For two weekends in a row, I finally left my apartment and ventured out into different Portland neighborhoods. The only thing on my agenda was to explore a new [to me] neighborhood or a different part of a previously explored neighborhood. Each time, I stumbled upon a shop that showcased products created by Portland creatives and makers: Milieu & Kiriko Made.

Milieu

As I was exploring the Sellwood neighborhood, I happened to walk by Milieu. Their use of wood to complement their products caught my eye. Milieu is a collective of different artisans’ products. Inside Milieu, you’ll find artwork, children’s clothing, jewelry, leather goods, flowers, candles, chocolate, and more. Classes and workshops are offered as well.

I purchased some chocolate and Sleep Butter from Ayomide Nikzi at the Chocolate Laboratory, and a natural all purpose cleaning spray.

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Kiriko Made

After wandering through downtown Portland, I spotted Kiriko Made’s beautiful wooden sign hanging outside their store. Kiriko Made makes and sells clothing and accessories that incorporate traditional Japanese fabrics. At Kiriko Made, you’ll find scarves, pottery, socks, caps, kimono fabric, jackets, tote bags, tea sets, stationery, and more.

I bought an Eggpress notecard and a patch kit. Interestingly, each patch kit is unique because they’re a collection of leftover fabric pieces.

Shop Small. Shop Local.

I prefer to shop small and local because:

• Creatives/artists/makers/etc deserve to be paid well for their work
• I get to meet the creators, hear their story, and the story of the product
• I’m contributing money to the local community
• Small businesses are the heart of the U.S. economy

What’s your favorite small and/or local place to shop and why?