10 Home-Run Father’s Day Gifts From Northwest Makers

brightly colored charcoal habanero salt chocolate bar

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Charcoal habanero salt dark chocolate bar from Edmonds-based ChocolateSpiel. Credit: Angela Pfleiderer

Spoiler alert: that special dad in your life doesn’t need a pack of metal “ice cubes” for his whiskey. He needs a mushroom knife and brick of fragrance that will make him smell like he just emerged from the woods with a gentle roar. Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.

Welcome to ParentMap’s first-ever all-local Father’s Day gift guide, brought to you by me, a local mom whose son laughs heartily at most of my wife’s dad jokes. As a bonus, most of these unique local treasures come from indie makers and sellers of color.

Whether you’re shopping for your dad, a father figure or treating yourself, this guide will help you celebrate Father’s Day with local flair while supporting our vibrant Puget Sound small business community.

Shout out to the little league dads. Credit: Aleksandar Nakic, iStock 947597860

The Blue + Black Kit, $84

This stylish café racer combo from KOBO Seattle has everything an artsy biker dad needs: a black cotton t-shirt printed with a classic motorcycle graphic inspired by a 1930s Japanese playing card, a pair of blue Japanese boot socks made with 78 percent organic midweight cotton yarn and linen, a sleek hardcover journal and guide featuring everything from the periodic table to alternative alphabets, and the one-and-only Blackwing Pencil, which, if you know, you know. KOBO Seattle sells art and design from artists and artisans in the Pacific Northwest, Japan and beyond. They have two Seattle shops, one in the International District and the other on Capitol Hill.

The Blue + Black Kit. Credit: courtesy of KOBO Seattle

Nocino Walnut Liqueur, $32 for 750ml

For the dad who has clear opinions on whether his cocktails are shaken or stirred, Nocino Walnut Liqueur from Snohomish-based Skip Rock Distillers is the perfect addition to his home bar. Made from Pacific Northwest walnuts that are harvested while still green, this traditional Italian digestif combines a savory blend of nut, spice, citrus and a hint of sweetness that make it an excellent companion to classic cocktails or a deliciously decadent drizzle over a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

Bangkok Track Jacket, $65

Are you an Elder Millennial Dad who shuffles onto the dance floor of your kitchen whenever you hear the first opening croon from Montell Jordan in “This Is How We Do It”? When Tribe Called Quest comes through the speakers of your Prius to ask their essential question, do you think to yourself, yes, I can still kick it? Have I found the throwback track jacket of your dreams. Zip-through, hooded and made from high-quality waterproof nylon that’s perfect for our Pacific Northwest rainy season (all year), the Bangkok Track Jackets from Seattle-based Moksha are unmissable in bright neons and metallic. There are six different color combinations to choose from. My vote for Dad (or for me) is the one in hot pink, gold and black.

Elder Millennial Dad, we see you. Credit: Bernard Bodo, iStock 1492076634

Mushroom knife, $30

Whether Dad’s looking for magic or the elusive morel in our Pacific Northwest forests, this beautiful fungus slicer from Capitol Hill-based Glasswing is the tool he didn’t know he needed to bring some class to his foraging. Handmade with birch, stainless steel and natural horse hair bristles, this knife is ideal for both mushroom picking and cleaning.

Glasswing mushroom knife — The only mushroom knife Dad will ever need. Credit: courtesy of Glasswing

Devil’s Garden solid cologne, $60 for 0.2 ounces

Is the zaddy in your life inclined to captivate a room without ever saying a word? The solid cologne bar by Fulton & Roark is just the finishing touch he needs to add to his pre-date night routine. This rugged scent blends smoky Haitian vetiver root, aromatic cardamom and crisp juniper berry with leathery styrax for added depth and mystery. Inspired by the high desert’s allure yet lush in green notes, this fragrance is the perfect mix of earthy and fresh, just like Debonair Dad. Available through Seattle Thread Company.

dapper man in a suit smiles lightly looking at the camera — You know this dapper dad smells amazing. Credit: FreshSplash, iStock 1205721235

Brick + Mortar tote bag, $25

Strong and durable like Dad, this handsome tote is made from 100 percent jute and protected with a waterproof liner. Built for the Seattle drizzle, Dad can drop this in a puddle and not worry about a soggy steak sandwich or rain-ruined laptop. With sturdy leather handles that are stitched and riveted, he can haul this gentlemanly bag around with abandon. Printed with Brick & Mortar’s classic graphic and available in black, natural and blue.

Tote by Seattle-based Brick + Mortar. Credit: courtesy of Brick + Mortar

Bear Claws wool blanket, $245

Perfect for the Papa Bear in your family, Eighth Generation’s Bear Claws wool blanket is designed by Piikani/Blackfeet artist John Isaiah Pepion and shares symbols of power and protection. The sharp triangles in this blanket represent bear claws, specifically those of the grizzly bear. “Grizzlies are one of the most sacred and powerful animals for Blackfeet people,” says Pepion. “They represent protection, medicine and power.” Eighth Generation is a Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe.

Bear Claws Wool Blanket is designed by Piikani/Blackfeet artist John Isaiah Pepion. Credit: courtesy of Eighth Generation

Makini’s Vegan Kitchen: 10th Anniversary Edition of the Plum Cookbook, $27

Did your old man start drinking out of plastic quart containers and sprinkling crushed potato chips over omelets as soon as he finished watching “The Bear”? Have we got the cookbook for this foodie father figure. The 10th anniversary edition of "Makini’s Vegan Kitchen" by local award-winning chef Makini Howel is filled with creative and delicious plant-based recipes from Plum Bistro, Chef Howell’s renowned vegan fine-dining restaurant Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. From Toasted Chocolate Bread with Cream Cheese Crème Fraîche to Plum’s life-changing Smoky Mac, this cookbook is filled with surprisingly vegan recipes that are not only mouthwatering and hearty, but are also allergen-friendly and often gluten-free, soy-free, or both. Published by local indie publisher Sasquatch Books, and available from Ada’s Technical Books on Capitol Hill.

cover of Mikini’s Vegan Kitchen cookbook — From Chef Makini Howel of Seattle’s award-winning Plum Bistro. Credit: courtesy of Sasquatch Books

Splatter paint chocolate, $18 for three bars

If your pops has a sweet tooth and an eye for design, Edmonds-based ChocolateSpiel has the gorgeous treat he didn’t know he’s been craving. Hand-splatter painted and crafted in small batches from bean to bar, these colorful sweets (and semi-sweets) are inspired by the chocolate maker’s German origins where she studied chemical engineering for paints. Flavors range from classic dark chocolate, to adventurous options like the 72 percent dark bar with orange and cayenne or the salty licorice white bar with anise. For the pack of three bars, you can choose your own combination.

brightly colored spicy orange chocolate bar — Spicy orange dark chocolate bar from Edmonds-based ChocolateSpiel. Credit: Angela Pfleiderer

Seattle Mariners New Era Brown 59FIFTY fitted hat, $44

Oh sure, Baseball Dad already has Mariners jerseys in the home and away colors and even the Sunday creams, but what’s on his head? The same M’s flat brim that he’s been rocking since college?! It’s time for an update and our home team has made an extra sweet play with this new spring release. This official Seattle Mariners hat sports the team's classic logo embroidered against a tone-on-tone terracotta background. It also features six panels with eyelets and a slick color-contrast undervisor in grey. Even better — make this gift a true home run of a Father’s Day surprise by pairing this stylish headgear with game tickets for a memory-making family afternoon at T-Mobile Park.