Fiesta Dinnerware. Sound familiar? It should: they're the sturdy, brightly colored, pottery-style dishes that have been extremely popular in kitchens around the United States for decades. But here's what you may not have known: all those millions of dishes that are found in so many of America's homes are made right here in West Virginia!
Fiesta. It's a Spanish word referring to a specific festival or holiday celebration. And it's also the name of a popular line of dinnerware - a party on a plate, as it were - known for its colorful, concentric circle designs.
You most likely recognize it; it's one of the most popular line of dishes in America. In fact, the New York Times once claimed that it was the most collected brand of china in the U.S.
Fiesta Dinnerware was first introduced to the public in 1936. It was the first widely marketed solid color dinnerware in the U.S., a concept that proved to be very successful.
Very little has changed when it comes to Fiestaware over the years. A few new colors have been added, the pottery has been made more durable, the glaze ingredients have changed. But many of the designs are still exactly the same, and the same company owns and produces the line at the same factory it's always been produced at: The Homer Laughlin China Company Factory in Newell, West Virginia
That's right, Fiesta Dinnerware is and always has been not only made in America, but made right here in West Virginia!
And you can still visit the factory where it's produced.
Factory tours are offered (watch for those to return soon; they've been temporarily suspended) at the facility, but you can also shop the full line of colorful products.
There's a traditional storefront located at the factory, as well as a backroom of seconds that are significantly discounted.
And in addition to the backroom full of seconds, often there are crates and crates of colorful products set up outside for the factory's famous tent sales.
So next time you're in the mood for a new set of dishes (or just needing a cheerful, colorful boost to your mood), you know where to come browse!
Plus, as if all that color wasn't enough to put a smile on your face, check out this mosaic mountain of Fiesta scraps: dinnerware that was malformed or broken in the making gets offloaded into a beautiful pile on the facility grounds.
To learn more about the Newell Fiesta Factory, visit their website. And while you're near the factory, make sure to visit the world's biggest teapot! It has an interesting connection to the Homer Laughlin China Factory as well.
Do you use Fiesta Dinnerware? What other products do you love that are made right here in West Virginia?
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