I’m not going to lie. Most of my back to school shopping will probably take place at big box stores with nice discounts. I’ll probably end up with some items with licensed characters plastered on them. But I can still window shop for (and hopefully purchase) some handmade items to support crafters and small businesses. Here are some items I have my eye on:
Handmade pencil bags. These are great for elementary aged kids bringing their own pencils to school, or even for a high school student who needs somewhere to keep her toiletry items. And by toiletry items, I mean tampons. I love this Etsy shop, Sam Made.
Clothing labels. If you’re sending kids to school with a spare jacket, change of clothes, or gym clothes, you’re going to need to label them. Skip the permanent marker and try iron on clothing labels. These have a hip, indie feel.
Wall calender. Great for college students or schedule-organizers (moms), these vinyl wall decals leave plenty of room for adding information on individual days.
Tee shirts. This isn’t exactly a back to school essential, but handmade tee shirts are pretty cool. They’re a fun way to skip the same old shirts the rest of the kids will be wearing and introduce some indie cred and small business friendly designs. I love this retro robot! Or check out everything at Threadless.com.
Reusable snack bags. Packing a lunch? Skip the plastic bags and stock up on a few reusable snack bags that end up saving you money (and saving the planet) in the long run.
