A version of this post first appeared in The Girl’s Guide.
The Christmas season is a great time not only to show love to your family and friends but also to show love to small businesses that support American workers and industry. Who doesn’t love flipping a gift over and seeing a “Made in the USA” sticker?
Your options for American-made gifts are by no means limited. We’ve got classic toys, delicious chocolates, toxin-free beauty products, and more on the list.
Joanna: I am passionate about trade and manufacturing because industry is what makes our country strong, impacts our culture, and ensures that Americans are not endorsing slave labor practices. Buying “Made in America” means that we are not just supporting workers whom we so greatly depend upon when emergencies hit, but we know that the people making our goods are being treated fairly by our nation’s labor laws.
Evie: So if you’re searching for the perfect gift for your mom, your best friend, or even your weird uncle you see once a year, check out these gifts from companies that manufacture in the U.S.
For the Busy Mom
Evie: Sometimes moms need to snuggle baby AND get things done! That’s where baby carriers by Hope&Plum come in. Founded by two moms, Hope&Plum makes all of its products in Minnesota. My friend Claire Guiney received the beautiful Wildflower Ring Sling ($155) as a gift and uses it all the time. Claire says: “My Hope&Plum wrap is one of my favorite baby accessories I have received. The quality is excellent and I love that they’re made by moms in the U.S. All of the patterns are fabulous. My sling makes any outfit a statement. I get compliments all the time. It’s also super versatile. I’m 5′1″ and my husband is 6′1″, and we both comfortably wear the same wrap!”
Evie: A single makeup product that can be used for cheeks, lips, and eyes? That’s a game-changer for a busy mom! Hope Beauty’s Radiant Stick ($22) comes in multiple colors, from soft champagne to bold red. Who doesn’t need a little sparkle on their face this holiday season?
Joanna: Hope Beauty makes fantastic, high-quality makeup. The makeup lines are inspired by women of the Bible. Founder Hope Harvard was a colleague of mine at the White House, and I love her products.
Evie: If the mom you’re buying for follows Emily Morrow (alias @reallyverycrunchy) on Instagram, then she’s probably dying to try toxin-free tallow beauty products. Clara & Fritz Tallow Shop is based in New Jersey and offers a variety of tallow soaps, balms, chapsticks, and other products. Owner Nicole Moore has introduced gift sets just in time for giving season — check out the Lip Kit Holiday Gift Set ($30) for soft, supple lips or the Self-Care Shower Set ($55) for exfoliated, glowing skin.
For Tiny Tots
Evie: Every new baby needs a special blanket. Red Land Cotton has luxurious sheets, towels, and more, but they also make baby blankets ($85) that are sure to last.
Joanna: After my son was born, we received a special made-in-America blanket from Red Land Cotton. They make excellent, high-quality textiles produced in Alabama, North Carolina, and Maine.
Evie: Montessori toys are all the rage, and for good reason. I’m always amazed by their ability to hold my daughter’s attention. If you want high-quality, U.S.-made Montessori toys, then Bannor Toys is your one-stop shop. They’re known for their adorable Original State Rattles ($18.99), listed as “a great way to show your state pride and heritage,” and they also offer classics like the Classic Baby Rattle ($15.99) and Boho Alphabet Blocks ($62.99). Oh, and be sure to check out their Christmas-themed options like the Nativity Play Set ($84.99) and Advent Calendar ($39.99).
For Classy Gents
Evie: A pair of black leather gloves is a must-have for every man. They’re useful, classic, and last practically forever. Shinola, a Detroit company that’s best known for its high-end watches, makes its leather gloves ($125) in the U.S. Get your dad, brother, or husband a pair of these gloves, and he’ll thank you every time he has to go out in the cold.
Not all pillows are created equal. This is a fact that my husband knows well. He frequently travels for work and is not always satisfied with the quality of hotel pillows. I’m eyeing Frankenmuth Woolen Mill’s Wool Travel Pillow and Pillowcase ($55) for him, especially because he is allergic to down, which is an extremely common pillow stuffing. Wool is an underrated material for a pillow, especially for its hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating qualities. Plus, all of their goods are made in Frankenmuth, Michigan!
As a woman, I need options when it comes to my jeans. Bell-bottom, ankle crop, straight leg — I’ve got to have options, OK? It’s the opposite for my husband. If he finds a pair of jeans he likes, I go ahead and buy five pairs so he always has a replacement. (This man is hard on his clothes!) I have a pair of Dearborn Denim & Apparel’s 100% Cotton Relaxed Fit Dark Wash jeans ($59) in my cart, and I think they just might become my husband’s new go-to. If so, I’ll definitely be buying out their entire inventory. Just don’t be fooled by the name — Dearborn is based in Chicago, Illinois, not Dearborn, Michigan.
For Stockings That Must Be Stuffed
Evie: When someone mentions stocking stuffers, my mind immediately goes to chocolate. Sure, popcorn balls and oranges are nice, but everyone loves chocolate! There are many small American businesses that make mouthwatering candy. Boyer Candy Company, which is behind the Mallo Cup, is located in Altoona, Pennsylvania. If you’re not local, you can order various amounts of milk chocolate Mallo Cups and dark chocolate Mallo Cups (plus other goodies!) online. You can get a 24-count box of Mallo Cups for $20.99 plus shipping.
Mallo Cups are goodies that adults and kids alike will enjoy, but this next recommendation is for the grown-ups only. Bourbon Truffles ($15.50) are made by Old Kentucky Chocolates in Lexington, Kentucky. If you’re feeling really generous, you could even get Bourbon Lover’s Tower ($64.99) for the bourbon enthusiast in your life. Old Kentucky Chocolates offers a variety of candies, including peppermint bark, buckeyes, malt balls, and more.
If flying your loved one to Hawaii for a chocolate farm tour is in your budget, more power to you. But if it’s not, allow me to suggest the next best thing, which is delicious Hawaii-grown chocolate from Lydgate Farms in Kauai. Some friends of ours recently visited Lydgate Farms on their honeymoon and said it was an amazing experience. Lydgate Farms’ cocoa is internationally recognized, and they sell everything from chocolate to honey to vanilla on their website. Right now, their dark chocolate-covered coffee beans are $20 for a quarter pound — and the coffee is grown in Hawaii too.
For the Home Cook
Evie: Using wooden kitchen utensils makes me feel like Joanna Gaines from “Fixer Upper” (I mean that in the best way possible). Allegheny Treenware is a small operation offering handmade spoons, serving utensils, and more made out of West Virginia hardwoods. I feel like I can never have enough wooden kitchen utensils — but maybe Allegheny Treenware’s Homesteader Gift Set ($58) would complete my collection! I especially love that they offer both left-handed and right-handed kitchen tools.
You may already have items from Lodge Cast Iron or All-Clad in your kitchen — but did you know these brands make many or all of their products in the United States? A Lodge Five-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven ($49.90) is perfect for any home cook who is working on perfecting his or her sourdough loaf. My husband recently gave me All-Clad’s D3 Stainless 3-Ply Bonded Skillet ($50), a 7.5-inch pan that is just the right size for making omelets, and I couldn’t recommend it more as an item I use nearly every day.
So there you have it! May your Christmas be merry and bright, and may you find American-made gifts under your tree!
Jesus Christ is King
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