Santa Barbara Originals: Discover What's Made in Santa Barbara
A longtime home to entrepreneurs and innovators, Santa Barbara abounds with incredible locally made brands and products. From clothing and accessories to food and libations, you'll find all sorts of inspired gifts for loved ones and an endless array of "treat yourself" items. Whether you want to dive deeper into local culture and trivia, or are in search of unique Santa Barbara souvenirs, let this be your guide to Santa Barbara's true originals.
Dress the Part
Like The American Riviera itself, Santa Barbara style is laid-back with a touch of sophistication, which extends to the homegrown brands specializing in all things fashion and accessories. Shop for classic SeaVees sneakers and apparel at their flagship Funk Zone storefront. Up in Goleta, the Deckers Brand Showcase store is well worth the short drive-it's the only place in the world where you can shop the outdoor lifestyle brand's UGG, Teva, Hoka One One and Sanuk lines all under one roof on Deckers' corporate headquarters campus, where the design magic happens.
For beachy, surf-centric styles, the flagship Channel Islands Surfboards shop in the Funk Zone is a must for tees and sweatshirts bearing legendary surfboard shaper Al Merrick's iconic logo. Al Merrick's daughter Heidi Merrick is a fashion designer whose showroom and boutique is located just down the coast in Summerland. There, you'll find refined women's wear along with her casual SRF staples for men, women and children. The boutique is open Saturdays as well as by appointment. Continue down to Carpinteria to shop at Hammies, where you'll find the brand's classic corduroy shorts and bell bottoms, along with other 1980s-inspired fashion basics.
Contemporary womenswear designer Catherine Gee, whose silk blouses and dresses are worn by Hollywood stars, has a beautiful boutique in downtown Santa Barbara. Nearby is Ace Rivington, a men's clothing shop known for its custom denim line. Loveworn designer Jill Johnson makes original screen-printed tees that capture her vintage aesthetic (her Funk Zone shop has one of the best selections of vintage Levi's in the region). And you can top off any look with a customized Grand Central Hatmakers hat made in Santa Barbara.
Artisan Eats & Sips
Santa Barbara's natural bounty provides the ingredients for a wide spectrum of locally made consumable goods. If you have a sweet tooth, Jessica Foster Confections and Twenty Four Blackbirds Chocolates are the leading local artisan chocolatiers-Jessica Foster Confections are sold in markets, wineries and gift shops around the county, while Twenty Four Blackbirds has retail boutique at their production facility, which is also open for tours. On the more savory side, Santa Barbara Popcorn Co. makes a range of small-batch gourmet popcorns with California-grown corn. Sustainably minded Sun & Swell Foods specializes in organic, plant-based snacks made with fruits and nuts packaged in compostable bags.
As its name suggests, Pacific Pickle Works is the region's go-to for pickled veggies and cocktail mixers with a briny twist. Sideyard Shrubs bottles probiotic-rich fruit vinegars made with produce sourced from small organic farms. The shrubs can be used in cocktails, mocktails and salad dressings and the attractive bottles are very giftable.
Of course, Santa Barbara County wine and craft beer make great keepsakes and gifts, too. For a different alcoholic libation, check out Ysidro, a canned sparkling sake-based grapefruit spritz out of Montecito. Carpinteria-based Apiary Co. produces meads and ciders using fermented honey, organic botanicals and apples. Last but not least on the local libations front, Cutler's Artisan Spirits is Santa Barbara's signature distiller. Stop by the Funk Zone tasting room to sample gin, whiskey, vodka and liqueurs and purchase bottles to bring home.
Iconic Santa Barbara Originals
If you appreciate an origin story, there are a handful of major chains and widely distributed boutique brands that started right here in Santa Barbara. Drive by the original Motel 6 #1 in the East Beach neighborhood for a photo op. It opened in June of 1962 and has been welcoming travelers ever since. Another American classic launched in Santa Barbara in the early 1970s at the McDonald's franchise located on upper State Street-the first Egg McMuffin was created and served as a way to open up the breakfast market, and it was such a hit it became a McDonald's menu staple.
The Habit Burger & Grill, a contemporary burger chain known for its charbroiled flavors, got its start here in 1969, and the original Goleta location at 5735 Hollister Avenue is still serving up burgers, fries, salads and more. The popular Freebirds World Burrito chain started nearby in Isla Vista in 1987, where college students attending UCSB still frequent the original location that remains open 24 hours. It's the only location among the now national franchise that is still owned by one of its co-founders, Mark Orfalea.
To end on a sweet note, McConnell's Fine Ice Creams was started by husband and wife, Gordon "Mac" and Ernesteen McConnell, in 1949. They started making small batch ice creams using high quality ingredients sourced from regional farms and dairies and opened their first shop in 1950. Today you can find McConnell's in grocery store freezers across the country and there are two "scoop shops" in Santa Barbara, among others in California. A more recent local ice cream success story is Rori's Artisanal Creamery, started by Rori Trovato in 2011. You can also find Rori's in grocery stores as well as ice cream parlors in Montecito Country Mart and Santa Barbara Public Market.