Ten Awards Will Be Given To The Country’s Most Innovative Entrepreneurs Across Food, Crafts, Style And Design Categories
This fall, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. will host its American Made program for the fourth consecutive year. The nationally recognized program celebrates the next generation of makers who have turned their passions for handcrafted, well-designed goods into small businesses and proudly make their products in America. Martha Stewart and the editors of Martha Stewart Living magazine are pleased to announce this year’s American Made Honorees and Audience Choice Winner. The 2015 American Made Honorees, past winners, and VIP guests will join Martha and the editors at an exclusive reception on Friday, November 6, at the World Trade Center Observatory.
Martha Stewart Announces Fourth Annual American Made Program (PRNewsFoto/Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia,)
Martha and the panel of judges have carefully selected 10 companies from across the country as honorees in the fields of Food, Crafts, Style and Design. From revolutionizing the urban food landscape in New York City and Chicago, to bringing new jobs to Fort Payne, Ala. with a thriving sustainable sock business, these honorees are not only dedicated to creating beautiful, quality products and building successful businesses, but also making a difference in their local communities, ultimately changing the way Americans eat, shop, work and live.
This year’s honorees will be celebrated at the 2015 Martha Stewart American Made Summit on Saturday, November 7 – a day packed with educational, inspirational panels and talks for creative entrepreneurs held at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia‘s headquarters in New York City. Newly confirmed speakers, who will join an impressive roster of industry leaders and innovators such as Arianna Huffington, Dylan Lauren and Emeril Lagasse, include:
Maxine Bedat, Co-Founder, Zady
Christian Birkey, Founder of Lazlo
Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”
Avi Flombaum, Dean, Flatiron School
Piera Gelardi, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Refinery29
Michelle Klein, Head of Marketing for North America at Facebook
Chris Morris, Creative Director, The Dirt Label
Veronika Scott, Founder of the Empowerment Plan
Daniel Silverstein, Creative Director and Founder, Design Star
Tina Wells, CEO and Founder, Buzz Marketing Group
In addition to being celebrated at the Summit, these accomplished honorees will each be awarded a cash prize of $10,000, a trip for two to New York City for the Summit, and the opportunity to be featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine and on MarthaStewart.com, all to help promote and grow their businesses.
2015 American Made Honorees (who will be featured in the December 2015/January 2016 issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine):
Annie’s Annuals and Perennials, Annie Hayes–Richmond, California
With her catalog of rare and unusual annuals and perennials—including an extensive selection of California natives and old-fashioned cottage flowers—Hayes is helping to diversify the gardening landscape of the U.S.
Fruitscapes and Pine Island Tropicals, Steve Cucura and Jesse Avolos and Donna and Gary Schneider – Bokeelia,Florida
Since 1993 Pine Island Tropics, has been selling tropical organic plants, fruits, and homemade food products. Newcomer Fruitscapes specializes in new varieties of mangoes and other unusual fruits and plants. Together these two companies are building a successful market for unusual mangoes and other rarities in Southwest Florida.
Gotham Greens, Viraj Puri, Eric Haley, and Jennifer Nelkin Frymark – New York City
Puri, Haley and Frymark are trying to revolutionize the urban food landscape by converting unused city rooftops into verdant greenhouses that grow fresh, pesticide-free produce year-round in New York City and Chicago.
Leontine Linens, Jane Scott Hodges – New Orleans, Louisiana
For Hodges, “every piece of linen tells a story.” And so, inspired by her great-grandmother’s own monogrammed collection, she started a company that handcrafts heirloom-quality linens featuring modern color and patterns.
Little River Sock Mill, Gina Locklear – Fort Payne, Alabama
Growing up in a town formerly known as “the world’s sock capital,” Locklear witnessed as much of the town’s manufacturing moved overseas. Determined to stem this tide, she set out to revitalize her family’s own sock business by producing high-quality organic cotton socks sustainably, and, in doing so, bring jobs back to the community.
Portola, Jamie Davis and Casey Davis – Los Angeles, California
The Davis brothers are admittedly obsessed with color. Together they have turned their father’s small paint shop into a thriving environmentally conscious business where each color is blended by hand and each customer gets personalized treatment.
Rainbow Iris Farm, Kelly Norris – Bedford, Iowa
Norris’s childhood dream came true at age 15, when he talked his parents into buying an iris farm. Thirteen years later, the mail-order company specializing in unusual irises that he owns and operates with his parents is still going strong. Today Norris is focusing on breeding unique varieties.
Sandback, Peter Sandback – Harrisville, New Hampshire
The forms may be simple, but Sandback’s tables are anything but. For his current collection, the artist and inventor embellishes each handmade piece of furniture with inlaid nails, inspired by old fabrics or Japanese stencils.
Smith Family Farm, Margaret and Lucian Smith – Bar Harbor, Maine
At Mount Desert Island‘s only remaining dairy farm, the Smith family raises Jersey cows and heritage pigs, and grow heirloom apples and vegetables. They offer the fruits of their labor—artisanal raw milk, yogurts, cheeses, butter, meats, fruits and vegetables—to their local community.
The 2015 Audience Choice Winner, Baiser Beauty from Miami Beach, Florida, will also be celebrated at the American Made Summit and attend the exclusive reception. Baiser Beauty was chosen from over 500 finalists by popular vote online and will also receive a cash prize of $10,000 and a trip for two to New York City for the Summit.
Martha Stewart’s 2015 American Made program is presented with support by sponsors including Intuit QuickBooks, The UPS Store, Toyota and Triscuit. For additional information about the 2015 American Made Program please visit the American Made website.
Filed under: Americana, Business, Culinary/Kitchen, Eco/Earth/Conservation, Food Tagged: 2015 American Made Honorees, 2015 Audience Choice Winner, 2015 Martha Stewart American Made Summit, Annie Hayes, Annie's Annuals and Perennials, ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, Baiser Beauty, Dylan Lauren, Emeril Lagasse, Eric Haley, Fruitscapes, Gina Locklear, Gotham Greens, Jamie Davis and Casey Davis, Jane Scott Hodges, Jennifer Nelkin Frymark, Kelly Norris, Leontine Linens, Little River Sock Mill, Margaret and Lucian Smith, Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Living magazine, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., Mount Desert Island, Peter Sandback, Pine Island Tropicals, Portola, Rainbow Iris Farm, Sandback, Smith Family Farm, Viraj Puri, World Trade Center Observatory 
