Certified Local

MIY Certified Local™

A Standard for Authentic Yosemite-Made Goods

Contact sales@madeinyosemite.com for an application.

Yosemite attracts millions of visitors each year. Yet much of what is sold in and around the park is designed and manufactured far from the Sierra Nevada.

MIY Certified Local™ exists to change that.

This designation identifies artwork and products that are genuinely conceived, created, and finished within the Yosemite region by artists who live and work here.

It is not a marketing phrase.
It is a geographic and creative commitment.

What “Certified Local” Means

To qualify as MIY Certified Local™, a product must meet the following criteria:

1. Geographic Proximity

The product must be conceived and physically produced within a 50-mile radius of Yosemite National Park.

2. Local Authorship

The artist or maker must reside and actively work within the Yosemite region.

3. Original Creative Work

The design must originate from the artist — not be licensed mass artwork or outsourced production.

4. Regional Integrity

Production should prioritize local processes whenever possible and avoid large-scale overseas manufacturing.

5. Transparent Process

The maker must be able to clearly describe how and where the product is created.

These criteria ensure that the designation represents a meaningful connection to place — not simply branding language.

Why It Matters

Visitors come to Yosemite for something real — granite, elevation, silence, scale. They seek experiences shaped by geography.

Souvenirs should reflect that same authenticity.

MIY Certified Local™ gives travelers confidence that what they are taking home was created by someone who inhabits this landscape daily. It ensures that dollars spent in the region support local artists and small-scale production rather than distant factories.

For retailers, the designation offers clarity. It signals authenticity, strengthens storytelling, and differentiates merchandise from generic imports.

Built from the Studio Outward

Made in Yosemite began as an independent art studio in Mariposa, California, founded in 2024. Every print produced by the studio meets the MIY Certified Local™ criteria — conceived, sketched, printed, and finished within 50 miles of Yosemite National Park.

The long-term vision extends beyond a single studio.

MIY Certified Local™ is designed to become a curated marketplace standard — welcoming additional regional artists and makers whose work aligns with its geographic and creative principles.

The goal is not volume.
It is stewardship.

For Artists & Makers

Artists working within the Yosemite region who are interested in participating in the MIY Certified Local™ marketplace may inquire about collaboration opportunities.

Each submission is reviewed for alignment with the certification criteria.

For inquiries:
artist@madeinyosemite.com