Makers United

Makers United: Building a More Inclusive Makers Movement

Makers United is building a more vibrant and inclusive makers movement across the United States by providing maker entrepreneurs who often face barriers to accessing the support they need with the resources and market access opportunities they need to thrive.

With a focus on elevating BIPOC makers and delivering innovative market access solutions, Makers United ensures that the growing American makers movement is generating opportunity for all makers regardless of gender, race, economic means or ability.

Photo Credit: Tosha Gaines Photography

Meeting Makers Where They Are

Nest is committed to both reaching and discovering new makers in cities and locales across the country in order to co-create tailored programming that meets the needs of specific communities. Our community-driven process invests in local leadership who map both of the maker population as well as the business resources and market access opportunities available to them. Upon gaining a comprehensive understanding of maker communities’ unique opportunities and challenges, our local leaders engage a range of local stakeholders—from government officials to local retailers to makers themselves—to deliver robust and targeted solutions grounded in maker voice.

Since its launch in Birmingham in 2019, Makers United has expanded into 6 other cities/territories, including Austin, San Antonio, Detroit, St. Louis, Puerto Rico and New York City’s Garment District as well as nationally with 815 makers in 35 states.

Photo Credit: Kristen Blush Photography | Tom’s Sons International Pleating

Makers United membership is free of charge and open to all makers and artisans in the United States and its territories.

To become a Makers United member, follow these steps:

Click here to enroll
Complete the survey
Begin accessing resources!

Jewelers United

Jewelers United is a micro-accelerator program for emerging US-based jewelry makers in the Nest Guild to receive expert mentorship and market access opportunities, as well as capital support to address their most pressing business needs.

Now in its second year, Jewelers United—with generous support from our industry partners including BuDhaGirl, Columbia Gem House, Dana Bronfman, Esqueleto, Melee the Show, and an Anonymous donor—is supporting 5 jewelry makers with the comprehensive programmatic and funding support needed to take their businesses to the next levels.

Jewelers United: 2023 Member Cohort

Atiwo Designs
@atiwodesigns

Dorianne Attiogbe
Atiwo Designs

Lin Bader Designs
@linbaderdesign

Lin Bader
Lin Bader Designs

Hasmig Annoush Jewelry
@hasmig_annoush_jewelry

Hasmig Hanessian
Hasmig Annoush Jewelry

Lys Santamaria, Artist
@lys.artist

Lys Santamaria
Lys Santamaria, Artist

Cherokee Garden

Lynn Wilson
Cherokee Garden

Supporting Indigenous American Makers

With the guidance of Native advisors and consultants, Nest is launching a Makers United cohort to support Indigenous American makers. Our first step is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the resources currently available to Native artists . With this knowledge, Nest will articulate ways to increase access to these tools and identify the resource gaps that our programming can address, supporting the expansion and growth of existing Native-led programs.

Artist: Corey Stein (Tlingit), b. 1963-
Title: Wrangell Petroglyph (2015)
Medium: Seed beads handsewn on felt

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Bridging the Digital Divide

Through Makers United, Nest works with talented craftspeople that are preserving integral chapters of American craft but lack access to digital direct-to-consumer platforms and the technical know-how to harness the power of these sales channels for success. Nest partners with Etsy to support craft communities through the company’s Uplift Makers Program, which is designed to create financial opportunities for artisans facing economic hardships, while simultaneously recognizing and celebrating their artistic contributions to history and culture. To date, we have worked together to bring a number of the famed Gee’s Bend quilters and Gullah basket weavers online, as well as recently resettled Afghan refugees, and Indigenous artisans from across the US and Canada.

Photo Credit: 1212 Design

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Fostering Inclusive Creativity Drives Economic Growth

Nest’s work with maker entrepreneurs across the country is driven by a belief that fostering inclusive and diverse creative communities serves as a key driver of economic growth. Opening a maker business has lower barriers and costs to entry than other start-up industries and when done successfully can yield dividends for both the maker entrepreneur and their community. Additionally, home-based businesses and creative side hustles are playing an increasingly critical role in allowing individuals to grow their financial resilience while providing for themselves and their families.

Nest pairs Makers United business owners with mentorship opportunities through our employee engagement programs and market access opportunities with our brand partners. Makers United business owners have participated in employee engagement programs to further refine their craft with brands such as Hermès. Additionally, Makers United participants have been featured in dedicated marketing promotions and sales opportunities with Amazon Handmade, West Elm and Madewell.

Photo Courtesy of Scarlet Crane Creations

Makers United Cities

Nest is grateful to the individual, corporate, and philanthropic supporters who have made our local Makers United reports, capacity building workshops, and market access opportunities possible. Our reports outlining the challenges and opportunities for maker businesses in the cities we’ve reached are available for download on our Research and Advocacy page.

Get the Reports

EXPANDING CAPITAL ACCESS FOR U.S. MAKERS

The Nest Revolving Maker Fund Supported by the Tory Burch Foundation exists to help woman-owned maker businesses in the US grow and achieve financial sustainability by providing them with capital to address their critical business development needs.

Woman-owned maker businesses that participated in Nest’s Makers United programming in Birmingham, Austin/San Antonio, Detroit, or St. Louis, are eligible to apply for funding.

The 2021 Application is now closed.