Makers United
Makers United is building a more inclusive community of U.S. maker-entrepreneurs and craftspeople by co-creating an ecosystem where BIPOC and low- income makers feel recognized and represented, and have access to the tools they need to grow their businesses – and thrive.
A subset of Nest’s global network of creative entrepreneurs, Makers United elevates the voices of diverse makers in the United States to ensure that the growing American Makers Movement is generating opportunity for all makers regardless of gender, race, economic means or ability.
Opportunities For Growth
Makers United is committed to building a better connected ecosystem for makers. To do this, Nest maps the local landscape of small business support and connects the dots between makers and the local, national, and peer resources they need. Additionally, through the program, creative entrepreneurs can gain access to exclusive opportunities like the Madewell Maker Collective, Etsy’s Uplift Makers Program, Nest’s flagship Makers Future Fund, and more!
Where We Work
Makers United reaches makers and creative entrepreneurs in 47 states and several territories with a growing library of digital resources and a calendar of online learning events.
Nest supports historically marginalized communities across the US and invests in the preservation of important craft traditions. These special programs include work with Gee’s Bend Quilters of Alabama, the Gullah Weavers of South Carolina, Native and Indigenous craftspeople, makers in Appalachia, NYC’s Garment District, the craft community in Puerto Rico. Additionally, we have a regional program for arriving immigrants and refugees in 4 states.
Get Involved
Makers United members receive access to Nest Connect, an exclusive digital hub featuring a growing library of business development resources prepared by industry experts, opportunities to participate in in-person local workshops in select communities, and the chance to apply for Nest’s more intensive accelerators and financing programs. All of the resources provided to members of the Makers United network are free to ensure equitable access and opportunity for all.
Lin Bader, Founder + Jeweler, Lin Bader Design
“As a young jewelry business, the Makers United program has been guiding me through every major milestone and providing invaluable opportunities like in-person workshops, mentorship, trade show exposures, grant programs… [it] is the community I can turn to for advice, guidance, and a sense of belonging.”
Going Deeper
Makers United brings visibility to under-represented maker entrepreneurs across the US. The program is driven by participant voice: leveraging human-centered design, makers co-create programs with Nest based on their specific business priorities. They drive their experience as we equitably match resources to needs.
Through Makers United, Nest is committed to expanding market access by bridging the digital divide that disproportionately affects BIPOC and low-income makers by increasing their access to ecommerce opportunities and working with them to develop the digital literacy needed to succeed.
Meet your fellow makers
Brennan West • Founder
Candles By John is more than just candles—it's about creating something meaningful that brings comfort, joy, and warmth into people’s homes.
I'm Brennan, the maker and owner behind Candles By John, an all-natural, hand poured, coconut wax candle studio based in San Francisco. My journey with candle-making began as a way for me to process my grief from the passing of my mom and grandfather in 2020. What started as a personal outlet in my kitchen soon grew into Candles By John, where each candle tells a story, inspired by family memories and the values that were instilled in me.
My grandfather John, our namesake, taught me the beauty of craftsmanship, and my mom passed on to me her love of botanicals, fragrances, and perfumes. Every candle I create is made with intention and care, using natural coconut wax and clean, sustainable ingredients. With every candle I pour, I’m honoring the people who shaped me and the lessons they left behind.
Website | Instagram
Jennifer Clifford • Founder
My travel-inspired artwork is made for people who love to explore, collect memories, and experience the world through vibrant art.
My business, Adventures in Collage, is a fine art, paper, and gift company based in San Francisco, California. I’m a certified interior designer who transitioned into a full-time art career in 2013 after discovering my passion for collage art in 2008.
What started as a hobby soon evolved into something more, as I melded the papers I collected on my travels with the vibrant textiles and wallpapers I loved while working as an interior designer.
Creating collage art became a way to preserve memories of my adventures, blending everything from maps and ticket stubs to the everyday beauty I saw around me. Each experiment led to the next, and before I knew it, I had found my thing. By 2013, I left corporate America and moved into a studio in North Beach, San Francisco, where my art and accessories are now sold in stores across the U.S. and collected by customers worldwide.
Each original collage is handmade, scanned, and digitally edited, producing a range of elevated art prints and gifts.
Website | Instagram
David Lee • Founder
Smith+Parka is my creative playground for making leather goods with a luxe twist.
I am the designer and founder of Smith+Parka, a unisex leather goods company. I’m a native New Yorker, born and raised in Queens, and a first-generation Asian American. With a 20-year career in the menswear fashion industry and a degree from FIT, I’ve honed my skills and passion for design. I currently live in Williamsburg with my dog, Summer, and am in the third year of running my brand. My shop and workspace are located in the Lower East Side’s Essex Market.
What makes the brand unique is that I design and sew every piece sold. I started with my signature product, the Solo Sling, aiming to create a sophisticated and functional solution for carrying just the essentials (phone, keys, wallet, etc..). I began by sewing and selling the Solo to people in my community, and then at pop-ups around the city. Within a year, I was lucky enough to expand to a shop in the Lower East Side. Now, as I enter the third year of running both the brand and production out of my store, I continue to craft one-of-a-kind bags using high-quality leather and trims.
My goal for Smith+Parka is to continuously push my design philosophy of merging functionality with minimalist styling. By staying true to this approach, I aim to keep growing my customer base and evolving the brand.
I invite anybody reading this to visit the shop and see the production and retail all happening in one space within the Essex market in the Lower East Side.