I want to be the kind of person who can knit a sweater, screenprint a calendar, and throw curvy ceramics. Iām more the person who spends too much on supplies and doesnāt finish in time for the holidays. If this sounds like you, join me in saving the money on supplies and spending it at Seattleās Renegade Craft Fair on Saturday and Sunday, December 10 + 11.
Occupying Hangar 30 at Magnuson Park, Renegade Craft Fair turns the empty warehouse into a cozy nexus of curated makers with bespoke wares at all price points. Theyāve been around since 2003, throwing markets all over the country and becoming an annual staple of my holiday shopping.
Here are some highlights of this year’s Renegade Craft Fair roster, along with suggestions for how you might want to spend your day around Magnuson Park. (Check out the fair roster for a complete list of makers!) It all goes down from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
How much does this thing cost?
Renegade Craft Fair has a suggested donation of $0-12. 10% of entry donations go toĀ The Nature Conservancy, so you can shop knowing youāre doing a little for the earth. The rest goes to supporting the Renegade team.
šø: fruitsuper
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fruitsuper’s pasta board
Need to buy a gift for a very practical person? Maybe the girlie with a five-year plan or that friend who actually puts away their clean dishes? Meet Seattle-based design studioĀ fruitsuper. The team at fruitsuper aims to create “elevated everyday objects.” They carry a collection of internally designed and locally sourced goods,Ā all made in America, and they have a background in industrial design with an eye for the minimal. I love their kitchenware, like this pasta board (maybe right for the friend who is watching this season of White Lotus). Or what about this spongeĀ and soap standĀ set? Keep your sustainable dish routine fresh!Ā
Perfect for:
āØ Friends with style
š© Minimalistic moms
š© Uncles with refined taste
šø: Caminito
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Caminito’s brilliant blankets
Liz and Elizabeth Clark, the mother-daughter duo behind Caminito, craft aĀ warm and vibrantĀ line of textiles and objects that draw on their Mexican heritage. The Clarks say Caminito was “born to celebrate the local craft and traditions of Mexico and California,” a mission present in the process. Graphic patterns andĀ saturated colorsĀ are the signatures of their handwoven portable blankets. They are the perfect gift for theĀ sleepyhead in your lifeĀ who you catch catnapping on the couch or lazing in Volunteer Park over the summer. Artisans weave Caminito’s textiles in Mexico, and then they’re finished and assembled in San Diego. The international manufacturing process mirrors the creators’ lives: Liz was raised in San Diego and her mom in Baja, Mexico.Ā
Perfect for
š§ŗ Picnic pals
š„¶ That friend who’s always cold
š§ Anyone who needs to chill
How should you pay?
Renegade vendors are small businesses that may use different payment methods. Most vendors willĀ accept cardsĀ but come with alternative methods like cash, Venmo, or Paypal.Ā
šø: Crunch Supply
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Crunch Supply’s strange little thingies
Crunch Supply is the project of self-describedĀ āunfocused artistā Claire England. England is a staple of Renegade Craft Fair, and you may also know her from the local bandĀ Dude York. Crunch Supply features laugh-out-loud kitsch for yourĀ silly, stoner friends. Think french fry magnets, banana planters,Ā mini bottles of draino. If you miss Crunch Supply at Renegade, you can catch England slinging wares at local markets like SODO Flea Market and art markets at Museum of Museums year round!
Perfect for
š Eccentric party planners
š Friends who color block
š§ø Tchotchke lovers
šø: Conscia
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Conscia’s shampoo stones
Renegade has more than homewares and art. They’ve also got food, clothes, beauty products,Ā etc etc etc. This year you can give your beauty-obsessed friend a sustainable and luxurious ConsciaĀ shampoo stoneĀ to add to their ritual. (Pro tip: Buy one for yourself.) Ditch the plastic bottles and harsh chemicalsāConscia was founded to combat the waste that’s become the norm in the hair product industry. They say their super-concentrated shampoo and conditioner stones last three times as long as a typical bottle of shampoo. And, importantly, they make aĀ chic stocking stuffer.
Perfect for
š Eco-friendly friends
š§¼ Beauty buddies
š Someone who needs a good scrub
šø: Earth and Her Flower
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Or maybe some ceramics?
Ceramics are a versatile gift. From usable wares to striking art pieces, Renegade has aĀ massive showcase of local ceramicists. Some ceramicists offer classes, so start a conversation with the artists. Buying a class pass could be the right gift for a creative friend. At this Renegade Craft Fair, Portland-based makerĀ Earth and Her FlowerĀ will display their functional and playful ceramics. Their collection includesĀ dreamy dishesĀ with contemporary patterns. For your minimalist friend, find the work of Everett-basedĀ T. Stefanski. Expect to seeĀ chunky takes on classic vase silhouettesĀ and funky bowls in Stefanski’s “Scallop Collection.” In contrast, find the work ofĀ Emelia HiltnerĀ for your maximalist friend. While Hiltner has her dishware photographed with food, don’t be surprised if your gift receiver hangs Hiltner’s fun pieces on their wall!
Perfect for
š Good girlfriends
š
Glam grandmas
š¤ That person you don’t know what to buy
A note for the hungry š¤¤
Shopping without eating is basically a sin to me. Luckily, Renegade has a bunch of food trucks to sate your lil’ shopping munchies. If you’re going on the earlier side of the fair, get caffeine and a bagel at Grateful Bread or a donut at Top Pot. If you want to lubricate your wallet before shopping, head to Magnuson Brewery for lunch, a beer, and a view.
