July 2017: A New York “Independent” State of Mind.
Those words immediately take me to the 60+ New York State, independently-driven makers that “make” up our online national community. Dreamers turned doers by nothing but their own tenacious volition, I, too, believe that the best things in life for the collective soul are built on individuality, empowerment of such and, in the spirit of who we are and what we do, good old-fashioned hard-work-with-your-hands.
Photo Credit: NYC-based menswear maker W.B. Thamm
The entire New York Makers Marketplace -- of over 500 handmade goods -- is this month’s “Independent” Collection. All of the artists we work with are small business owners, doing what they love, and subsequently reminding their fans to do the same. How’s that for a positive buyer-seller relationship?!
So with that, New York Makers would like to officially appoint July as “Maker Month” across the United States. Despite the challenges makers face in distinguishing themselves in the national retail industry, now, more than ever before, they are succeeding, against all odds.
Photo Credit: Catskills-based leathersmith Jay Teske Leather Co.
Independence is most definitely a reason to celebrate. This July, we will be sharing the unique stories of New York State makers-of-all-kinds, from filmmakers and boatmakers to cheesemakers and some other interesting indie-pioneers in between.