Olivia and Leigh work out of Tijuana. Their hand-woven, hand-dyed wool knitted home decor, bags, scarves and accessories are true statements of modern craftsmanship. We at Make Good have had a long-standing friendship with Olivia and Leigh, from our early encounters with them in Tijuana to our get-togethers here in San Diego. We're especially liking this quote in the article from Leigh:
"Luckily, most people nowadays not only appreciate the hand-made aspect of our products, but they can recognize it at first sight," Suarez says. "It is thanks to the culture of buying local, handmade goods and paying the right price for them that we are still in the market." — Leigh Suarez
David's hand-carved kitchen tools, utensils and accessories are also a big hit at Make Good. One of our deep values is up-cycling, and we're big fans of artisans who carefully source their materials.
"I often hear the sound of chain saws and see tree trimmers, and I'll stop and politely ask for a few pieces," Atchison says. "The tree would otherwise be mulched or taking to the landfill. By using local, reclaimed wood, I'm not only leaving the rain forests alone but I'm also making something that is unique to San Diego." — David Atchison
From where we're standing, we consider these artisans local heroes. They're making items that folks need, objects both of beauty and functionality. And they're making them from materials carefully source or created by hand. It's good for both the planet and our local economy, and we think that's pretty good.