Rolling cornfields, limestone bluffs, and small-town main streets define Indiana’s texture: the sweet tang of cider and maple in early spring, the warm glow of glassblowers’ furnaces in factory towns, and the steady chisel of stonecutters in Bedford.

From the Amish patchwork quilts stitched in northern farmlands to the oak-paneled cabinets that earned the state the nickname “Hoosier,” Indiana’s crafts are rooted in readily available materials and a tradition of hands-on industry.

Here are the best things truly made in Indiana,  products that reflect its heritage, creativity, and everyday life. These are objects you’ll find at farmer’s markets, workshops, county fairs and that carry the practical, well-crafted spirit of the Hoosier state.

1. Bedford Limestone Carvings

Why it’s made here: Southern Indiana, around Bedford, sits on some of the nation’s finest limestone beds. The stone’s uniform grain and workability made it a natural building material and a medium for local sculptors and masons.

What to look for: Solid blocks or small carved pieces with hand-tool marks, nominal weight, and a fine, consistent grain. Look for local carver initials or a quarry reference.

Price bracket (2025): $50 for small decorative pieces to $1,000+ for larger architectural fragments or custom reliefs.

Where to find it: Stone studios, historic district markets, craft fairs in Bedford and nearby towns, and museum shops that specialize in regional stonework.

2. Restored or Reproduction Hoosier Cabinets

Why it’s made here: The original Hoosier cabinet was invented and mass-produced in Indiana in the early 20th century; local woodworkers continue the tradition by restoring antiques or building faithful reproductions using regional hardwoods.

What to look for: Dovetail joinery, original hardware or reproduction period hardware, and visible restoration notes. For reproductions, ask about the wood species—oak, walnut, and poplar are common.

Price bracket (2025): $800–$6,000 depending on condition and whether it’s restored or custom-built.

Where to find it: Antique shops, restoration workshops, woodworking fairs, and timber-framer boutiques in historic town centres.

3. Kokomo and Regional Art Glass

Why it’s made here: Indiana has a history of glass manufacturing—Kokomo is a long-standing center for art glass and glass production. Local studios produce hand-blown ornaments, stained-glass panels, and functional art.

What to look for: Variations in color, pontil marks, and artist signatures or stickers indicating a local studio. Thinner, irregular rims and slight asymmetry indicate hand-blown work.

Price bracket (2025): $25 for small ornaments to $500+ for commissioned pieces or larger panels.

Where to find it: Glassblowing studios, art fairs, gallery co-ops, and glass factory outlets.

4. Southern Indiana Wines (Norton, Native Hybrids)

Why it’s made here: Southern Indiana’s limestone soils and microclimates support vineyards; local winemakers craft small-batch wines, often using Norton and hybrid grapes that tolerate Midwestern conditions.

What to look for: Tasting-room bottlings, single-vineyard labels, and bottles labeled with Indiana appellations or vineyard names. Ask about vintage and grape variety.

Price bracket (2025): $12–$30 per bottle for most small-producer wines; reserve bottles can be higher.

Where to find it: Winery tasting rooms, vineyard shops, regional farmers’ markets, and vineyard events.

5. Small-Batch Indiana Whiskey & Craft Distillates

Why it’s made here: Indiana sits in the American heartland of corn and grain production; craft distillers use local corn and rye to create bourbon-style whiskeys, rye, and experimental grain spirits.

What to look for: Distillery labels that list grain origin, age statements, and small-batch or single-barrel distinctions. Bottles from tasting-room releases often indicate local production.

Price bracket (2025): $30–$80 for standard bottles; limited releases $100+.

Where to find it: Distillery gift shops, tasting rooms, and regional liquor stores that support local producers.

6. Amish Quilts and Hand-Stitched Textiles

Why it’s made here: Northern Indiana’s Amish and Mennonite communities have long traditions of quilting and hand-sewing; bright patchwork, careful piecing, and dense hand-quilting are hallmarks.

What to look for: Irregular stitching patterns, hand-tied knots, the weight and feel of the batting, and provenance from an Amish community or reputable dealer. Beware machine-stitched imitations.

Price bracket (2025): $150–$1,500 depending on age, size, and craftsmanship.

Where to find it: Crafts markets in Shipshewana and Elkhart County, auction houses, quilt shows, and select gallery shops.

7. Studio Pottery Using Local Clays

Why it’s made here: Indiana’s diverse clay deposits feed a community of studio potters who value local materials for glaze response and color, producing tableware and decorative ceramics.

What to look for: Potter’s signatures, small variations in glaze, and kiln-warp marks. Thicker walls and a weight consistent with stoneware indicate durability.

Price bracket (2025): $20–$200 for individual pieces; sets and commissioned work are higher.

Where to find it: Pottery co-ops, university galleries, studio open houses, and arts festivals.

8. Hand-Tooled Leather Goods

Why it’s made here: A strong tradition of saddlery and leatherworking—linked to rural and equestrian cultures—has produced skilled leather artisans crafting belts, wallets, and bags.

What to look for: Full-grain leather, visible tooling or stamping patterns, hand-stitched seams, and burnished edges. Smell of natural leather versus chemical odors is a good sign.

Price bracket (2025): $40–$250 depending on item and leather quality.

Where to find it: Leather workshops, craft fairs, farmers’ markets, and boutique studios in craft districts.

9. Artisan Cheeses from Indiana Creameries

Why it’s made here: Indiana’s dairies supply milk to small creameries making specialty cheeses—aged cheddars, flavored chevres, and seasonal offerings reflect local milk and cheesemaking techniques.

What to look for: Creamery labels with herd or farm names, short ingredient lists, and rind development appropriate to the style. Ask about milk source and aging time.

Price bracket (2025): $6–$20 per wedge; artisanal wheels are more.

Where to find it: Farmers’ markets, creamery shops, specialty grocers, and food festivals.

10. Local Honey & Beeswax Goods

Why it’s made here: Indiana’s mixed farms and wildflower meadows produce distinct honeys; beekeepers often make beeswax candles and lip balms from their own hives.

What to look for: Raw, unfiltered honey with visible pollen sediment, labeled location or floral source, and beeswax products that smell faintly floral rather than perfumed.

Price bracket (2025): $8–$25 for honey jars; beeswax candles $6–$40. Where to find it: Farmers’ markets, roadside farm stands, and cooperative shops.

11. Hand-Forged Knives & Blacksmith Work

Why it’s made here: Hoosier makers work with iron and steel in traditional forges—producing kitchen knives, axes, and ornamental ironwork rooted in rural metalworking culture.

What to look for: Fuller marks, hammer texture, maker’s stamp, and attention to heat treatment and balance in knives. Handmade rivets and custom sheaths are good signs.

Price bracket (2025): $50–$600 depending on blade quality and custom work.

Where to find it: Blacksmith demos, craft fairs, maker workshops, and forge open days.

12. Indiana Maple Syrup

Why it’s made here: While not as famous as New England, Indiana has pockets of sugarbush where producers tap maples and make small-batch syrups with a regional flavor profile.

What to look for: Grades or color indicators, syrup sold in small glass bottles or jugs from the producer, and provenance indicating the county or farm.

Price bracket (2025): $10–$30 for local bottles; larger jugs cost more.

Where to find it: Farmstands, sugarhouse tours, and seasonal markets in maple-producing counties.

13. Handmade Chocolates & Confections

Why it’s made here: Small-scale chocolatiers in Indiana use local cream, maple, and bourbon to flavor bonbons and bars, creating regionally inspired sweets.

What to look for: Short ingredient lists, single-origin chocolate notes, and packaging that states local production or a maker’s name.

Price bracket (2025): $8–$40 for boxes or bars.

Where to find it: Chocolatier shops, farmers’ markets, and specialty food events.

14. Hoosier Folk Woodcraft & Painted Signs

Why it’s made here: Woodworkers across Indiana make utilitarian items—bowls, spoons, signage—often decorated with folk motifs or hand-painted lettering tied to local businesses and festivals.

What to look for: Tool marks, hand-painted variations, and local wood species (white oak, maple). Signs with family or maker names are common.

Price bracket (2025): $15–$300 depending on size and intricacy.

Where to find it: Craft fairs, historic town galleries, barn sales, and folk art museums.

Local Makers & Traditions

Indiana’s craft heritage blends industrial skill and rural domestic arts. Bedford limestone masons passed techniques from quarry to shop; glassworkers learned at furnaces in Kokomo and other manufacturing towns.

Amish quilters preserved block patterns and hand-stitching through generations; and small farms and creameries sustained cheesemaking and beekeeping traditions. You’ll find makers working in studio clusters, county fairgrounds, and cooperative storefronts, places where craft knowledge is shared openly and techniques are adapted to new materials and markets.

Craft events and markets, county fairs, art fairs in Indianapolis and Bloomington, and craft trails through Brown County and northern Indiana. Here the community and commerce meet.

Many makers offer studio visits or demonstrations, which is the best way to see a piece made and to ask about provenance.

How to Spot Genuine Local Products

• Check labels and provenance: genuine items often name the maker, town, or a small cooperative. Look for “Made in Indiana,” farm names, or artist signatures.
• Inspect the work: handcrafts show small irregularities—tool marks, asymmetric glazing, or slight stitch variations. Uniform perfection can be a sign of mass production.
• Ask about materials: local stone, regional hardwoods, on-site distilled grains, or creamer herd names are strong authenticity indicators.
• Beware of vague packaging: products that only say “Made in USA” without a maker or that use thin plastic packaging are more likely commercial imports.
• Verify through trusted venues: museum shops, certified farmers’ markets, and local artisan guilds vet the goods they carry.

Where to Buy Made-in-Indiana Goods

• Farmers’ markets and regional food co-ops
• County and state fairs (Indiana State Fair and local fairs)
• Artisan fairs and studio open-house weekends
• Historic downtown shops and craft districts (Mass Ave, Brown County)
• Vineyard and distillery tasting rooms
• Airport shops that specialize in regional products (look for local producers)

FAQs

Q: Are products in Indiana expensive?
A: Prices vary—small artisan items like honey or ornaments are affordable, while furniture, quilts, and architectural stone can be costly because of materials and skilled labor; expect to pay more for true handmade quality.

Q: How can I tell if something is authentically made here?
A: Look for maker names, local place names, clear ingredient or material sourcing, and physical signs of handcrafting; ask sellers about production methods and whether you can meet the maker.

Q: What is the best made-in-Indiana gift to bring home?
A: Choose something that travels well and expresses place—small Kokomo-blown glass, a jar of local honey, a bar from a regional chocolatier, or a bottle from a local winery or distillery are all memorable, authentic choices.

Made in Indiana goods reward curiosity—seek out makers, ask questions, and bring home items with a story that reflects the state’s materials and traditions.

Let me know in the comments if you have any other top ‘what to buy’ ideas!

About the Author

Colin is the founder of SouvenirsIdeas.com and a passionate traveller with a soft spot for ceramics, markets, and food tours. He writes practical, first-hand guides to help you bring home souvenirs that actually mean something — not just more clutter!