SFMade launch party celebrates local makers

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San Francisco may not be known for its locally made products, but a new nonprofit organization begun earlier this year is trying to change all that.

Cordarounds

Celebrating its official launch on Wednesday with a party and fundraising event, SFMade seeks to connect makers of local products ranging from baby apparel to handbags to artisan chocolate and tea with manufacturers and resources to help them keep their business operations within city bounds.

"This is job creation, and it's workforce development, and it's connecting innovative designers with manufacturing that already exists," said SFMade Program Director Janet Lees. "It's marrying innovation and design with the craftsmanship that needs to go with it, and that's our whole emphasis. There's no one else doing this."

Rickshaw Bagworks

That the party, dubbed Ramp It Up!, offers a rare chance to view the inner workings of the Ritual Coffee Roasters plant may be enough to draw some guests. Others will no doubt come to see Anchor Brewing Company Chairman Emeritus Fritz Maytag receive a founders award from the nonprofit.

For fashion fans, the evening also means a chance to shop and meet the designers behind Rickshaw Bags (whose founder Mark Dwight is also the nonprofit's founder) Cordarounds, Slainte Bags, Baby Leo Designs and Couture by Juliet. Other local companies participating include Recchiuti Confections, Urban Farmgirls and House Kombucha.

Ramp It Up! takes place on June 9 at Ritual Coffee Roasters, 1050 Howard St., SF. Tickets: $35.

Posted By: Lorraine Sanders (Email) | Jun 04 at 09:30 AM

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