Shop Local

by Colleen Kennedy

Isaac Richardson has been operating Voyager Bag Works, a hand-sewn line of travel and work bags, out of his Arlington basement for three years. He spent more than two years perfecting the design of his big roll-top backpack, creating different prototypes and using them on hikes and camping trips to see how they performed. “I needed to make sure it was going to work the way that I wanted it to,” he explains.

Made with waxed canvas (he uses Martexin Original Wax, a famously water- and stainrepellent material), his collection now includes a wide assortment of handy wares, from backpacks (starting at $265) and totes ($95-$150) to hip packs ($60) and Dopp kits ($65). He makes commissioned pieces, too.

Bearded and low-key, Richardson, 32, strives for utility, sustainability and durability in his creations. “What I really like is that it takes on a patina as you use it, like leather,” he says, noting how one of his personal packs has developed a gleam in certain spots. Every bag he creates comes with care instructions and a lifetime guarantee.

On the sustainability front, he’s working on a line of kit packs and gear bags made with 100% recycled polyester fabric, in a white plaid pattern. A portion of all sales goes to causes that speak to the artist’s ethos, such as José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen and the Trust for Public Land.

Ever the outdoorsman, Richardson says his current favorite place to hike with his wife, Annika, is in nearby Prince William Forest Park, and one of their preferred camping spots is Camp Grits in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains.

An avid cyclist, he also works at Wheel Nuts Bike Shop in Alexandria, where he has designed custom handlebar bags. He plans to sell his goods at local festivals and pop-ups this fall and winter. “I like making things,” he says, “that people will enjoy using for a long time.” voyagerbagworks.com

Heather O’Hara is a self-declared soap snob. She has long collected soaps as scented souvenirs from her travels, and at one point, she took a few soap-making classes. But her affinity for bath products really became an official side gig during the pandemic.

“I channeled a lot of anxiety and uncertainty into this positive outlet to keep moving forward,” says the Arlington entrepreneur. She initially started with small batches, sending soaps to stressed-out friends and family. “These little care packages would come with a SurveyMonkey link, where I would ask what they thought about the recipe.”

With their feedback—and support from her boyfriend, Will, and her loyal bulldog, Ellie—O’Hara, 44, launched Lemon & Whim from her Clarendon home in September 2020.

Her soaps ($10 each) are as pretty as they smell. A scent called Sugar Rush with “hints of berry, vanilla and cotton candy” swirls pink and gold into a marbled pattern. The beachinspired Going Cabanas looks like an ocean wave and smells like sea salt and coconut oil. The gilded, honeycombed Queen Bee is one of her current bestsellers. “It’s just luxurious,” she purrs about its sparkle.

Though her soaps may look like works of art, they are intended as consumables—offering an ephemeral bit of pampering with vegan and cruelty-free ingredients, including organic avocado and almond oils.

Shoppers can find Lemon & Whim online and at local festivals and pop-up markets, as well as at Shop Made in Virginia in Alexandria and Shop Made in DC retail stores.

O’Hara recently expanded her product line to include masculine scents and several candles, with autumnal and holiday blends set for release this fall. She also creates custom scented soaps for weddings, baby and bridal showers, and corporate events.

“If we have learned anything in the last few years, it’s to make time for self care,” she says. “You don’t need a special occasion. You can have everyday luxury, even while showering.” lemonandwhim.com