★ About the Awards ★

 
The Made in NC Awards shine a spotlight on North Carolina’s incredible artisans and creative craftspeople. Perhaps you’re a talented bladesmith crafting chef’s knives out of vintage farm tools, or you’re a potter shaping Carolina clay into one-of-a-kind pieces of art, or you’re a woodworker building birdhouses out of old tobacco barnwood. Maybe you sell honey infused with locally grown ingredients at the farmers market, or you make ravioli filled with scratch-made pimento cheese, or you brew a seasonal beer that your customers can’t get enough of. Whatever it is that you proudly make and sell in our state, we want to celebrate you and help you show it off to folks from mountains to coast.

You will have seven weeks, spanning from June 1 to July 20, to submit your product to the Made in NC Awards. After the submission period, our esteemed panel of judges will spend from July 21 to September 19, carefully tasting, testing, and inspecting top-notch entries. The judges will choose one winner and two honorable mentions for each category. Winners will be announced on September 20.

★ Craft

This category includes decorative artisan items that aesthetically enhance our everyday life, from bespoke stationery to hand-poured candles to decorative glass and pottery to visual art like wall prints, and much more.

Entries may include:

• Paper
• Decorative pottery
• Decorative glass
• Artisan textiles
• Fine basketry
• Woodwork
• Metalwork
• Instruments
• Candles
• Artisan soap
• Body products
• Other decorative items

★ Drink

Think freshly roasted coffee beans, sparkling cider, blackberry mint syrup, and aromatic bitters made with locally sourced botanicals. Wine, beer, juices, spirits, cocktail mixes, sodas, craft cocktail ingredients, and anything else we can sip are welcome.

Entries may include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Soda
• Juice
• Tonics
• Wine
• Beer
• Spirits
• Cocktail mixers

★ Food

Do people tell you they can’t live without your barbecue sauce? Is your caramel cake a local legend? We want to try it! From pies and cakes to cheese straws and chocolate bon bons, spicy mustard and strawberry pepper jelly to fresh baked bread and country ham, this category covers all food items — canned or jarred, sweet or savory, baked or fried.

Entries may include:

• Sweet (candies, desserts, baked goods, etc.)
• Savory (crackers, breads, meats, cheeses, etc.)
• Sauces, spreads, and condiments

Note: We cannot accept raw foods (fruits, vegetables, etc.)

★ Home & Garden

Perhaps you build incredible rocking chairs or whittle beautiful serving utensils from reclaimed wood or create delicate porcelain tea pots. This category is for products that serve a purpose inside — and outside — your home, from floor lamps, rugs, cozy woven blankets, and coffee tables to chef’s knives, cocktail smokers, stir-fry pans, and functional dishware to fire pits, Adirondack chairs, and bird baths.

Entries may include:

• Furniture
• Rugs and floor coverings
• Lighting
• Home decor
• Functional dishware and serveware
• Kitchen tools and utensils
• Cleaning and laundry products
• Toys and games
• Hobby and recreation
• Tools for home or garden

★ Style

This category is for all you makers, artisans, and designers who know more than a thing or two about the ever-evolving world of fashion. Whether you produce garments made from local cotton, create unique jewelry, or are an expert in leather goods such as wallets and bags, your work belongs here.

Entries may include:

• Jewelry
• Apparel
• Outerwear
• Accessories

Unsure about which category your product falls into? Feel free to reach out to us at madeinnc@ourstate.com. Products may only be submitted to one category. Note: Once all submission forms are received at the end of the entry period, an Our State representative will contact you if a sample of your product is required. Please do not mail in a sample if you have not received an email.