This year for The Local Artisan Guide’s Father’s Day gift recommendations we asked some fathers what they would like to get as gifts then we researched and matched artisanal brands that fit our ethos (and dads would love). What made it easier for us this year is that we were heavily inspired by our annual trip upstate New York to Kingston, where we visited the “Field & Supply” Spring Market. Field & Supply is a heavily curated modern makers market that spotlights local brands in categories of apparel, accessories, home decor, beauty & wellness, jewelry and more. As we explored the beautiful tented grounds located right on the picturesque Hudson River, we were greatly inspired by the local brands and the stories of their makers. The different cuisines of the food stalls made for a great day escape from the city. We gladly picked some of their makers for our Father’s Day gift guide from their new online shop to make it easy for you to shop artisanal gifts for dad. We encourage you greatly to check out the Field & Supply site and possibly visit their outdoor markets, which will certainly inspire you to shop local and artisanal, especially for dear old dad (or any dad figure in your life).

A view of Field & Supply in upstate NY in Kingston along the beautiful Hudson River.

THE BIG GREEN EGG 10” MINI CHARCOAL KAMADO GRILL & SMOKER IN GREEN

**Big Green Egg 10 in. Mini Charcoal Kamado Grill and Smoker in Green, $469**

For generations fathers have loved grilling on the iconic Big Green Egg. A grill was a popular Father’s Day choice from those dads we asked what they would like, so we chose the Big Green Egg is now available in a mini 10 inch form that makes it easy to take it on picnics, your apartment balcony, vacations, boating, camping and more! What makes the Big Green Egg in mini form so special is featured in it’s copy:

“The Big Green Egg is the highest quality, most versatile and simplest-to-use outdoor cooker available, offering more cooking options than all other conventional cookers combined. Grill, roast, smoke, sear and bake the EGG does all this and more!

Quick and easy to start - reaches cooking temperature and is ready to use in minutes
Precisely control the temperature by easily adjusting the patented air flow systems. The calibrated temperature gauge provides precise readings from 150 to 750F.
An EGG retains heat and moisture so well that foods don’t dry out. Your food is naturally tastier because the EGG is a completely natural way to cook, and youll appreciate the difference at your first bite.
The Big Green Egg is fueled by 100% natural hardwood for superb performance and flavor. Your food will have a natural and wholesome quality without any chemical aftertaste.
Best-In-Class limited lifetime warranty your investment is protected by a successful company with a worldwide reputation for unmatched customer service.
Weight: 39 lbs”

HAPPY BOARD, THE CLASSIC CHARCUTERIE

**The Classic Charcuterie HappyBoard, $40**

What was another popular request from dads? Meat! So we recommend “Happy Boards”, a charcuterie shop located in the Lower East Side, NY that offers an array of charcuterie boards. You can go to their website and order the charcuterie board of your choice. We like “The Classic Charcuterie” that includes: Truffle Pecorino, Gouda, Triple Cream Brie, genoa salami, spicy coppa, fig jam, herb-infused honey, mixed nuts, caperberries, seasonal dried and fresh fruits, and seasonal vegetables. Includes a box of assorted crackers (optional). Designed to serve 2-3 people. If you are not in New York City, many places offer a variation of what Happy Boards offers as we advise it is always best to shop local.

FIELD + SUPPLY, HAND-PAINTED KRAFT SPIRAL NOTEBOOK

FIELD + SUPPLY, WMS & CO. Hand painted Kraft Spiral Notebook, $28

Field + Supply offers the carefully crafted objects from WMS & CO., a brand that offers everyday objects elevated by design and influenced by history. We think dad would like this Kraft notebook to be used as a journal or someplace to keep his notes and thoughts. “The artist’s way is to have a little notebook always at hand, ready to accept ideas big and small. Each of these Kraft cardstock-covered notebooks is a unique work of sweetly naïve modern art, hand-painted, and hand-bound on a vintage press in a small Iowa studio. Spiral bound with burnished copper wire. 50 pages of thick bright white uncoated paper stock. 7.5 x 9.75". Ruled.”

FIELD + SUPPLY, ROAD TO NOWHERE, MEN’S SANTOS JACKET

Field + Supply offers the apparel collection of “Road to Nowhere”, a sustainable clothing brand for men and women located in Montauk, NY where the clothes are effortlessly stylish, comfortable, and ethically produced. We think the “Santos Jacket” will bring dad’s style level up ten fold. Made in Los Angeles, the Santos Jacket was designed from a favorite vintage painter's coat. Made from the signature Bemberg™ fabric, this jacket is as comfortable as it is versatile. Wear it open as a jacket or button it up as a stand alone shirt.

FIELD + SUPPLY, WICKERS CREEK, SACRED EMBER SCENTED CANDLE

For a gift that is easy for dad to transport we recommend Field + Supply, Wickers Creek Sacred Ember Scented Candle. Wickers Creek is a Hudson, NY based candle company with a reverence for heritage craftsmanship. Their candles are all anchored by the slow burn of master crafters working in small batches. The 14 oz. hand-poured candle in reusable metal showpiece is the first of a wide array of Wickers Creek products launching soon. For dad we know he will love the Ember Scented Candle which using a sensual mix of sweet orris and smoky copal, it celebrates the ritual of gathering around the fire. “Nature’s silence paired with the crackle of aged wood, the unmistakable scent of dry heat, and the wild spirit of the flame.”

Reusable metal vessel
Hand-poured, plant-based wax blend
Average burn time 55-60 hours
14oz (396g).

FIELD + SUPPLY, MOSES NADEL, RANGE TRAVEL BAG

One of our gift recommendations on the high end is this spectacular leather travel bag from Moses Nadel, a bespoke boutique atelier on Long Island, NY. They offer a well-curated collection of handmade luxury lifestyle products; leather artifacts, fine interior items, bags and accessories. Your father will love and treasure this leather duffle bag that will only become more beautiful as it ages and becomes a family heirloom. It is available in a multitude of colors (saddle color pictured) and as stated in the website the Range Travel Bag is, “A premium two-way large zipper, an interior zip pocket, two easily accessible drop-pockets, and two exterior side drop-pockets offer easy access, and a reinforced bottom panel with metal footing offers structure. Built to wear over the shoulder or with a fully adjustable and removable cross-body strap. Material Leather. Unlined with leather bottom and sides for support. Dimensions L 20.5" x W 9" x H 14". Handles 9" drop (L 21"), shoulder strap 38"-57" (removable).”

FIELD + SUPPLY, FLORA BEAUTY, COGNAC + TOBACCO GROOMING OIL

On the more affordable side of the spectrum of gift giving for dad is skincare for keeping dad’s skin looking soft, supple and youthful. In the last few years men have been catching up with women in wellness and the benefits of taking care of your skin. Gone are the days when a man would just slap some drying cologne on their skin and call it a day. Flora, a beauty and wellness brand based in Kingston, NY Flora honors this tradition with its line of natural, artisanal beauty treatments for hair, face, and body, crafted utilizing the highest-quality ingredients, selected without limitations of cost. Their Grooming Oil is, “A blend of organic Argan Oil and Borage Oil. Use to hydrate and soften facial hair and moisturize skin. Reduce inflammation in the hair follicles that can occur from the abrasiveness of shaving. Moisturizes hair and replenishes a dry scalp. The scent is sweet tobacco and cognac reminiscent of your grandfather’s humidor.”

FIELD + SUPPLY, MOSES NADEL, WEIGHTED PERISPHERE BALL

If your father is into sports we found the perfect artisanal gift, this Weighted Perisphere Ball from Moses Nadel. We love this gift as it can be either used as a medicine ball or home decor because it is such a beautiful work of art. “Inspired by traditional medicine balls, these unique objects have weight to them. They are as much a decorative work of art as an actual plaything to complete your training routine.

Each ball is a hand cut each 5-sided panel from select hides of American Buffalo and recycled weighted fill
Each piece is finished with traditional hand-lacing
Weights slightly vary
Materials: American Buffalo Leather. Recycled weighted fill.”

FIELD + SUPPLY, KC-KO, SINGLE WRAP MEN’S BRACELET

Another affordable Father’s Day gift we found on the Field + Supply online store is this nice piece of masculine jewelry from KC-KO, s small local brand that offers small-batch leather goods, hand-made in NYC. The Single Wrap Bracelet (burgundy waxed) comes in three sizes and they even offer the option of having it monogrammed for an additional $8. We love this for dad!

RICHARD WRIGHTMAN, FOLDING OFFICER’S FIELD CHAIR

And we end our last Father's Day gift with the ultimate artisan gift for dad we highly recommend this piece of campaign furniture from furniture designer Richard Wrightman. This Folding Officer’s Chairs made to order and offers a variety of material options. Richard Wrightman designs have all been inspired by campaign furniture (furniture the military in the past used while on a military campaign) and besides the well constructed folding chair, this piece comes with it’s own carefully crafted wooden box. You (or dad) can customize the design by choosing the wood, leather and fabric for this particular design. The dimensions are 20” W x 28” D x 27.5” H Seat Height: 8” Price is upon request once you chose the materials for this one of kind, once in a lifetime gift for dad that he will not only treasure but gladly use.

That is The Local Artisan Guide’s recommendation for Father’s Day 2024. We hope you explore Field + Supply as they are a great source for locally curated artisan products for all. I thank the dads that gave me their suggestions on what they would like to receive for Father’s Day. I wish all the men who are fathers and father figures a happy Father’s Day, providing for and creating a safe and loving family is the really the gift that keeps on giving.

By Natalie Rivera

This pass week there was a crossroads of two popular events in New York City; the 2018 US Open and New York Fashion Week. It was a very appropriate interchange as lately there seems to be more attention to the ladies fashion choices at major tennis opens than their game (except for the finals women’s match where the public was stunned by Serena William’s major upset, her response and her fine for violations that have been deemed as sexist).

Recently Bernard Giudicelli, the President of the French Tennis Federation (FTF), damned the black catsuit that Serena rocked in the French Open as, “disrespectful to the game”. Giudicelli is currently working on implementing a stricter dress code in the future for the French Open. This is surprising considering France is synonymous with fashion making one think the FTF would if not encourage at least be fine with Serena’s tennis catsuit. However let's not forget this is the country where they restrict women from wearing Burqas. Serena William’s catsuit, designed by Nike, was not only meant to be fashionable but to be functional as the form fitting outfit helps Serena’s blood circulation. Serena Williams has a serious medical condition of blood clotting that almost proved fatal when she gave birth to her first child and the catsuit works to prevent her condition from reoccuring.

Serena William's black catsuit has inspired officials to make and enforce stricter dress codes for the French Open.

Serena said she felt like a “Warrior Princess” when she wore her catsuit outfit however it wasn’t the first time a catsuit had been worn at a major tennis tournament. In 1985 tennis player Anne White made the tennis officials at Wimbledon clutch their pearls when she wore an all white catsuit with leg warmers (remember it was the 80’s). It was politely suggested she change her outfit for her remaining matches (which she did).

Wimbledon judges were not feeing Anne White's white catsuit in 1985.

Just recently at the 2018 US Open, tennis player Alize Cornet courted controversy when after an outfit change due to extreme heat, she realized her top was on backwards. After moving court side, Cornet quickly removed her top briefly exposing her black sports bra. The chair umpire informed her that she would receive a code violation for removing her shirt on the court (something male players seem to do without any rebuke).

This is the moment Alize Cornet inspired the tennis court umpire to penalize her for removing her top to switch it around.

The incident caused an immediate media uproar identifying the sexist action forcing the United States Tennis Association to rapidly issue an apology to Cornet. They stated that she did not break any rules and will not receive a violation. Although it may not have been the chair umpire’s intention to bring upon so much attention to her tennis outfit, that is what is the match is being ultimately remembered for and not the formable game she played.

This year at the 2018 US Open we saw Serena Williams start off her first match by displaying her love for fashion in a one sleeve tutu by Nike with fishnets stockings that was not only stylish but enhanced the fluidity of her movements while playing. Throughout her matches she delightfully surprised the audience with her fashion aplomb which on any other player would have dominated the attention but with her magnificent sportsmanship we can easily recall her moves on the court as well.

Serena's debut tennis tutu for the 2018 US Open was right on point.

Serena Williams kept up her fashion IQ during the 2018 US Open.

Women’s tennis wear has been able to evolve throughout the ages otherwise women players would still look like Victorian ladies, covered in long white dresses with puffy sleeves. Throughout the last 140 years as women’s rights and fashion evolved so did the tennis outfits and their rising hemlines. Although there was always guidelines and rules during tournaments, it was women players throughout the ages taking chances in fashion that gradually led to what women players can wear today.

Tennis wear when the sport first became popular to women was quite constricting with corsets, long sleeves, lots of crinoline and a hat!

The sleeves and skirt are long but at least they are white!

Karol Fageros was banned from her tournament because she wore gold lame tennis shorts underneath her tennis dress.

Pro tennis player Gertrude Moran scandalized the tennis world by wearing a tennis dress so short you can see her ruffled knickers.

With the advancement of technology in textiles for sportswear both women and men should be allowed to wear outfits that help improve their game with comfort and ease. The reason Wimbledon players donned tennis whites in the first place was because you can see perspiration less with white, yet with the advancement of textiles Wimbledon is still fanatical with rules on tennis whites. If a particular fabric or particular style helps you perspire less and play better, why shouldn’t a player wear it?

High end designers such as Stella McCartney have collaborated with large sports wear brands such as Adidas to create fashionable tennis dresses so amazing you want to wear them off the court too.

Inphorm is a growing activewear brand making a big splash in the Athleisure wear trend combining fashion and function.

Inphorm is starting to rise up in the ranks of tennis design with pro players like Jacqueline Cako  gladly wearing their fashion forward outfits. — Inphorm is starting to rise up in the ranks of tennis design with pro players like Jacqueline Cako gladly wearing their fashion forward outfits.

Pharrell Williams collaborated with Adidas for a futuristic look at tennis wear.

Fashion is a reflection of our civilization and culture. Monitoring and policing professional tennis tournaments at this point in contemporary society is not an example of evolving. There is a reason Athleisure wear is all the rage now; women want to go about their day looking as stylish as they can but not sacrifice comfort, why would this be any different for sports? Luckily brands such as Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, Athleta and outstanding rising NYC based fashion forward brand Inphorm are spearheading the evolution of combining fashion and function. While tennis associations can always provide guidelines for their players hopefully they will be open minded enough especially in the #MeToo age to regard a woman’s right to not be told what they should wear.

When tennis associations (or any sport association) decide to let up on strict rules and regulations regarding the fashion aspect of sports wear perhaps in the future it will not be first thing that people or the media pay attention to but the player's sportsmanship and talent. Fashion could then be the secondary fun topic it was always meant to be.

By Natalie Rivera