HOMEGROWN

After having a lot of success on their own, one brand has teamed up with Foot Locker Detroit to sell their clothes in some of their stores as part of Foot Locker’s Homegrown program. This is a new way to bring communities together while also showcasing local designers who are shaping the future of streetwear.

There are so many beauty brands to discover on the market, and there is one homegrown brand developed right here in Detroit with some connections to the other side of the world. This woman-owned company creates products with “high quality ingredients without compromising the environment or your budget,” as they put it.

Making pierogi is something Erica Pietrzyk has done since she was a kid. Now her family recipe is in over 100 stores, and this Tuesday she is adding paczki to the menu!

The Creative Cheesecake Collection is offering a variety of desserts.

Carey Gustafson is not your typical artist. Instead of canvases or clay, her medium is glass. She makes things like an Iggy Pop night light, a perfect portrait of your dog, or Bernie in his mittens.

Sometimes there is a story that has you feeling good, inside and out. Natural Red Family Care products and the story of how the company started is sure to do just that. Founder Karen Guilmette spoke to Kila Peeples about how she began Natural Red after she wanted access to all-natural lotions, deodorant, and other daily care products for her five children, all while she was in the middle of a divorce and having to adjust to her new life as a single mother. Now years later, Natural Red is sold in numerous stores all over Detroit and the Midwest, and she continues to support her kids and the desire for natural-based hygiene products. Watch the video above to learn more about Karen and Natural Red.

March is National Noodle Month, so why not celebrate with a local homegrown pasta business? Mama Mucci’s started in one family’s basement, but is now available in more than 200 stores and restaurants across Southeast Michigan. Mama Mucci’s president Vince Mucci said the business started more than 35 years ago with an idea that came out of the basement of his childhood home. He said he grew up eating his mother’s fresh homemade pasta which she cooked for special occasions like their weekly Sunday dinners. Now it’s not just a family recipe, it’s a family business.

Traveling to Italy may be something that is put on hold right now, however, there is a Michigan-made liqueur that brings Italy to your home. Craz Cello is a spirit that, as the website says, mixes Italian legacy with American spunk. Owners Jason Verbrugghe and Dominic Savone joined Tati Amare to talk about Craz Cello and showed a couple of ways you can enjoy the liqueur mixed in with popular cocktails. Craz Cello is available at various stores in and around Detroit. Watch the video above to see how you can enjoy Craz Cello!

This homegrown business is helping you add some flavor to your hot cocoa. It’s a Good Day Donut Café in Ypsilanti Township offers hot cocoa bombs in a variety of flavors such as salted caramel, snickerdoodle, cookies and cream and more. The hot cocoa bombs are easy to use and eat. You place them in your hot chocolate mixture and pour steaming milk on top then enjoy! The Good Day Donut Café also offers tasty donuts, hot cocoa and fondue kits.

Eastern Market has more than great, fresh produce, you’ll also interact with vendors selling all kinds of products that they create themselves. One specialty stand is Gus & Grey Handcrafted Delights. Kila Peeples met with the owner, Tara Grey, to learn the story of her journey to create her homegrown business. Now Tara sells her jams at Eastern Market, which she said is a dream come true because of the history and diverse vendors. Watch the video to see more on Tara’s journey to creating her homegrown company.

One of the most popular fashions in women’s clothing are leggings, and these days they go way beyond basic black. Sunday is International Legging Day and one local business is celebrating in the best way! Linda Schlesinger started a homegrown business in casual wear, including leggings, and it has really taken off. She spoke to Tati Amare about her company, Skinny Tees in Birmingham, and the skyrocketing popularity of leggings. Watch the video above to learn more about Skinny Tees and the special offer you can claim when you purchase a pair of leggings.

During the dog days of summer, everyone can use a treat to beat the heat, and that includes our dogs. You may buy them a cone at the local ice cream stand, but one homegrown business is now making ice cream specifically for your pooch. In 2018, when they were asked to put on an ice cream social for dogs, they started looking for vendors. All their dog ice creams are made using natural, non-GMO, ingredients that are locally based. Working together with their partner, Bow Wow Baketique, they offer dog bones and dog ice cream sandwiches as well.

When James Reynolds was around 10 years old he would watch an older man shine shoes at the barbershop. One day the man noticed Reynolds observing him and invited him to practice shining shoes. While it’s rare to find a place to shine shoes, you can find James showcasing his shoe shine skills at Campus Martius, located in Downtown Detroit. People from around the world come to have their shoes shined by the “Shoe Doctor” himself. To learn more about the Shoe Doctor click on the video above.