Small Biz

Our Favorite Independent Shops in Houston to Support Local Makers

There’s a new wave of community-minded small boutiques in town where you can feel good about spending your dollars.

By Geneva Diaz September 20, 2023 Published in the Winter 2023–24 issue of Houstonia Magazine

All the Feels is one of the many small shops in Houston where you can find your next gift for a friend or family member.

Houston’s shopping scene has been invigorated by a new wave of independent stores that celebrate creativity, community, and homegrown talent. These are not your typical big-box stores: they’re spaces for local makers, artisans, and crafters to showcase their work. From upcycled clothing and handcrafted jewelry to all the candle options (so many candles!) and home goods your heart desires, these establishments are a testament to the city’s diverse and entrepreneurial spirit.


All the Feels

Midtown

Housed in a bright 1928 art deco storefront in Midtown, All the Feels is a place for vintage and design lovers. The shop’s curated collection of gifts spans various eras from art nouveau to postmodern, with an emphasis on goods from local artists and designers: almost 20 percent of the inventory is Houston-based, with 30 percent from Texas. Whether you explore the online store or visit its brick-and-mortar location, which opened in 2021, you’ll discover an eclectic mix of handmade treasures including vases, vessels, candles, smokeware, incense supplies, blankets, and bags.

3223 Milam St.

Owned by an artist who makes concrete planters, vases, and more, Amano also stocks softer goods, including felt hats and straw purses.

Image: Nicki Evans

Amano

Montrose

Amano is a boutique in Montrose Collective owned by local concrete artist Myrna Hagelsieb. About 80 percent of the store features products from Houston makers, including straw purses, felt hats, fragrances, and home goods, alongside colorful concrete artwork like planters, incense burners, and vases from Hagelsieb’s brand, Natural by Hagelsieb. She perfected a unique mixture that’s both lightweight and sturdy, drawing inspiration from her father’s own concrete work from when they lived in Chihuahua, Mexico. Amano’s cozy but beautifully laid out space makes for a pleasant shopping experience, and the store has a tiny studio in the back that offers incense-making workshops and other classes.

888 Westheimer Rd., Ste 156

Asch Building's atelier has a thoughtful selection of ethically made goods.

Asch Building

Heights

About half of the items at Asch Building, opened in 2021, are from local makers. Founded by Houston native Destiny Ellis, the market addresses the growing demand for ethically made products that don’t break the bank and offers a threefold shopping experience under one roof. Grab those last-minute ingredients for your potluck at the European-style food market, find a dress at the clothing atelier, or buy a bottle of organic wine and a nice gift at the home goods shop. All products align with Asch’s core values of diverse ownership, local production, and environmental consciousness. “Asch Tags” simplify your shopping experience by categorizing products based on these values.

825 Studewood St.

Casa Ramirez

Heights

Located on 19th Street, Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery is a charming shop that pays homage to Mexican and Latin American culture. The store is adorned with Day of the Dead trinkets, milagro heart wall hangings, handmade jewelry, traditional Mexican blouses, sarape blankets, and incense. Bookshelves are lined with stories on Latino art, culture, and history, with an extensive selection of children’s books. Beyond being a store, Casa Ramirez is a place of community, hosting workshops and book readings, all while carrying on the legacy of its late owner, Macario Ramirez, a dedicated activist, educator, and artist who tirelessly worked to preserve Latino heritage and identity since the 1970s.

241 W 19th St.

Forth and Nomad is a 4,500-square-foot store filled with various local brands to shop from.

Forth and Nomad

Heights

Forth and Nomad, a brightly lit 4,500-square-foot store established in 2017, offers a curated selection of clothing, wellness products, ceramics, jewelry, art prints, and more. Owners Morgan and Andy Sommer have transformed their Heights shop into a thriving community hub, offering immersive experiences like candle-making at the Candle Bar and hands-on workshops, to a coffee shop with space to relax or get work done. Plus, there’s Forth and Nomad Pantry, stocked with snacks and beverages, and a Baby Nomad section that caters to the needs of your little ones.

731 Yale St.

Get a sense of peace and coziness when shopping at Genara.

Genara

Heights

Genara founder Alicia Gray culls her collection to infuse peace and a sense of calm in everyday life. Her handpicked goods evoke feelings of home, specifically the home of her grandmother, whom Genara is named after. The shop, which opened in 2020 after starting online in 2018, encompasses both practical items, like aesthetically pleasing stationery and glassware, and delightful pieces of decor that spark joy, like stained glass window hangings and candles. Genara carries a handful of items from local makers, including Heights Pottery, and regularly hosts guest pop-ups.

3518 White Oak Dr.

Image: Nicki Evans

Mala Market

Montrose

Somya Gupta opened Mala Market, a nonprofit collective space specifically for Houston makers and artists, in May 2022, marking a fresh chapter in the city’s retail landscape. Small business owners lease space within the shop, avoiding the challenges of frequent pop-ups, and collect 100 percent of their sales. Mala is a place where dreams of entrepreneurship flourish, and where shoppers become vital players in strengthening the local economy. Discover a treasure trove of handmade items from more than 50 makers, from home accessories and scented candles to vintage clothing, all while knowing you’re supporting Houston’s creative talent.

1302 W Gray St.

Manready Mercantile is a great spot to find gifts for men.

Manready Mercantile

Heights

The decade-old brainchild of Texas native Travis S. Weaver brings a slice of small-town charm to 19th Street. What started as a hand-poured candle business has evolved into a celebrated independent boutique, and an especially great place to buy gifts for men. Explore the shop’s products—about a quarter of which are from Houston brands—including American-made clothing, hats, leather accessories, grooming products, home goods, even unique treats like bourbon-infused beef jerky and toothpicks.

321 W 19th St., Ste B

The Pop-Up Co-Op at M-K-T Heights has a mix of clothing, vintage, and fashion accessories.

The Pop-Up Co-Op

Heights

The Pop-Up Co-Op in M-K-T Heights is dedicated to offering eclectic fashion, accessories, art, and home decor, sourcing everything from more than 40 female-owned brands and designers, about 25 percent of them local. This diverse selection of items ranges from lingerie and vintage kimonos to embroidered pillows and upcycled china. Noteworthy brands you’ll find include Furbish Studio, Shop 1988, Kovarova, Kimono Zulu, Primecut Handbags, and Tutu and Lilli.

600 N Shepherd Dr., Ste 110

Shop Local Marketspace

East End

Opened in 2021 by Faith Cisneros, Shop Local Marketspace at the Ironworks Marketplace development in the East End is a shop within a shop with about 80 percent of its inventory dedicated to local businesses. The store features all the things: cute handmade earrings, greeting cards for the next holiday or occasion, Texas-themed puzzles, astrology pins, even charms for Crocs. At the end of September, Shop Local unveiled a second and much larger location in the Houston Farmers Market on Airline Drive, significantly expanding its footprint in the city.

711 Milby St., STE 1

Soni Trends

East End

Head over to Tlaquepaque Market for Soni Trends, a Latina-owned boutique founded in 2017 by Sonia Gonzalez with a mission to empower mujeres to embrace their confidence and cultural diversity. You can find really fun Latina pride T-shirts, coffee mugs, stickers, candles, jewelry, and accessories, all drawing inspiration from the colors, patterns, artwork, and traditions of Latin America. The shop’s minimalist T-shirts have messages like “Chingona and Unbothered,” “La Jefa,” and “YHLQMDG,” a reference to Bad Bunny’s lyrics “Yo hago lo que me da gana,” meaning “I do whatever I want.”

738 Telephone Rd.

Founder Leila Peraza in her shop, Space Montrose, a great place for Houston-inspired gifts.

Space Montrose

Montrose

Space Montrose, founded by the Peraza family in 2010, celebrates handcrafting and small businesses, providing a platform for artists and designers to showcase their work. You can expect to find art prints, jewelry, skin care items, shirts, candles, tea, and all sorts of Houston-centric souvenirs, as well as greeting cards from the Perazas’ personal brand, Paper Vibes. About 35 percent of Space Montrose’s inventory is from Houston makers, with around half from Texas.

1706 Westheimer Rd.

Support over 150 local artists at The Whimsy Artisan Boutique.

The Whimsy Artisan Boutique

Heights

The Whimsy Artisan Boutique, tucked within Heights Common Market since 2018, is a must-visit for aficionados of quirky, handmade creations and those committed to supporting local artists. Founded and run by crochet artist Jessica Carlos and her husband, Louis, this small, charming shop boasts a collection from over 150 makers, all but a  handful of whom are based in Houston. You’ll find hand-poured vegan soaps, work from talents like All Sewn Up Customs and Tom Rye Art, jewelry, pins, and framed taxidermy. Even if you’re not shopping, it’s a fun place to explore like a gallery and get inspired.

123 W 18th St., Ste E

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