YellowDog: Iconic Parks of Denver Map Art (from $12)
adJust FOR ME Pillow The adJust FOR ME Pillow was created by two Colorado “mompreneurs”, Ashley Weldon and Sara Cuthbert. Purposefully designed with a custom shoulder cut out and layered adjustability to provide optimal support and comfort for side sleepers, this pillow is not only non-toxic and durable, but it is comfortable and soft. It is also an awesome success story! Having recently reached their Kickstarter goal in the first 24 hours, the adJust For Me Pillow is not yet available for retail sales, but you can preorder on the site to receive a pillow by February 2021.
Devil’s Head Distillery: Oak Barrel Reserve Aquavit ($70) Based in Englewood, Devil’s Head shares its moniker with a mountain located near Denver known for juniper-lined trails that supply and inspire many of the ingredients in their magical concoctions. This Aquavit would make a sophisticated and thoughtful gift for anyone who appreciates the finer things in life. It is, after all, aged for 1.5 years in white oak charred barrels. 18 months?? That’s longer than most Kardashian marriages last!
YellowDog, an award-winning Denver-based print shop, offers a variety of print and design services. They are also extremely easy to work with and an overall fun-loving, upbeat group of people who recently launched a “pandemic pet project” in the form of an Etsy shop. The shop has given the YellowDog team an outlet for their creative energy and can give you some fun and original pieces to hang on your walls and display around your house. There are framed inspirational quotes, a 2021 succulents calendar, gratitude journals, and even a line of original modern art prints. For the cartophile or Colorado lover on your list, may we recommed this collection of map art pieces depicting Denver’s most iconic parks?
Turn House Design: Trist Jumpsuit ($225) Let’s be honest, most of us haven’t worn anything with a waistband in months and I think my kids are tired of seeing me in pajama pants. It might be time for me to level up my loungewear game and this beautiful, handmade jumpsuit just might do the trick. Handmade by a lovely and graceful team of ballerina sisters who also represent LuckyLeo Dancewear, this is a garment that doubles as a sound, worthwhile investment. Made from pre-washed linen, the Trist Jumpsuit from Turn Design House will get even more comfortable and effortlessly elegant with every wash. It is sure to be a wardrobe staple in your lucky recipient’s closet for many years to come.
PB Love Co: Cinammon Almond Peanut Butter ($12)
Knotty Tie: Vinyl Dots Bow Tie ($40) Knotty Tie is a Manufacturer’s Edge holiday gift guide staple—and for good reason! This Denver-based company has been producing stylish ties, pocket scarves, and scarves for years in a variety of colorful designs. Recently, they have expanded their offerings into face masks and even kimonos! Not only are they setting the bar for elevating your accessories game, they are also committed to a number of important social causes. Knotty Tie is an employee-owned organization that is committed to hiring refugees and providing their employees with a healthy work-life balance. Be sure to check out our collection of face masks later in the gift guide to see more Knotty Tie designs.
Yellow Door Collective: kente reversible apron
On March 12, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mario Esparza at the Colorado Biz Made in Colorado event. One of my favorite events of the year, I always meet fascinating manufacturers and discover amazing products—many of which wind up in this annual holiday gift guide! As fate would have it, this was the last event any of us attended in 2020 and we went into lockdown mere hours afterward. So, this little jar of peanut butter is near and dear to my heart for a multitude of reasons. The first reason is that Mario’s story is fascinating. He is essentially a one-man operation with a deep and abiding commitment to clean, healthy food made with real ingredients as well as giving back to the community and helping those in need. The other reason is that he gifted me an entire jar of the cinnamon peanut butter and it literally got me through lockdown. I am not even kidding. This little jar of magic was my go-to comfort food. While everyone else was baking bread, I was curled up in my recliner eating this deliciousness straight out of the jar with a spoon. Just trust me. You need to get some of this action. It’s good for your soul!
($50)
Yellow Door is a family-owned and operated small business that specializes in a wide variety of handmade goods to make your home, kitchen, and life more colorful. Made from sustainable, recycled, and/or reclaimed materials, you can see the care and craftmanship put into every pillow, wall hanging, hat, bag, vase, or - in this case - apron. Whether you are cooking for a hungry crew or just for your own enjoyment, this beautiful apron is sure to make your time spent over the stove far more enjoyable. And, like many of their products, it also reflects the Yellow Door heritage by featuring gorgeous African diasporic materials. Wearing this apron, no one will even notice the next time I burn the toast!
Hammond’s: Candy Coal Bundle ($7.95) For the naughty people on your list, nothing says “you’ve been bad, but I love you anyway” like a bag of coal made from delicious Hammond’s cinnamon hard candy! And, when you have a chance, definitely take the tour of their candy factory on 56th and Washington. Not only is it fascinating to see how the candy is made, but the tour also ends in the candy shop so you can satisfy all of the cravings you build up over the course of the tour!
Boot Belle: The Sedona Boot Wraps ($38/pair)
Reaction Engines: SABRE (Synthetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine) For that super hard-to-shop-for person on your list who already has everything, have you considered “an air-breathing rocket engine that can propel an aircraft from zero to five times the speed of sound”? You would definitely earn your spot as the coolest member of the family if you could gift someone the ability to travel at fivetimes the speed of sound. You’ll notice we’re not listing the price of the SABRE because a) if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. And b) you can’t afford it. But, hey, it’s nice to dream!
MouseRugs by FiberLok: Assorted Metropolitan Museum of Art Coaster Rug Set ($22.49)
Started in Saint Louis, MO in 1979 by a somewhat eccentric inventor, FiberLok has over 100 patents for a wide variety of different products and techniques. Now based in Fort Collins (since 1993), they are mostly known for their branded apparel having stitched and affixed logos and other designs on things like sports jerseys and school uniforms around the world. In what would seem like a major departure from the rest of the business, they are also known for their beloved line of mouse rugs and coasters. Many of the designs for which come from collaborations with museums like this collection from The Metropolitan Museum of Art that incudes a Shah Jahan, a Pashmina Flowers, a Star Ushak, and a Rosette Palmette coaster. A little touch of class for your coffee table!
Do you have a shoe addiction, but not enough closet space to support your habit? Boot Belle may be just what you need. Rather than changing shoes to match your mood or your outfit, you can far more easily swap out boot wraps! These beautiful, handmade boot wraps will radically change your look without breaking the bank or causing your closet to overflow. Designed to be worn with a wide variety of boot styles from cowgirl boots to Uggs, they are available in hundreds of eye-catching styles to suit any girl’s particular taste. Personally, I think these cool wraps would make an awesome stocking stuffer and I’m hoping someone will get a message to Santa on my behalf!
Bokk Baby: Baby Bundle Gift Box ($85) Squeeee! It’s a baby!!! Okay. I love babies. I do have 4 kids, so obviously... it’s a problem. But, do you know what else I love? Coloradobased entrepreneurial women who start their own companies and place a major emphasis on sustainability and giving back to the community. Every gift box includes a onesie, a baby blanket, a sweet little hat, AND a pre-paid return shipping label so that parents can send back gently used baby clothing that Bokk Baby will then donate to families in need. How cool is that? The packaging is also 100% recycled and biodegradable, but that’s just the cherry on top. Even if that doesn’t move you, look at how cute this little blueberry outfit is! I just can’t even...
LuckyLeo: Black Cloud Allure Leotard ($59)
Branch & Barrel: Bourbon Lovers Holiday Basket ($69.99) I have to confess something. Somehow, I have never tried Branch & Barrel and, after reading up on their story and their quirky, cool way of making delicious Colorado-based libations (and other products), I am absolutely kicking myself.Not only is this a friendship story since they started making bourbon just for fun using random ingredients— including branches from their backyard (hence the name!). But, they also use second-hand equipment, including a still that was once a Campbell’s soup maker!! Not only would Andy Warhol be proud, but they also source local ingredients from Northeastern Colorado and Eldorado Springs... I mean, the list goes on. The moral of the story is buy someone you love a Bourbon Lovers Holiday Basket and then stick around until they agree to share it with you!
This probably isn’t news to anyone, but it has been a rough year for the arts—and dancers are certainly no exception. My husband is the executive director of a local dance conservatory and it has been equal parts heartbreaking and inspirational to watch these dedicated, young ballet students go from seeing each other and training in the studio for several hours a day to praciticing alone on a barre in their basement and taking classes over Zoom. They are troupers and they did a great job of persevering and making the best of it, but all the more reason why they could use a little pick-me-up. In my past life, when I was dancer, I know that this beautiful, unique, one-of-a-kind leotard made here in Colorado by fellow dancers (who are also sisters - so cool!) would have put a little extra pep in my pirouette and a little extra jazz in my jetté...! Plus, since these leotards are designed and made by dancers, they are specifically designed to fit properly and provide the right amount of support while also making the wearer look like an elegant art canvas.
SparkFun: À La Carte
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company: Elm (starting at $77,959)
Originally built in 1999 as the first tiny home RV, the Elm comes in 26’ or 30’ options that can sleep up to 4 people comfortably. And they’re gorgeous! Honestly, after 9 months of being cooped up in a house with two fulltime work-from-home adults, 3 kids in remote school, and 1 crazy dogs... I’m thinking I might need to park one of these out back and put a sign on it that reads “Mom’s House: Admission by invite only!”
Launched in October of this year, SparkFun’s latest offering is a “custom electronics board design and manufacturing service that bridges the gap between prototype and production”. SparkFun has been helping people go from idea to proof of concept and now, with Á La Carte, that journey becomes even easier to navigate as users simply point and click their way through the process. For early adopters, they are even offering a savings of 50% off the design fee when you use the promo code: ALCSPARKFUN50 by December 31, 2020.
Knotty Tie: Together Apart Christmas Face Mask
Aksels: Ugly Sweater Face Mask
InkMonstr: Star of David Mask+Socks Gift Pack
Phunkshun Wear: Colorado Map Blue
Spinster Sisters: Signature Scent Mask Spray
Topo Designs: Topo Masks (Version 2)
Colorado Threads: Teal Floral Face Mask
Dardano’s: Nurse Rosie Mask
Amy Mundinger: Unicorn Moon (with cotton t-shirt cord)
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Candid Cocktails: Vodka with Elderflower, Cucumber, Mint & Lime Juice
Epicurean Butter: Steak Butters 3-pack
One Bars: Iced Gingerbread
Laws Whiskey House: Henry Road Straight Malt
Madhăva: Organic Coconut Sugar
Yasso: Mint Chocolate Chip Greek Yogurt Bars
Weller: Elderberry Sparkling Immunity - Peach
Denver Beer Co: Peanut Butter Graham Cracker Porter
noosa: mocha almond cruch noosa mates
Kong: Tennishoes Giraffe (approx. $20)
In the words of my children, “Kong is a Colorado company???”. Um, yes, it is. And we are very proud of that fact, especially given that Kong stands for quality, integrity, and good old fashioned homegrown values. In a year like this one (has there ever really been a year like this one?!?), we are especially grateful for our four-legged friends. Our pets were our faithful couch companions, our work colleagues, and our therapists this year. At the very least, they deserve to get spoiled this Christmas. And how better to do that than with a toy or two from Kong?? This Tennishoe Giraffe contains multiple tennis balls, it squeaks, and it creates unpredictable movement patterns, which helps to fulfill “natural thrashing instincts”. It would be a great way for you to say “thank you for getting me through 2020” to your favorite canine companion.
ROMP Skis: Chunk Kids Skis ($475)
Based out of Crested Butte, ROMP was started by a team of brothers who grew up skiing in New Hampshire and came to Colorado in search of “deeper snow”. Having lived (and skied) in Vermont for four years, I know that is code for “we wanted powder instead of ice”. Bygones. New Hampshire’s loss is our gain and we are delighted to have their creative minds and their beautiful, handcrafted skis to call our own. This kids ski set is not only strikingly stylish, but also affordable and even more so when you factor in the $100 discount they offer on kids skis when you also buy a pair of adult-sized skis. I can only imagine the happy dance my kids would do if they came downstairs on Christmas morning and saw these sitting under the tree!
Warming Trends Warming Trends makes the best outdoor fire feature system available on the market. The all-brass, jetted system provides unmatched fuel efficiency as well as superior flame performance. In essence, customers get big, beautiful flames with a fraction of the gas used by competitors’ products. What also sets Warming Trends apart, is the ability to customize any design down to a 2” – 3” adjustment. So, for example, if a homeowner wants a simple round fire pit, Warming Trends offers a variety of standard sizes and shapes of burners to choose from. If, however, like a recent customer, someone wants to fill a 50’ wide 125’ opening with fire and surround it with a steel bamboo forest, there is really only one option available - that is to call Warming Trends.
Exotic Earth Coffee Roasters: Gift Crate ($49.95)
Located in Ridgway, Exotic Earth’s claim to fame is that their coffee is roasted at a whopping 6,900 feet in altitude! If you frequent any of the fine establishments throughout Southwestern Colorado, you may have already sampled some of the organic, shade grown, fair trade coffee provided by the team at Exotic Earth. For the coffee lover on your list, you definitely want to consider the full Exotic Earth Gift Crate. It features 8 ounces each of two of their finest coffee offerings: Exotic Earth House Blend and Raise the Dead. The Gift Crate also Includes a stainless steel lined, sturdy travel mug—all packaged neatly in a nifty wooden crate.
Justin’s: Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups ($2.19 for a 2-cup pack)
Colorado Camper Vans What began as an experiment in a garage in 2009, has since blossomed into a thriving business providing campers with a wide array of options and customizations. From DIY Pop Tops to top-of-the-line custom jobs, CCV has everything the intrepid outdoorsy person, couple, or family might need to be able to jet off at a moment’s notice. And, unlike most camper, RV, teardrop, and motorhome companies, CCV even has options in stock and ready to sell right now. Get yours while you can!
First and foremost, how cool is it that Justin’s is a Colorado food company? Second, let’s talk stocking stuffers. Dear Santa, feel free to stuff about 25 of these bad boys in my stocking and we’ll call it good. Finally, I know my descriptions tend to be silly and tonguein-cheek, but I only aspire to be as witty and compelling as Justin himself. Here is his own description of this heavenly t: “Think of your favorite peanut butter cup. Next, magnify that feeling by a gazillion—that’s ours. Nuts? Yes. Crazy? No. Just imagine what happens when I take the best tasting organic peanut butter in the world and delicately place it into the highest quality, organic and Rainforest Alliance certified chocolate available. Yup. Peanut butter cup perfection!”
Vander Jacket: Neon Red ($120)
Katari: Cleanser, toner & moisturizer + handmade beauty tools in Belle Voyaj kit ($124) I include Katari in the gift guide nearly every year. Partly because the owner, Kate, is an absolute gem, partly because her products and her mission are so pure and exotic, and partly because I want everything in my house to be contained in one of her beautiful handblown bottles. But, to be perfectly honest, I might include Katari every year because I don’t have any Katari and I’m not very good at giving subtle hints! Dear Santa...
Colorado has not traditionally been known as an apparel manufacturing hub, but there is a hearty group of people actively working to change that. CEO Sarah Vander Neut, for example, designs and sews each Vander Jacket from scratch using 100% locally sourced materials. To further support the Denver community, she also reduces waste by using materials sourced on the secondary market like bolts of unused fabric that are then cut up and sewn into the jackets by local sewists and runners. On top of that, they are also just super cool jackets. I mean, look at the vibrant colors and the cool, futuristic sleeves! Plus, I am a sucker for kangaroo pockets and thumb holes.
Written and designed by Jessica Cowden, Manufacturer’s Edge Director of Marketing & Communications. All opinions expressed within are reflective exclusively of her twisted sense of humor and should not reflect upon the company as a whole. It has been a difficult year for everyone and we wish you nothing but joy and peace as we move into 2021. As always, we are here to help—the manufacturing community as well as all of our fellow Coloradans. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you in the new year and beyond. Happy holidays and a very happy new year to you and yours!