Martha Stewart American Made Finalist | Video

Jessica Roose | 9/12/2012

A Mandan woman is in the running for the Martha Stewart American Made award for a product she created during her pregnancy just a few years ago. What started as a way to be creative and make something for her little girl`s feet quickly turned into a successful business after Erica Hager put her product online.

"I sell to about eight stores that buy wholesale in the United States and then also one in Australia. So just in two years it`s grown leaps and bounds to the point that ya I`m having a hard time keeping up," she said.

She believes the booties became a fast hit because they are not only comfortable but also practical.

"They stay on her feet amazingly well. They`re easy to put on her feet they`re not binding at all and then if they get a little dirty or anything you just put them in the wash."

The product has even taken Hager to the top 100 in the Martha Stewart American Made contest that started with 2,000 submissions.

She currently sits in 13th place.

If she wins Hager would be featured in the Martha Stewart living magazine and would also receive a $10,000 grant to expand her business.

"It would be just the greatest honor to be chosen as the winner for that. It would mean that I could further my business, that I can really invest into it what needs to be invested into it to take it to the next level," said Hager.

But even if she doesn`t win she says the best part of all of this is the opportunity to stay at home with her little girl.

"I never thought I would be able to stay at home with my daughter and sew all day long, it`s really fantastic."

She hopes to continue the business for as long as she can and soon she might even add some adult booties to the mix.

Hager is the only person in the top 100 in North or South Dakota.

Click here to vote for Bison Booties in the Martha Stewart American Made Award contest.

For more about Bison Booties visit www.bisonbooties.com

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