Here/Now 2026

Photos by Brett Putman

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Here/Now! With more than 160 manufacturers, partners, and community members in attendance, the evening was a wonderful celebration of the people and businesses that make San Francisco's manufacturing community so special. It was a night filled with discovery, connection, and great food and drink.

Manufacturer of the Year

Since 2012, BRYR has built something truly special in San Francisco’s Dogpatch: a woman- and LGBTQ-owned manufacturing business creating beautiful handmade clogs rooted in craftsmanship, sustainability, and community. Every pair is handcrafted in-house using leathers sourced from US tanneries, custom-engineered wood bases, and a thoughtful small-batch production model designed to reduce waste.

Beyond their incredible products, Bryr is also investing in people — from paid manufacturing training programs and professional development opportunities to strong employee benefits and a workplace built around collaboration and care.

We’re proud to recognize Bryr for showing what modern manufacturing can look like: values-driven, community-centered, and made to last.

Finalists:

• Formr: creates furniture and picture frames that carry both environmental and human stories, objects rooted in care, not excess

• MMclay: community-focused cermamics manufacturer that puts people, craft, and the planet at the heart of everything they make

• Swope Design Solutions: mechanical engineering and product design firm that transforms complex concepts into functional systems across medical devices, aircraft systems, robotics, and scientific equipment

• Volcano Kimchi: crafts raw, slow-fermented products in small batches

Emerging Manufacturer of the Year

Saba Jam has quickly grown into an award-winning local brand rooted in creativity, craftsmanship, and community. Founded by Saba Parsa, an Iranian-American immigrant and former chemical engineer, Saba Jam transforms peak-season California fruit into small-batch jams inspired by global flavors, personal heritage, and the beauty of seasonality.

From thoughtful local sourcing and low-waste production to meaningful community collaborations and market connections, Saba Jam is a powerful example of how food manufacturing in the Bay Area can be innovative, sustainable, and deeply personal.

We’re proud to recognize Saba Jam as an emerging manufacturer helping shape the future of San Francisco’s maker community, one jar at a time.

Finalists:

• BOJAGI: reimagines the centuries-old Korean tradition of cloth wrapping (bojagi) as a zero-waste alternative to disposable packaging

• GaeaStar: leverages additive manufacturing technology to pioneer new uses of natural materials, like ultra-thin ceramics

• Hippie Chai: instant vegan chai and matcha blends, made with clean ingredients and oat milk powder

• Secrets of Cint: affordable luxury hand-poured candles

Tabling Manufacturers