Virginia Living presents the 2025 Made in Virginia Awards, returning to spotlight the Commonwealth’s most innovative, inspired, and exceptional makers. From standout snacks and sips to handcrafted home goods and cutting-edge style, these awards are a celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and Virginia pride.
Submissions open June 9–July 7, 2025!
A product sample is required.
A standard entry fee of $35/product applies.
What It’s All About
The Made in Virginia Awards honor true excellence in Virginia-made products. Our editors and expert judges select 20 winners across four dynamic categories, each a celebration of homegrown ingenuity and enterprise. One Grand Prize Winner will claim our top honor and win $1,000.
Prizes & Prestige
🏆 Win Big in 2025!
The Grand Prize Winner will receive:
- $1,000 in cash
- A spotlight in the December 2025 issue of Virginia Living—Virginia’s most widely read and respected magazine
- Prominent placement on VirginiaLiving.com, reaching readers across the state and beyond
- A tailored social media campaign showcasing your product to our engaged and loyal audience
- Recognition in our statewide digital newsletter, delivered directly to thousands of Virginia tastemakers
- Exclusive rights to the 2025 Grand Prize Winner’s Badge—a mark of excellence for packaging, websites, and promotions
🌟 All 20 Winners Will:
- Be featured in Virginia Living’s December 2025 issue as part of our Made in Virginia Awards print story
- Appear on VirginiaLiving.com
- Be spotlighted across our social media channels, reaching a statewide audience
- Receive official rights to the 2025 Made in Virginia Winner’s Badge—perfect for your website, product packaging, and press materials
Categories
Choose the category that best fits your entry:
- Food
Snacks, condiments, baked goods, gourmet treats—if you can eat it, it fits here. - Drink
Alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, including wine, beer, cider, spirits, soda, coffee, and tea. - Home & Lifestyle
Furniture, kitchenware, paper goods, pet accessories, décor, candles, stationery, textiles, and more. - Style & Beauty
Apparel, jewelry, accessories, skincare, soaps, makeup, fragrances, and bath products.
Guidelines
- All products must be produced within Virginia state lines
- All products must be available for retail sale between Nov. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 (online sales accepted)
- Samples are required for judging and potential photography
📬 Where to Send Your Samples:
Virginia Living Magazine
c/o Made in Virginia Awards, ATT: Hope Cartwright
109 E. Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Office hours for in-person drop-off: Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Judging begins July 11, so product samples are due at our office by July 10.
Perishables? Please mark packaging clearly and plan to send it during the week of July 7 to ensure freshness.
Meet the Expert Judges
Food: Dominic Brown
Dominic Brown is the owner of TallTravelEats and a Richmond, Virginia, native. He is an award-winning food and travel blogger who has a passion for finding the most distinctive dishes both locally and worldwide. Tiramisu is Dominic’s all-time favorite dessert. TallTravelEats.com
“A food product is great to me when it has amazing flavor, quality ingredients, uniqueness and most importantly, exceptional taste,” says Brown.”
Drink: Melanie Wynne
A travel and wine writer since 2008, Melanie Wynne has sipped her way across five continents. Along the way, she’s worked two wine harvests in Sonoma County, earned a degree in viticulture, and written for dozens of outlets, including Richmond Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, and National Geographic Traveler. Instagram: Wynne_Win
“A great beverage gets my attention with its balance, texture and finish, then connects me to wherever I happen to be, who I’m with, and how I feel in that moment. Basically, it resonates as a liquid memory,” she says.
Home & Lifestyle: Justine Platt
A Virginia resident for over 20 years, Justine’s career as a buyer, product designer, merchandiser, and small business mentor has taken her around the world but Virginia remains her favorite. TheBlueBirdBarn.com
“I appreciate beautiful colors and textures, unique design, and products that bring happiness to everyday living,” Platt says.
Style & Beauty: Anne Weber
Anne is a writer and content creator based in Richmond. Her work has appeared in publications including Garden & Gun, Washingtonian, RICtoday, and The Roanoker. Passionate about all things local, Anne enjoys exploring Virginia with her husband and two Brittanys, trying new restaurants, and championing small businesses. Follow along on her Instagram, @AnneTate.
“To me, a great style or beauty product is thoughtfully designed to be aesthetic, functional, and built to last,” Weber says. “I’m drawn to high-quality, sustainable pieces, especially those with a story behind them. That’s why I love shopping locally—it connects me to the people and places behind the products.”
For questions or more info, email Associate Editor Hope Cartwright at [email protected].
Let’s hear it for Virginia’s makers!
From kitchen wizards to design dreamers, this is your moment. Submit your product today and show the state what you’re made of.
