Shop local this holiday season and discover the charm of handmade hats, mitts and other winter treasures.

Winter is almost here and you can definitely feel it in the air. The temperature is dropping, frost is showing up on the grass way more often, and it is officially time to talk about a serious wardrobe update. Around here, that means one thing: leaning into our absolute obsession with beautiful, hand-crafted goods.

If you follow our travels, you know we are constantly on the move. We have projects scattered all over the map, from Nunavut to Alberta, and down from Minnesota to Windsor and back up to Northwestern Ontario. That much means we see a lot of cool stuff, but we always get super excited whenever we get the chance to check out the latest work from interdisciplinary artist Tanya McArthur. Her knitting and crafts are next-level, and she always puts together the most amazing collection of hats, mitts, and winter gear.

Honestly, who doesn’t love something that is made by hand? There is just something special about wearing a piece that has real personality. Hand-made items are unique, completely original, and they instantly catch people’s eye when you walk into a room. You just can’t get that kind of magic from a generic, factory-made hat.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, it is the perfect moment to rethink how we shop.

Before you default to mass-produced winter accessories this year, consider supporting local artists instead. You get to wear something stunning made with real love and skill, and you get to support the incredible creative folks in our communities. It is a total win-win for the chilly months ahead!