Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Amanda’s 12th Made in the USA Gift Guide
Well, here we are, and I have to say, it feels a little more Christmas-y this year than it has in a while. As always, I offer this year’s guide to both inspire and challenge you, in hopes that your gift giving can be meaningful, but perhaps not too over the top. Let’s try to buy locally, whether that means from local craftspeople or just here in the USA.
Last month my husband and I took a day trip up to Lambertville, New Jersey, where we went to a fun outdoor flea-market that featured a number of local artisans. It was a fun day and I bought some wonderful cold-pressed soap directly from the maker, Marianne Resto of Highstown, NJ. I love giving soap, not only does it smell great, but it’s a perfect stocking stuffer and it disappears when you use it – and everyone uses it.
My next stop was the Columbus Avenue Holiday Market. There, I met several wonderful jewelry makers. Jewel Kawataki has beautiful earrings made out of Japanese paper. She has closed her Etsy-shop for the holiday season but go see her at Columbus Circle. The earrings are pretty, light and the price is right! If you are looking for something more sophisticated, I met Melissa Fego, who works out of her apartment and whose jewelry is elegant, modern and feminine. I’m pretty sure it was her mom working her booth with her!
One of my sons needs a new belt and the other needs a new billfold. After hours online looking at crazy expensive or overly-ornate leather goods, I’ve decided to buy both from The Buffalo Billfold Company. Their offerings are simple, well made, well priced. Not only can you get a belt made of Buffalo leather, you can buy a beanie made out of buffalo wool. Who knew?
Vetta, with factories in New York and Los Angeles (as well as India) is a triple threat, organic and upcycled fabrics, a commitment to sustainability and they have an entire ‘capsule’ wardrobe on their website! I love this waffle-weave sweater with a detachable turtleneck. It’s like two for the price of one!
For the man on your list, check out these wonderful plaid shirts at Faribault Mills, a 157-year-old mill in Minnesota. It’s a joy to choose between nine wonderful plaids rather than the 60,000 available you-know-where.
No holiday shopping list would be complete without chocolate. Borough Chocolates is a Brooklyn store founded by Jessica Minghi after she was laid off from her restaurant job during the pandemic. They are so beautiful that if they were strung together, I would wear them. They’re like a very grown-up, but perhaps, melty version of those candy necklaces I used to get as a kid.
So, support the upstarts, the mom-and-daughter shops, the survivors and the locals this holiday season. I promise it’s more fun than Amazon, and if you venture out into the holiday markets and neighborhood shops, you might find something surprising and unique. What’s more, you might strike up a conversation with an artisan and that might be the biggest gift of all.