Meet the Makers
VT Gear Makers Festival celebrates companies that are based in Vermont. We love that folks are creating durable products and job opportunities in our small state.
Check out the makers who will be onsite at the 2026 Fest!
Made in Vermont, Thuja crafts high-performance everyday layers like our signature Burrow Hoodie. We prioritize local production and environmental responsibility, using deadstock materials to create custom, technical gear built for the rugged beauty of the Green Mountains and beyond.
At Bickford USA, our rule is simple: if we wouldn't pack it for camp, we don't make it. Designed in Burlington, VT, and handmade in the Northeast, our apparel is deeply inspired by the rugged New England outdoors and the quiet moments at Bickford Pond. We make clothes that tell a story—gear that becomes a memory you can wear.
Mola aims to bring a small scale approach back to clothing production with thoughtfully designed baselayers, mid-layers, & comfort wear. Mola apparel is designed for the activities we enjoy in Vermont from the Green Mountains to Lake Champlain.
Class 4 Designs is a bespoke and small-batch manufacturer of bags for the outdoor recreation industry. We craft simple, intentional products that will last a lifetime of abuse wherever your skiing, biking, or hiking will take you.
Dedicated to the slow design movement, Ministry of Culture specializes in thoughtfully designed hats, waxed canvas bags, and sustainable clothing. We integrate low-waste practices, source USA-made materials, and emphasize reuse models to create high-quality functional pieces geared to last with a minimal footprint.
Fifth Season Canvas creates compostable bike bags made from Waxed Canvas, Hemp, Leather and Brass; gear that lasts for years but not forever. Our bags and products are made by one gal in Middlebury, Vermont.
Bivo is a sports-performance hydration brand, designing products that help people perform better for themselves and the planet. We've redefined hydration through smart design and world-class engineering. We're here to fuel sports performance through human movement. Movement = endorphins, and endorphins = fun! #FuelMoreFun
Using a "farm to table" mindset, we offer beautifully crafted apparel pieces in natural fibers, mostly in fully fashioned knitwear. Unisex, Men's, Women's, and Baby sizes. Who makes our clothing and where it comes from matter.
Deliberate Life Designs makes handmade, minimalist running sandals for any adventure. Each pair is made to order selecting from a wide assortment of models, colors and even foot shapes.
Eliza West is a Montpelier-based printmaker, sewist, and sewing teacher. She sells block printed bandanas and other textile goods and teaches people how to sew, alter, fit, and repair their own clothing and gear.
Sluff Wax is 100% plant-based ski & snowboard waxes aimed at having fun on snow while protecting our mountain communities and the environment. Waxes are primarily Vermont grown sunflowers handmade in Huntington and are always PFAS free. Let’s go skiing!
For over forty years, ACW’s passionate team of artisans has been designing & screen printing tees and other apparel for campgrounds, resorts, and other retailers in the outdoor recreation & tourism sectors. Visit our shop in Burlington’s vibrant southend arts district!
Nunivak Packs is part of Nunivak Farm School, bringing outdoor skills and experiences to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom and beyond. Visit our website for custom gear made to order, technical sewing and wildcrafting workshops, and a few farm products and services.
Rim Saver is a lightweight, easy-to-install tire insert that protects bicycle rims and prevents pinch flat tires. Developed in Vermont, it’s designed for mountain and gravel riders who want to keep their rides safe by protecting their rims and tires from damage.
Snövix manufactures the Varmäx, the original snow sleeve that "Minds The Gap" and keeps the outside, outside. When cold weather gets nasty, carry on with one less thing distracting you from really enjoying what you're there to do!
Sandbox is a local, no-bound creator space set up to disrupt fast fashion through small batch sustainable production, custom projects and textile reuse. We are proud to offer walk-in alterations, tailoring & repairs, second-hand clothing, workshops, private events, makers swaps and kids camp!
In a world often bound by routine and demands, we’re committed to keeping the spirit of adventure alive with your dog. Our products are designed for every walk, from long treks on rugged trails to brief strolls around the neighborhood. Each item is meticulously handmade to withstand a lifetime of exploration and hard work.
Vermont’s outdoor sports, recreation, and travel magazine with monthly print and online issues, Weekly emails, social media, plus Northeast Summer and Winter Expos in Saratoga Springs that bring it to life. Sister magazine: Upstate Sports: www.UpstateSports.fun.
Photos below by Evan Kay / Climb High Productions.
