Annieglass’ Spring 2017 Collection, Photo Credit: Annieglass
When it comes to buying groceries, it’s pretty easy to seek out local producers — especially in a food-loving city such as San Francisco. From coffee and ice cream to beer and chocolate, there are countless brands crafting delicious edibles. However, when it comes to fashion, home goods and beauty, it’s a little more difficult to find locally made items.
Luckily, we’re here to help. This holiday season, why not become a more conscious consumer and shop gifts from some of our favorite local makers? Read on for 11 Bay Area brands you need to have atop of your holiday wish list.
Fashion
In 2009, engineer Linda Balti, a French woman living in Silicon Valley, set out to make a collection of sustainable yet wildly wearable clothing. That’s how Amour Vert (French for “green love”) was born. It specializes in comfy and classic basics (think wool capelets, super-soft tees and fringe dresses).
Timbuk2 Bags, Photo Credit: Timbuk2
Each time an Amour Vert T-shirt is sold, the company plants a new tree in North America. However, through Christmas Day, the company is upping its tree-planting program: for each item purchased during that time, five trees will be planted.
Blu Kicks is another San Francisco-based brand that gives back to the community. Blu Kicks donates $1 of every shoe sold to raise awareness for endangered species and environments.
The lightweight, chic slip-ons are made for walking the hills of SF. Designed by a mother and son duo, Victoria Fay and Will Leonard, the breathable shoes come in a variety of colors and styles in men’s and women’s sizes.
Is your dad in need of a new flannel shirt? Look no further than Pladra, a local shirtmaker whose products feature high-quality embroidery details, custom labels and hip plaid patterns. The resulting shirts are modern, clean, durable and stylish.
The coolest thing about Pladra garments are the inside sleeve and cuff details. Each one has a different animal image (grizzly bear, bison or wild turkey). Baseball fans will love the fun color combinations of the black, orange and gray plaid inspired by the San Francisco Giants.
Timbuk2 is one of the city’s oldest local brands and the second-largest manufacturer in the city. The label was created in 1989, when bike messenger Rob Honeycutt designed the first Timbuk2 bag. With its build-your-own-bag program that features hundreds of fabrics and colors, Timbuk2 quickly became (and is still) known for its customizable products.
To this day, all the custom bags — of which there are more than 7.2 trillion permutations — are made in Timbuk2’s Mission District factory.
Edward Field is a line of practical yet chic leather wallets made in South San Francisco. Each handcrafted wallet holds several credit cards, a few folded bills and a smartphone. Innovative micro-suction technology keeps the phone attached so you can have everything you need in one place.
Edward Field Wallet, Photo Credit: Edward Field
Home goods
Heath Ceramics was founded in Sausalito in 1948. The tableware manufacturer offers handmade bowls, mugs, vases, tiles and plates. Heath’s distinctive glazes make the pieces easy to spot at restaurants like Chez Panisse, The Slanted Door and Nopa, but the dishes are equally suitable for the home as well.
A set of Heath ceramics makes an exceptional gift for a newlywed couple.
Annieglass is a glass studio based in Santa Cruz County that was founded by Annie Morhauser in 1983. In her spring 2017 collection, Morhauser used a revolutionary patented technology to turn recycled scrap glass into beautiful bowls, trivets, trays and serving platters.
Well Made Home is a Marin-based design firm that helps homeowners find locally made furnishings that are customizable.
The brand, from interior designers Melanie Mount and Kelly Bedford Willrich, just opened a workshop at the Marin Country Mart. Design lovers can purchase pretty pillows and accents or customize textiles, sizes and textures to their own liking.
Pladra Shirts, Photo Credit: Pladra
Beauty
“With less, you are more” is the motto for Sausalito-based cosmetics brand Lilah b. The collection of beauty products is perfect for minimalists who love items that do double duty (like the vibrant Divine Duo Lip and Cheek Shade, for instance).
Each item comes in a smooth white case that looks like a stone, and the formulas combine natural ingredients (aloe, rosemary extract) that are nourishing and moisturizing.
Pinrose is an upscale brand that makes an assortment of scents geared toward millennials. No parabens or phthalates are used in the fragrances. Only the highest-quality essential oils take center stage in these whiffs.
The Pinrose team’s Moonlight Gypsy, Cuddle Punk and other spirited perfumes prove that it’s okay to eschew the signature-scent ethos of years past.
Last but not least, allow us to introduce you to Elizabeth Street Cosmetics, a line of lipsticks, glosses and lip crayons named after various San Francisco roads. The antioxidant-infused products are free of parabens and are made using a range of natural ingredients.
You’re sure to find a color (or several) to add to your seasonal wardrobe; the gloss alone comes in Duncan (smoky plum), Valencia (creamy red) and more than 40 other shades.
