We often hear financial news pundits talking about manufacturing. Mostly in terms of how manufacturing has all but disappeared from the United States. 

Locally, you might think of manufacturing as the businesses on Highway 90, and other industrial locations, that make equipment for the oil field. But there are other forms of manufacturing that are not giant plants churning out things made of steel. They’re small shops turning out products made of wood. And fabric.

You might not think of a storefront like Parish Ink as a manufacturing plant. But actually, that’s what it is. Parish Ink has been manufacturing their own Acadiana-centric designer T-shirts and other apparel since 2010. They currently have three locations in Lafayette. They sell their products nationwide. And they do custom designing and printing for customers from Houston to California.

Tom Brown is co-founder, owner, and Operations Director at Parish Ink.

Manufacturing on a big scale can be a pretty soulless endeavor. Small scale manufacturing, on the other hand requires heart, soul, and particular craft skills where art and design meets machinery. That’s what goes on at Cross Grain Studios in Lafayette.

You’ve probably seen Cross Grain Studio’s wooden signs all around Lafayette – outside businesses and subdivisions – and if you’ve ever been in the market for getting furniture you care about repaired or antiques restored, Cross Grain is the go-to wood shop.

Noah Mudge is the owner and operator of Cross Grain Studio.

Photos over lunch at Cafe Vermilionville by Lucius Fontenot.