Green Mountain Pride 

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Looking to buy a gift that says "Vermont" for a little one in your life this holiday season? Look no further than Vermont Tribe. Started by Moretown native Sophie Kirpan three years ago, the local company makes onesies and kids' shirts emblazoned with patches in the shape of Vermont that are made from scraps of flannel she buys by the bagful from the Vermont Flannel Company. Kirpan, who is 29 and one of 11 siblings, said that when she was growing up, she was aware of the throngs of tourists who came to Vermont and always thought the clothing offered at souvenir shops was "tacky and gaudy." In starting her one-woman company, she aimed to create tasteful, simple items that reflect the state's "coveted lifestyle." Kirpan embodies the culture she tries to capture in her clothing. She and her partner recently moved from a yurt with no electricity in Duxbury to a renovated 1850s schoolhouse in Fayston, where she spends up to 10 hours a day, seven days a week, sewing as she prepares for the arrival of her first child next year. In addition to onesies and tees, Kirpan makes plush bunnies, bandana bibs, dog bandanas and Vermont undies with a state patch on the fly. This year, she rolled out a new product she calls the Vermont Pride Power Suit — a onesie featuring a rainbow Green Mountain State patch — to celebrate LGBTQ families. 

Check out Vermont Tribe on Instagram at @vermont.tribe.art or etsy.com/shop/VermontTribe. Vermont Tribe goods are available at around 26 stores in Vermont, including Birdfolk Collective in Winooski and Waterbury, The Hive in Middlesex, Bear & Moosh in South Burlington, and Peanut & Mouse in Waitsfield.