SAN ANTONIO — If you are planning to finish some holiday shopping this weekend, there is an easy way to keep it local.
Local artisans will be featured at the Comadre Economies Pop-up Gift Shop market hosted by the Southwest Workers Union on the weekends until December 20.
Products and gifts include locally-grown herbs, gifts centered around healing, books, bags, jewelry and much more. The market also celebrates diversity among business owners and artisans and provides a platform for women and LGBTQIA+ creators. It also provides a platform for creators who have day jobs and do not have the space to run their own shops.
"The best gift is local, created with San Antonio people in mind," Diana Lopez of the Southwest Worker's Union said. "Many of the gifts here are sourced with plants in San Antonio, created by working families, working women and created with that in mind, to sustain movement forward."
Lopez says several of the artisans and creators have struggled during the pandemic.
"For example, Fuerza Unida has many of their items here, and they are a local sewing co-op, this is sustaining them through this time in the pandemic when they are not able to sell and be open as often as they can," Lopez said.
The market is open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 20. It is located at 1414 East Commerce Street and social distancing is practiced. The market also asks that you wear a mask.
SWU also partnered with the Southwest Organizing Project to create the “Water the Roots” Southwest Gift Guide. To learn more, click here: https://www.watertherootsgifts.org.
To hear about some other local businesses getting creative during the pandemic, check out the latest episodes of Commerce Street, a business podcast from KENS 5, below: