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Collection by Diana Budds

The Retailers of American-Made Design: Makers Market

Suzy Ekman of Makers Market, an online shop that aims to celebrate American craftsmanship with high-quality local wares, tells us about her dreams for domestic production.

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What everyday item would you like to see made domestically? Having more electronic manufacturing in the USA would make it easier for startups to prototype, make rapid adjustments to the product, and scale up quickly. Some of this has started to happen with reshoring from Asia due to the rising transportation costs and overseas labor costs, as well as the need for more flexible manufacturing. Bringing back a single product like the iPhone would bring a significant number of jobs back to the U.S. and help reestablish the working middle class in America. Pendleton Wool and Leather Tote, $225.
What everyday item would you like to see made domestically? Having more electronic manufacturing in the USA would make it easier for startups to prototype, make rapid adjustments to the product, and scale up quickly. Some of this has started to happen with reshoring from Asia due to the rising transportation costs and overseas labor costs, as well as the need for more flexible manufacturing. Bringing back a single product like the iPhone would bring a significant number of jobs back to the U.S. and help reestablish the working middle class in America. Pendleton Wool and Leather Tote, $225.
What do you wish was easier to make and source in the USA? I would love to see more U.S.-made fabrics and textiles. With the loss of 650 textile mills in the USA between 1997 and 2009, it has been difficult for our makers to find skilled weavers and leather workers. Hopefully over time we can add more mills, as is being done in the South now, and rebuild the artisan skill set. Mesa Pendleton Wool Pillow, $60.
What do you wish was easier to make and source in the USA? I would love to see more U.S.-made fabrics and textiles. With the loss of 650 textile mills in the USA between 1997 and 2009, it has been difficult for our makers to find skilled weavers and leather workers. Hopefully over time we can add more mills, as is being done in the South now, and rebuild the artisan skill set. Mesa Pendleton Wool Pillow, $60.
What American-made products are you tired of seeing? Anything that is cheaply made and isn’t thoughtfully designed, junk that will be thrown away within a few years, or products that still have the same form as they did in the ’70s. Deep Redwood Traditional Bowl, $150.
What American-made products are you tired of seeing? Anything that is cheaply made and isn’t thoughtfully designed, junk that will be thrown away within a few years, or products that still have the same form as they did in the ’70s. Deep Redwood Traditional Bowl, $150.
What’s your best seller? Our top-selling categories are jewelry, handbags, wooden toys, wooden bowls, ceramics, fused glass, cheese boards, soaps, candles, and hand-crocheted scarves and mittens. Hardwood Blocks, $75.
What’s your best seller? Our top-selling categories are jewelry, handbags, wooden toys, wooden bowls, ceramics, fused glass, cheese boards, soaps, candles, and hand-crocheted scarves and mittens. Hardwood Blocks, $75.