Meet Josh and Janet from Organic Garments...
Organic Garments, an Ohio-based sneaker business, is rooted in sustainability, craftsmanship, and respect for nature. The vision for the business is deeply personal—shaped by the legacy of Josh’s grandfather, a man who cherished the art of growing and found purpose in nurturing plants, vegetables, and herbs. Watching seedlings flourish taught Josh early on that patience, care, and respect for the earth yield lasting rewards. Growing up during the Great Depression, his grandfather embodied resilience. From him, Josh learned values that continue to guide Organic Garments today: do things right, build products to last, honor nature, and never shy away from hard work.
Josh founded Organic Garments in 2018 with a bold goal—to reimagine footwear through sustainable design. He set out to create a plant-based sneaker that could be worn anywhere, anytime, without compromising comfort, durability, or environmental responsibility. Within the past year, we have commissioned local artists to use our sneakers as canvas to create original art and/or pieces of art that are meaningful to our customers. We pay these local artists the fees collected from their art.
This will be Organic Garments' first year participating in the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows, and we are looking forward to sharing our plant-based sneakers.
Nature inspires me to create. There is so much to learn from nature. There is so much beauty in it. If we take the time to just appreciate it, nature can inspire us to do so many things, including creating beautiful, comfortable sneakers from it.
Most of my family is involved in the creative arts in some way. When we were young, our Mother realized we had an interest in the arts and gave us opportunities to participate in the arts. I have also always been interested in sneakers and the fashion business. I’m fueled by the idea that business can be a force for good, that we can create products people love without compromising the health of the earth. Knowing that we’re pushing boundaries with plant-based materials, reducing waste, and proving that sustainability and style can coexist is what drives me every day. Ultimately, I’m motivated by the hope that our work inspires others to rethink what they buy, how it’s made, and the legacy they want to leave behind. Also, I wanted to build a sneaker that was not only sustainable and looked great, I wanted it to be lightweight and comfortable, too.
It was a process. I have always been interested in nature and how things are made, so I looked for a way to combine my interest in nature and sneakers. I set out to learn more about sneaker construction, including taking a course led by a Los Angeles shoemaker. I also had a friend whose father owned a fashion brand, so I learned a great deal from being around him. I even researched plant-based fabrics and discovered a fabric made by a B-corp that turned pineapple waste into material which gave the farmers in the Philippines a second income. Ultimately, it was designing, redesigning, and making several samples through work with factories to realize my dream of crafting a sneaker from innovative plant-based materials including hemp and pineapple leaves.
I get an idea, and I try to sketch it. The original idea was sketched on a napkin at a restaurant. Once I have the idea, I talk it over with family members. Then, I use software to develop the specs for the idea and finalize the drawing. I usually have several ideas that I am playing around with until I have the moment when I believe I have the concept to the point of creation. Since we are also involving new artists in the creative process, it is also inspiring to watch other artists use our sneakers as canvas to create original pieces of art and/or artwork that is meaningful to the customer who inspires the idea.
Right now, I’m especially excited about the next evolution of our footwear line. In the future, we’re introducing two new styles: a high-top sneaker and a blue denim low-top. Both build on everything we’ve learned so far—comfort and sustainability—while offering versatility for everyday wear. We’re using more hemp in both styles, with pineapple leaves, mushrooms, and other plant-based fabrics as accents. Hemp continues to impress us with its natural durability, breathability, and low environmental impact, helping create shoes that last longer and feel better on the foot—especially for people who are on their feet all day. The message is rooted in responsibility—to the planet, to future generations, and to the values I was raised with. I’m fueled by the idea that business can be a force for good, that we can create products people love without compromising the health of the earth.Knowing that we’re pushing boundaries with plant-based materials, reducing waste, and proving that sustainability and style can coexist is what drives us every day. Ultimately, I’m motivated by the hope that our work inspires others to rethink what they buy, how it’s made, and the legacy they want to leave behind.
Meet Susan Airhart from Heartfelt by Airhart...
I’m a passionate maker who loves creating handmade pieces that bring beauty and personality into everyday life. I enjoy connecting with people through my work and sharing the joy that handmade art can bring to a home or as a meaningful gift. Being part of art and craft shows allows me to meet others who appreciate creativity and the time that goes into handmade items.
I have been creating and crafting for several years, and over time it has grown from a hobby into something I truly love sharing with others. Each year I continue to refine my skills, experiment with new ideas, and expand my collection of handmade items.
This will be my third Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. I’ve really enjoyed being part of these events and connecting with other talented artists as well as visitors who appreciate handmade work. Each show has been a wonderful opportunity to share my creations and meet new people in the creative community.
I find inspiration in everyday life—colors, textures, nature, and the small details that often go unnoticed. I’m also inspired by the idea that something handmade can become a treasured piece in someone’s home or a special gift for a loved one.
My interest in crafting began simply from a love of making things by hand. What started as a relaxing creative outlet quickly became a passion. I discovered how rewarding it was to transform simple materials into something beautiful and unique.
Over time, friends and family began encouraging me after seeing the things I created. Their positive feedback helped me realize that my creations could be something others would enjoy as well, which gave me the confidence to continue developing my skills.
My creative process usually begins with an idea or inspiration. From there, I experiment with materials, colors, and designs until the piece comes together. Sometimes the process involves trial and error, but that’s part of the fun—each piece evolves into something unique along the way.
In five years, I hope to continue growing my creative business, participating in more art shows, and reaching more people who appreciate handmade items. I would especially love to expand into doing more custom work for clients who bring me jewelry from a loved one so I can incorporate those meaningful pieces into a framed picture. Creating something beautiful and personal from items that hold sentimental value is something I find very special.
The message behind my work is to celebrate creativity, individuality, and the beauty of handmade items. I especially enjoy repurposing jewelry into something new and exciting, giving pieces a fresh life in a way that can still honor their history and meaning. Turning existing items into unique art allows memories and materials to continue being appreciated in a new form.
Check out my website here.
Meet Criss Ann Valenti from Chrysanthemum's Crochet...
My name is Criss Ann Valenti and I am a third year at Bowling Green State University. I own Chrysanthemum's Crochet where I participate in many different craft shows all around the state. I am an art major and I love to work with a lot of different mediums. Fiber art and printmaking are some of my favorites and I love being able to share my work with others.
I started my own small business freshman year of college to help earn a little bit of income to support my education. This is my first time participating in the Avant-Garde shows, and hopefully won’t be my last.
I take a lot of inspiration from different animals and different characters from mythology. A lot of of my 2-D artwork is inspired by Greek mythology or birds. My crochet work I try to make as many different types of animals as I can in my own little style. I have been working with 2-D mediums for about five years now, but I got into fiber arts about three years ago when I got a craft kit for my birthday and fell in love with the process.
I love finding ways to reuse different materials in my artwork, using old paint or canvas for paintings, using leftover paper from previous drawings and using leftover ink from others for printmaking. I also reuse yarn scraps as stuffing or find stuffing from old pillows at thrift stores in order to reduce my waste imprint.
I tend to start my creative process by finding something that inspires me so most of the time I will look up different Greek myths or find different nature pictures of different types of birds. Once I find something I like I take the image and transform it into my own style using my illustrative talents. When it comes to fiber art, I like to take a look at some of the yarn I already have and think what I could make best out of that. I love to make things that are unique that you might not see anywhere else. So when I find a pattern that fits that I save it and use it.
In five years, I hope to be graduated and settle down with a dream job to get my life started, but having my business as a fallback is something that will be so important to me. I’m very passionate about what I make and I don’t wanna stop even once I get an industry job. The message behind my work would be that I want everyone to stay creative and never stop using their imagination. I make things that I want people taken to their home and used to make their spaces more lively and help make a fun environment.
Meet the Prayers From Maria Foundation...
The Prayers From Maria Foundation is built out of love and compassion for children who suffer, and those who have died, from deadly brain tumors. Our mission is to provide childhood cancer patients with the support they desperately need, by reversing the tragic lack of funding and fueling the most meaningful brain cancer research for kids.
Although this is our first Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show we have participated in, we have been the charity beneficiary of the Avon show for a number of years. We are so grateful that the art community supports our foundation and are looking forward to having our first booth this year!
At Prayers From Maria we believe in hope. Our seed funding supports critical cancer research for kids, delivering more targeted, lifesaving treatments. These kids are our inspiration, as we work diligently to raise public awareness and the research funding that is so desperately needed.
Maria’s prayers for other children battling cancer inspired a movement. You can help us grow it. Profits from the purchase of products in our shop support the Prayers From Maria Foundation and our fight to end childhood brain cancer.
Check out our website here.
2026 Avon Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday March 14, 2026
10:00am-4:00pm
Strongsville Ehrnfelt Recreation Center
For more information, contact Becki Silverstein, Event Coordinator at Becki@ag-shows.com
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