We are in complete admiration for Ariele Alasko’s reclaimed furniture work. She describes herself as a “builder, a fixer, and a do-it-myselfer,” and if you take a look at her amazing blog Brooklyn To West, it really looks like she can create just about anything. She has even built an entire restaurant and almost all of her apartment (in Brooklyn) from scratch! What we especially praise Ariele for is her super intricate herringbone and patterned designs…there’s even one of her table tops that we think looks an awful lot like our Acacia Skinny Herringbone Tuxedo Pant. What do you think?
One blog we can’t get enough of is Rackk and Ruin. Not only is Molly Conant a talented jewelry designer (see all of her spunky, tomboy cool pieces here), she also proudly profiles amazing “Made In The USA” brands such as Queen City Dry Goods.
Molly’s pieces mix color with organic shapes, reminiscent of Native American jewelry, and are perfect for summer. Her mantra of just going for it and doing what you’re doing for yourself more than anyone else is apparent in all her work – and her dedication has connected her to like-minded people and fans who share her aesthetic.
Rackk and Ruin is where we found another great “Made In The USA” brand created just a year ago straight out of Burlington, Vermont. Envisioned by Matt Renna (who is self-taught by the way!), Queen City Dry Goods is a throwback to the days when people actually cared about their craft, and the quality of goods they put out. Renna can only be described as gifted when it comes to his gorgeously designed leather, cotton and wool products. We are definitely a fan of this talented artist and will constantly go back to his online store to see what comes next!
Another great Made in the USA brand coming out of Portland, Oregon is Prunella Soap, made by Janell Anderson. Prunella (or more specifically Princess Prunella) was a nickname Anderson’s mom gave her as a little girl as she would stay in the bath too long, turning her fingertips to “prunes.” It was this childhood nickname, love of dogs and Anderson’s interest in the cold process of handmade soap that made her jump into entrepreneurship and do her own thing.
Inspired by European culture, design and cooking – as well as the idea of using only the most wholesome, basic ingredients in beauty products – Anderson uses only organic ingredients and the old-fashioned method of soap making. Her products cure for a minimum of four weeks from the time they are made before they are available for sale. And it is that time, effort and dedication that truly makes Prunella Soap a Northwest treasure.
But not only does Anderson make this cute soaps, she also has ventured into greeting cards with her other Etsy shop venture CoolJane.
Prunella Soap has been featured on the Martha Stewart Weddings blog, The Huffington Post, Oregon Home Magazine, Etsy Finds, Etsy Dudes & Etsy Gifts and we’re sure these cute gift (or personal) keepsakes will continue making a hit. Currently Prunella Soap can be found on Etsy, or if you are in the Portland area you can stop by:
Betsy and Iya at 2403 NW Thurman, or Tender Loving Empire at 412 SW 10th Avenue.
The Fourth of July, one of our favorite holidays, is just around the corner and it’s the perfect excuse to buy a new ensemble in honor of the USA. Whether you’re taking a long weekend or just enjoying the mid-week break, we put together four stylin’ outfits with our Thalia shorts to keep you cool for that hot summer day, with just enough patriotic flair. And although you won’t actually be wearing an American flag (we hope), but an outfit that emulates it, we are proud to say that you’ll be wearing a product that is 100% Made in the USA.
So if you plan on spending your day at the beach or at a friend’s BBQ, pull off a casual yet chic day look with the Thalia short in Zen, a comfy “subtle nod to the flag” star-printed tank, paired with your trusty red TOMS and a floppy straw hat to keep your face safe from a long day in the sun. If you plan on heading to an evening party, pair our Thalia Zen shorts with a loose striped blouse, natural colored wedges and a nautical bracelet by another Made in the U.S.A. brand, Kiel James Patrick.
Our Thalia short in Rustic Pink has just enough dose of red to add a pop of color to any Independence Day outfit. Pair them with a navy blue striped sweater by The Row (Made in the USA), nude gladiator sandals and Shwood sunglasses (Made in the USA) for a sophisticated nautical look. If you plan to spend your evening watching the fireworks under the stars, the peplum top is definitely on trend right now and an easy evening transition with the Rustic Pink short. Grab a pair of blue wedges and a statement necklace to add to the festive look.
Shorts: Thalia Short in Zen (top) and Rustic Pink (bottom)
Top Left: Wildfox tank / Target straw hat / TOMS
Top Right: Rory Beca blouse / Bettye Mueller espadrille / Kiel James Patrick bracelet
Bottom Left: Shwood sunglasses / Pour La Victoire sandals / The Row sweater
Bottom Right: TopShop peplum top / Aldo wedges / T-Shirt necklace by urbancreatures
As we get closer to the 4th of July and begin to think about barbeques, pool parties and boating, there is one brand that is synonymous with all things sunny and summer – Kiel James Patrick.
Inspired by his passion for finding age-old, quality American made goods in vintage clothing stores, antique shops and friends’ attics, Kiel James Patrick began to create hand-made bracelets and belts, and eventually other clothing goods. What started as just a hobby, Kiel’s passion grew into a business based on sophisticated New England design.
Kiel’s commitment and belief in American made goods shows through in his dedication to support local businesses by ensuring that from the buttons to each individual stitch, event “KJP” product is completely made in the USA. We admire that Kiel’s products are real pieces of craftsmanship.
The New England and preppy style of KJP brings back memories of long summer days on the beach in Cape Cod with friends and Arnold Palmers in hand (and if you haven’t experienced this yet, you should!). Kiel James Patrick products can all be found on his website.
A perfectly worn leather jacket, a hand-rolled cigarette or the sea spray from a day in the surf – all of these unique and “manly” fragrances can now fill your home thanks to 2550 Degrees. In hopes of fulfilling the lack of uninspiring mens’ home fragrances, 2550 Degrees set out to create “artisanal candles with a masculine bent” by taking distinct scents from different personalities of men and putting them in the form of candles.
2550 Degrees’ candles are made to trigger memories, spur imagination and set a mood while still being 100% recyclable. As recommended by 2550 Degrees, they suggest using the hand-roughed lids as cocktail glasses or even catch-alls. Along with their candle line, 2550 Degrees is also collaborating with OLO Fragrances to create a complementary candle and perfume set blending the distinct scents of each brand.
The best part about it all is that all of 2550 Degrees’ products are proudly packaged in Portland, Oregon and can be found right here in Los Angeles at UNIONMADE in Santa Monica or at PLATFORM located by Occidental.
We might just have Joe, Clive, Luc or Kurt join us in our offices – in the form of “Mandles,” as appropriately named by Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Company.
After years of dreaming, Robert and Jocelyn Rahm were able to create and open a collaborative workshop for the Portland community of dedicated, likeminded artisans. In the heavily industrial area of north Portland Robert and Jocelyn found a beautiful yet neglected 7,000 square foot warehouse, which after 8 months of persuasion, finally became theirs. The space celebrates innovation, friendship, and quality goods all in a community to nurture ideas.
Robert & Jocelyn’s vision is realized as Beam & Anchor has always been a haven for artists, makers, upholsterers, carpenters and beautiful-thing-lovers to unite in a “home,” supporting each other through encouragement and a constant infusion of new ideas, as they work their magic to craft the ornately detailed soaps, furniture, bags and other goods selling in the retail store below. The warehouse is reminiscent of this idea with an open kitchen and large dining table (as a gathering space), floor-to-ceiling curtains rather than walls separating the workshops, and a glass viewing panel giving visitors an inside look at how the furniture comes together. The Rahms also bring the public into their “family” through hosting community events such as, maker networking suppers and an upcoming summer music series.
Beam & Anchor just opened earlier this spring and will continue to draw people from all over through its simple and central idea of community – and you can be sure that the next time we’re in Portland we will be stopping by to not only say “hello” but to also get our hands on this priceless merchandise.
Beam & Anchor can be found at: 2710 N Interstate Ave. Portland, OR 97227
Weaving together reclaimed sailing ropes, famous pirate names and a passion for eco-friendly DIY designs has produced some of the most gorgeous hand-woven mats, which come straight out of the U.S.A. Sophie Aschauer’s labor-intensive SerpentSea floor mats boast bold colors and clean, modern lines, drawing people in from all over to appreciate her nautically-sexy designs.
Aschauer founded SerpentSea in 2011 after a sailing trip to Nantucket. She embraces the traditional knots tied by sailors for centuries and infuses a quirky homage iconic nautical culture by naming her mats after three of the most infamous pirates from the 17th century, “Bonny”, “Drake” and “Morgan”. We can’t wait to get our hands on one of these beautifully crafted mats to add a little touch of the sea to our office!
Launched with the desire to celebrate the design and aesthetic of vices and create artifacts from these with an eye on pop culture, Cast of Vices offers a full collection of stylish and unique accessories. We immediately fell in love after first spotting this brand at Oaknyc. Based in Los Angeles, the entire collection is hand crafted in the USA featuring .925 sterling silver, semi-precious stones, and 14K gold. Thankfully, all of their products can be purchased through their online store. Some of our favorites include the Coming or Going bracelets made of gorgeous lambskin leathers and plated with silver or gold, and the leather Thank You shopping bags.
We have been following this line for a while now and they have such a great story. Alabama Chanin is a product line started by Natalie Chanin, which makes limited-edition handcrafted products by using new, organic and recycled materials. They are committed to something called the cottage industry, which means they employ locals that live in and around Florence, Alabama – a community that struggles with unemployment. We admire Natalie’s commitment to helping the community and of course her design aesthetic. You can clearly see the time and work put into the details. Watch Etsy’s video on this amazing success story.
