 

Q: Is there anything you guys are developing?

A: We've expanded our company to include apothecary products over the last year or so. And this has been very exciting! We're now producing a pump soap and lotion as well as a line of hand soaps. We're adding new fragrances to those and we also have an exciting plan to introduce another new product. But that's still a secret! As I mentioned before, you can always count on Tatine to have something new and exciting up our silky sleeves.

Q: How long does your development take? Do you fail often? And do we always get to see your successes?

A: Development periods differ. The ideas come relatively easily. But full development can take some time, over the course of several months. This is due to the fact that alongside product creation we also design all of our packaging. There's a lot of back and forth during that process. But I find that process rather thrilling! I must say, we have not experienced any complete failures. Of course some lines or fragrances end up being more popular than others. And we've discontinued fragrances or lines due to lesser sales. But I see this as positive. It allows us to understand and adapt to our market, while still speaking and creating from the soul.

And up until now yes, you have seen all of our successes for the most part. We have done huge jobs for big brands like Anthropologie, Williams & Sonoma, Terrain, and smaller projects for Robert De Niro's Greenwich Hotel, Ian Shrager's Public hotels to name a few. These collaborations are generally custom, so they aren't sold as part of the Tatine brand, but they still represent us. These collabs allow us to learn and grow, and generate the revenue to develop and design for Tatine.

Q: Do you team up with other makers often? 

A: We do collaborations with other brands and build products and fragrances for them from the ground up. We don't do private label though, we are a design studio and we love to create custom, exclusive products for other brands that represent them, and help them tell their stories. We give the same attention to detail, love and care to these collaborations, as we do to developing products for our own brand. We love creating!

Q: Does living in the midwest offer opportunities to partner with both the east and west coast more? 

A: Not necessarily, in this day and age it doesn't really matter where you live, you can develop and design for anyone, anywhere. The joy is when brands reach out to us because they love our work.

Q: Who are your favorite makers?

A: I have so many! I am so inspired by products and brands that live and breathe the hearts of the makers. I have a great deal of adoration for Le Labo and Cire Trudon. Their fragrances are outstanding. I'm also inspired by interior design and design in general. For example, when traveling, I get so inspired, the designs of places like St.John Bread & Wine and Fernandez & Wells in London inspired me a great deal. Their restaurant build outs and aesthetic inspired the gut rehab I did in my own kitchen, and being in their environments highly influenced the style of my brand.  

Q: Was there steady growth or a big boom?

A: Actually, a bit of both. It's been steady all along but there have been a few high profile companies who bought deep and created somewhat of a boom for us.

Q: Where is the end goal to get your products?

A: Right now, we are working to build an international presence. We have some big accounts in Tokyo, Australia, and Korea, and we are currently in production on a big job going off to Switzerland. I'd love representation in England, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, you name it.

Q: Any crazy stories about how a product came about or anyone who has bought one?

A: Well, if you consider sauntering by certain rock gods' homes in London and being inspired by the escapade and translating that into a fragrance crazy, then yeah! We have indeed also had a few notable musicians purchase our product and some that even visited our production studio. But of course our lips are sealed!

Clayton & Crume

How was Clayton & Crume created?

Clayton & Crume was created over a few beers at 3AM in a Gatlinburg hot
tub. We had been sewing and creating for the better part of a year, and
decided to make it our livelihood. Three years later and we're growing
faster than ever.

What was the first product you made and/or sold?

As young men on a college budget, we wanted a belt that wasn’t on the
market--so we made it. We started with custom-designed canvas belts for the
collegiate lifestyle, constructed entirely in our dorm room workshop. As we
began to focus on developing solid leather goods, we fell in love with the
challenge of offering beautiful, durable goods at an honest price.

How do you decide on products?

Each product has been created to fulfill needs that have arisen in our own
lives. The plan for the future, after overwhelming request, is to add more
lifestyle goods-- particularly for women. Leather clutches, totes and
duffels are on the immediate horizon. Last week we took a 10-day trip and
made ourselves prototype leather dopp kits. Those will be up on the site
within a week, and they're killer.

How do you find new ideas for products?

Our mission is to create possessions we can use for the rest of our lives,
and in that endeavor, the ideas are never ending. Every worn-out item in
our lives is an opportunity to reinvent and create anew, C&C style.

Do you create collaborative products with brands you work with?

Our dream is to collaborate with an iconic, time-tested brand. Custom belts
with Pendleton Wool or Harris Tweed would be insane. Maybe one day.

What inspires Clayton & Crume?

Good products tell stories, and we’re inspired by the stories our products
will tell after decades of use by those we’ve created them for.

What's your favorite thing about supporting American makers?

Makers don't work for a paycheck, rather, their work is the expression
of a lifelong passion to create. We'll always support a maker, American or
otherwise, who puts his/her name on the product as a testament of passion
and quality.

What's been your biggest challenge?

Our biggest challenge is probably the same as any other maker-- scaling
our operation. Every item is made by hand in our 300sf workshop, and there
are only so many hours in a day to create. We'll likely never be the brand
with 100 retail shops and global distribution, but that's the way we like
it. We know who we are and plan to stay that way-- small and dedicated to
our craft.

Clayton & Crume
502.694.2615
sales@claytonandcrume.com
www.claytonandcrume.com

Upstate Stock

Starting From Scratch

We just wanted to get the word out on our friends over at Upstate Stock and their amazing new store. So here is a quick Q&A on their new venture.

Q: Why the location?

A: I had been looking for a space for a flagship store for over a year and when my good friend took the space beside this he said I had to see it. It was very raw, but very large, particularly for Williamsburg. 

Q: When did you decide on a brick and mortar store? And why?

A: The wholesale side of the business has been doing very well for a number of years but we wanted to represent the brand properly, so I have been planning the brick and mortar for almost 2 years. 

Q: What brands do you carry? Who are the markers?

A: Apart from our own core line of knits made in upstate NY, we carry our Canadian made cotton flannels, Brooklyn made candles, and even backpacks made by D'emploi here in New York. Also, we a lot of Upstate NY brands for small goods like soaps and foods. For apparel we mostly carry our friends brands, people we travel the world with, doing tradeshows and working together. Friends like Slightly Alabama leather goods, Freenote denim, Knickerbocker MFG Co, and Klaxon Howl.  

Q: What made you carry American Made only?

A: We carry made in North America only. Mainly these are the people we know and love, we see how hard they work at creating a brand and making sure they are putting out quality product. 

Jones of Boerum Hill

We sat down with our favorite apron maker to learn more about them, their aprons, and their thoughts on the maker movement...

Who are you
Deirdra & Iestyn Jones, a husband and wife team that live and work in
Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Iestyn is from Wales, and comes from a sales and
marketing background. Deirdra is from New Hampshire, and has been in NYC's
fashion industry doing design & production for the last 10 years (I just
left my long term job at Steven Alan last month).
 

What is your business
Jones of Boerum Hill is an apron & workwear company started in 2012. JoBH
supplies high quality, stylish, and durable aprons to restaurants, hotels,
perfume shops, butchers, tattoo parlors, and barbers all over the world.
JoBH also sells to the home chefs and artisans worldwide. JoBH has been
lucky enough to collaborate on some great projects with the likes of
Knickerbocker Manufacturing, Marcus Samuelsson, Eataly, and Le Labo
Perfume, among many others.
 

Why are you a maker
We spent years in the corporate world, and it just wasn't for us. We both
prefer to work with our hands, and create a product that people love. We
both are drawn to the creativity of designing and producing, it's exciting
and also a very fulfilling way to make a living.

Why support makers
The reason that people should support local makers is two-fold: 1. they are
getting a much, much higher quality product for their money, and 2. they
are supporting a system of ethical and sustainable sourcing and production.
This is a very good thing for the economy as well as the environment.
 

Why keep Main Street alive
Community and local commerce should be the backbone of the economy and
society for so many reasons. We would sustain a better place to live and
work if this idea was more widespread in America.

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Tinlid Hat Company

As part of our Christmas American maker series we have been getting to know a few of our favorite brands and partnering with them to tell their stories. This week we are sharing the story of Jon Tuck, the owner and creator of Tinlid Hat Co. I asked him to share in his words a bit about his brand and his journey being a small business owner. Read what he had to say below.

We started Tinlid Hat Company in August of 2014. Initially, we made some hats for us and our friends that said "FROLF" on them because we love to disc golf. We started selling them at our local disc golf course and decided to run with the idea of a hat company. Hats were not something we were that into. Of course, we would wear the occasional cap before Tinlid, but the reason we got started on hats was just to make something other than a t-shirt.

We all sort of pitch in ideas for a design, but I (Jon) do most of the design work. I enjoy the creativity involved and designing the caps are one of my favorite parts of running Tinlid. We found some manufacturers that make our hats. In the future, we hope to be able to buy the machinery and start making them ourselves, but that may be a bit down the road. Most of the ideas for our products come to us while we are in the outdoors. We don't necessarily set aside a specific time to think of new products. We like the ideas to come to us naturally. 

I've always believed in social entrepreneurship. I was interested in this concept at a particularly young age. Over the years, I've read and studied about it, and when Tinlid began, we decided to implement a social cause. We plant 15 trees through Trees for the Future (trees.org) for every product purchased. We believe in preserving and restoring the earth's forest for a number of reasons, one being that we just love to be outside. I love being outside. There is so much to do and so much to discover. Our hobby of disc golfing actually started the whole brand, and we thought of the side strap on the hats for pencils when we were out disc golfing one day. 

I think one of the most important things I've learned since we began is the idea giving efficiently. For example, we used to only plant 1 tree for every product sold, but now we plant 15- for the same cost. It's important to do your due diligence and not just throw money at causes. There is so much to enjoy about running Tinlid. The thing I take the most pride in is giving back. Some customers have gone out of their way to write letters and email us to thank us for our work. It feels amazing knowing we are making a change!

I've been given a lot of advice. It's hard to come up with just one thing. One piece of advice I received from my friend and a mentor was don't be afraid to reach out to people and ask for help. Even if it seems like they'd have no interest or reason to help you, if they like what you're about and you're genuine, they are willing to help. If I could give a piece of advice to anyone, I'd tell them do what you love and find a way to make it impact others. Our biggest challenge was the first 2-3 months without a doubt. We pretty much just stumbled our way through it. I remember one of our first goals was to make just one sale on the website. I think we sold only two hats online during September 2014 so the biggest struggle was just learning how to market the brand. Eventually, we started to figure things out, but we learn more every day.

FOR MORE VISIT: TINLIDCO.COM