Search Makers
Portland is a bustling hub for artists, entrepreneurs and makers of all stripes.
The Rose City is a haven for makers, with a seemingly endless supply of community studios, warehouses and makerspaces that let you DIY your way around town. Whether you make it yourself or buy it from a local artist, finding a made-in-Portland souvenir should always be on your to-do list. Read on for our guide to the city’s maker scene, then check out our events calendar for upcoming maker events in Portland.
Local Makers
The Rose City's maker community crafts an endless array of unique, handcrafted goods.
Makerspaces to Visit
Behind the doors of warehouses and studios across the city, highly skilled locals craft everything from candles to clothing to custom furniture. The best part? These makers not only create and sell their goods but also offer workshops and tours. Discover your inner DIY-er and see the creative process up close at the city’s most celebrated makerspaces.
Maker Events
Visit with local artists and find inspiration for your own next project at these events.
Portland Open Studios
For two weekends every October, Portland Open Studios invites visitors to explore the houses and offices of artists across the city.
Crafty Wonderland
Portland’s biannual art and craft fair boasts unique handmade wares from 225+ local vendors.
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Classes & Workshops
Modern Domestic
Settle in at one of the premium sewing machines at Northeast Alberta sewing studio Modern Domestic and take part in classes of all levels for crafting apparel, quilts, bags and accessories. This sewing studio is also a retail store, so if you run out of buttons or batting mid-project, they’ve got you covered.
Bridgetown Forge
“My biggest joy is hand forging,” says Arnon Kartmazov, founder of North Portland’s Bridgetown Forge. Trained in Israel and Japan, the blacksmith shares his joy — and his exemplary skills — by teaching classes such as basic smithing, tool making and knife making. Beginners welcome.
Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC)
Offering classes on letterpress printing, bookbinding, screen printing and graphic design, the Independent Publishing Resource Center is geared to lovers of books and creative expression. A mix of workshops, kids’ classes and free events like Open Collage Night make this Southeast Portland resource center a progressive space for literary crafters of all stripes.
Klum House
Klum House is a one-stop bag making shop and school offering bag making kits, patterns, tools, supplies, and workshops to help makers like you create heavy-duty bags on a home sewing machine.
Make & Mary
Make & Mary provides arts and crafts classes for the “highly inspired.” Their calendar of cannabis-themed workshops includes painting, macrame, wood burning, embroidery and a self-care series where students make their own CBD-infused massage oils, tinctures and bath salts. BYOW (weed) is strongly encouraged.
Learn a Craft
Tours
Spooltown
Get behind the scenes at sewing factory Spooltown, the production force behind handbags and accessories for brands big and small. Book a tour for up to 25 people at info@spooltown.com to check out this Central Eastside makerspace, their robotic cutting table and their team at work cutting leather, skiving (slicing fabric) and sewing.
Grovemade
Crafting wood and leather accessories for home, office and lifestyle (think planters, laptop stands and minimalist wallets), Grovemade does everything from product conception, design and manufacturing to photography and marketing at their Southeast Portland headquarters. See their production process, milling machines, industrial lasers and woodshop; tours for up to seven people can be booked at hello@grovemade.com.
PSAA
Portland Street Art Alliance offers interpretative tours of Portland street art, via biking, walking, or driving tours. This volunteer-run organization sends expert tour guide leaders who have experience in community art making, public policy, urban and public space studies. Learn about the history of Portland street art while exploring all of the neighborhoods.
Upcoming Maker Events
Explore the city's vibrant maker scene these upcoming events.
The Makers Fair Holiday Market at Rejuvenation
Support Portland's local makers with one-of-a-kind and easy-to-find holiday gifts with purpose all season long. It features 140 of Portland’s best local makers, artists and craftspeople under one roof, seven days a week from October 10 through December 23. The market includes a curated selection of specialty hand-crafted candles, gifts, fine and fashion jewelry, ceramics,…
Portland Indigenous Marketplace
Mark your calendars with the following dates for 2023. The Indigenous Marketplaces will be held in various locations in Portland, so double-check locations before heading out. The Indigenous and Black Artists and Entrepreneurs this organization serves through the Indigenous Marketplace programming are the greatest partners and contributors to this work. This amazing community of vendors…
Crafty Wonderland Holiday Art + Craft Market
Portland’s biannual art and craft fair boasts unique handmade wares from 225+ local vendors.
NAYA Native Made Winter Marketplace
The season of gifting is upon us. Get your holiday shopping done and support local Native artists at the Native American Youth and Family Center’s (NAYA) Native Made Winter Marketplace. You’ll find beautiful jewelry, clothing, crafts, prints and much more. There will be upwards of 50 makers joining for this special event. NAYA Marketplace is…
Spectrum Holigay Art Market
Come to the Lloyd Center Mall for the annual holiGAY market on the first floor at room 959 (formally Express, right next to the ice rink) for a curated shopping experience featuring LGBTQs2IA+ artists and designs from around the Portland-Metro area. Discover everything from home décor, unique accessories, ceramics, glass, and even retro-reflective wear. There…
Portland Night Market
The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Meet some of Portland's best makers and creators. With almost 200 hundred makers, the Night Market offers food carts, drinks, clothing, lifestyle goods, home goods, body care and…
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