Coast to Coast: 50 Women-Run Businesses in America to Shop This Holiday
These small businesses—one from each state—offer gift ideas for everyone on your list this season.
Throughout the turbulence of 2020, one thing has been clear: We humans are resilient, creative, and supportive—and what better way to prop one another up this holiday season than by shopping small and local? We crisscrossed the nation (virtually, of course) to find 50 incredible gifts—one from each state—all from businesses that are primarily female-owned. From plant-based skincare in Michigan to handmade Parisian chocolates in Massachusetts, we swear there’s something on this list that will please everyone on yours.
This floral seashell jewelry/trinket dish set is handmade by Aurora Cooper, who uses Alaskan clamshells for her many printed and patterned pieces.
Stems Napa Valley is a family business that prints painter Diana Stockton’s artwork on silk scarves and pocket squares. This scarf is called Early Summer and features gorgeous colorful florals.
Hannah Hazel is a self-taught artist who specializes in stained-glass hangings. Her goal is to take traditional stained glass and give it a modern aesthetic. This piece, called the Dawn, is inspired by the warm colors of a morning sky.
Inspired by the beauty of Oahu, Kristen Reyno photographs her surroundings and turns the images into prints and scarves. The Live a Lei Life silk scarf was produced in collaboration with Amanda Wongwui, who hand-makes leis. The scarf comes in black or army green, and the design includes hibiscus, heliconia leaves, pineapples, seashells, crown flowers, and kukui nuts.
Idaho Journee, run by Jennifer Stidham, is a store that showcases handcrafted Idaho goods made by inspiring women. This candle by Gypsy Vine is hand-poured, cruelty free, and ecoconscious.
Founded in 2006 by a mother-daughter team, Michelle Schaeffer and Brie Thompson, Olivelle makes premium oils and vinegars. The caramelized-garlic-infused olive oil is a best seller.
Specializing in organic loose-leaf tea, this Las Vegas brand owned by Ashley Ferma prioritizes the health and wellness of its customers. The company also sells a mix of chic teaware and infusers to elevate your afternoon tea time.
Completely self-taught, ceramic artist Martina Thornhill works out of Portland. Her ceramic mugs will give your to-go coffee a chic twist.
This Utah-based line owned by Tara Peter sells a mix of specialty soaps, bath bombs, massage oils, and conditioner bars. With distinctive scents like spearmint-basil and patchouli-orange, the goat- and coconut-milk soaps are both aromatic and soothing.
In 2019, Sofia McKee opened her “metaphysical boutique” in the state of Washington. McKee’s intention is to “create a place that cultivates spiritual empowerment for people of all diversities,” carrying “a carefully curated variety of artist-focused goods, most of which are independently created by womyn, people of color, LGBTQ+ and other folks that are outside of the mainstream.”
With a mission to live holistically, M + A Naturals, owned by Marisa Kompar, offers natural products such as body and facial oils, scrubs, and soaps. The Radiant Facial Oil, which is full of ingredients that deeply moisturize, nourish, soothe, and rejuvenate your skin, is one to try this winter.
Committed to creating jobs for immigrants and refugees in their community, founders Kei Tsuzuki and Molly Luethi started their textile company to show how a business could be both profitable and sustainable. Ten years later, they have stayed true to those values. Try one of the reusable cloth bag sets, which come in an array of funky prints.
Nikki Eden’s brand boasts a wide selection of fabulous everyday pieces at a great price point. The Mika bamboo huggie earrings are just $18 but look far more expensive.
This collection of nude nail shades, called BRWNGRLMGC, was created with medium to deeper skin tones in mind. The brainchild of Rachel James, Pear Nova offers polishes inspired by the women who have shaped history and paved the way for Black and Brown girls.
Kristin Kohn carries a wide variety of items in her stores, including this Archivist tote bag. After People for Urban Progress rescued roof material from the demolished RCA Dome, it was used to create bags (like this great everyday one, which can fit a laptop and more), wallets, and clutches.
Stephanie Agne opened Golden & Pine as a way to make handmade goods more accessible in her hometown, and her boutique carries a wide variety of ethical home goods. If you’re looking to add charm to an outdoor or indoor space, these ceramic bells by Katherine Moes Clay Co. come in multiple different color-ways.
Launched in 2015, this plant-based skincare brand makes all its products by hand in Detroit. Inspired by the founder Chinonye Akunne’s Nigerian background, the brand makes sure to use sustainable, natural ingredients.
Ceramic artist Emily Reinhardt designs every product in her line. No two items are the same; each one, like this tray, is crafted by hand.
Owned by Tanna Piniarski, the Soap Market is a line of handmade, plant-based bath and beauty products ranging from candles to soaps and lip butter.
Veronica Michael, purveyor of this premium CBD brand, believes in the healing abilities of hemp extract; the line was developed with wellness in mind. Its goal is to make CBD products consistent, safe, and healthy.
Each gorgeous Lolly Lolly mug is handmade by founder Lalese Stamps in Columbus. Her products frequently sell out, and the brand was just nominated for Object of the Year by Dwell magazine.
This beauty brand, founded by Callee Ackland, is as about nontoxic as you can get. All products are 100 percent vegan and cruelty free, made without sulfates and parabens, and they come in ecofriendly packaging. Plus, Hippie Haven works with the Ocean Blue Project: For every online order the brand receives, it helps remove a pound of waste from American waterways.
Leslie Gomez focuses on the importance of sustainability through women’s streetwear. She offers reworked pieces like this upcycled Nike two-piece set, the perfect gift for a street style lover.
Roberson’s Fine Jewelry is a family-owned business based in Arkansas and run by Trish Roberson. It carries fashion-forward pieces, including this fleur de lis pendant by Cynthia Ann Jewels.
Jlani Jewels, run by creative director and CEO Lani Nesbit, offers a wide variety of affordable and stylish jewelry for the fashion lovers in your life. At $50, the Ace ring is an ideal holiday gift or stocking stuffer.
Founded by Ayana the Oracle, Creativholistic promotes self-help through interactive content. The Interactive Affirmation Deck for Creatives is a card set with 21 mantras and activities, and its goal is to increase your confidence, creativity, imagination, and more—so give the gift of positivity this holiday season!
Handmade by Bethany Kramer using stoneware pottery, each mug from this brand is unique and dishwasher and microwave safe. Choose from an assortment of colors, including satin white, rutile blue, blue-green satin matte, and Joe’s green.
This company, founded by Jane Scott Hodges, and its designers can customize every element of dinner napkins, as well as their other bed, bath, and table linens, from the color to the fabric to the embroidery style. (This one features the Naomi monogram.)
Written by two female authors, one of whom is from Mississippi (Martha Hall Foose, pictured here), this cookbook offers the best of southern cooking: cocktails, meals, desserts, and more.
Started by Emily Boynton, Fiddlehead Farm was founded as a small five-acre farm in 2007, then in 2011 began selling veggies, eggs, and herbs. Known as a “micro-jammery,” Fiddlehead also produces award-winning jams.
Founded in 2014 by husband and wife duo Jill and Adam Fetsch in Charleston, the store carries a variety of candles that draw from its library of 100 different scents. If you’re in the area, pop by for a candle-making workshop.
This shop carries beauty products made from clean ingredients and puts an emphasis on wellness. Founder Laura Lemon hand-picks all products based on their ingredients.
This cheekily shaped Toast serving board is the perfect housewarming gift. Made of New England hardwoods, the edges are dried to give the appearance of “crust.” All of Meb Boden’s wooden knives will cut cheese, salads, and sandwiches without harming the serving board.
This patchwork reversible terrycloth bucket hat will bring a fun pop of color into your recipient’s wardrobe. Designed by Asata Maisé, each piece of fabric is sustainably sourced, patched, and sewn to create funky pieces like this one.
Ariela Nomi Kuh has been making tableware in Lincolnville since 2009. All of her pieces are carefully crafted by hand, but the items are still food, dishwasher, and microwave safe.
Monesha Phillips’s Baltimore boutique carries a mix of vibrant jewelry, home decor, and accessories—many by local artists and designers.
After training at Le Cordon Bleu, Alexandra Whisnant moved back to her hometown and sold handmade bonbons at any pop-up shop she could find. By popular demand, she’s now opened her first shop in Somerville.
Tucked into the woods of New Hampshire, Badger Balm, run by Katie Schwerin, Bill Whyte, and their two daughters, uses the finest oils and beeswax to make an incredibly hydrating product—from its own solar-powered production facility.
On a quest to quell their son’s allergies, Summer and Kam Johnson became accidental beekeepers. Their wildflower honey with lavender is made from a mix of flowers and provides vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Media executive Heidi Kelso started her line with a few pieces in a moderately priced capsule collection. With help from her partner Grant Cowell, the line has now expanded from clothing into rugs and homewares made from vintage fabrics from all over the world.
Shannon Maldonado’s Philadelphia shop carries a curated combination of homeware and accessories from a mix of local designers, artists, and friends.
Click here to read more from our Holiday issue.
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Katie Attardo is the Accessories Editor at Marie Claire, covering all things fashion and jewelry-related.
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