Tucked away in an unassuming commercial building on 6th Avenue, Foggy Notion could easily be missed by folks just looking to cruise Clement Street. However, Alissa Anderson's shop is a pleasant surprise to those looking for some quality, handcrafted scores.

Originally from the Boston area, Anderson moved to San Francisco in 2000 to pursue her interests in photography, fashion design, and music. At one point, she played cello in Vetiver, a popular local band for which her partner Andy Cabic plays lead guitar. 

Anderson has always been passionate about sewing and making clothes and accessories out of recycled goods; she used to work out of a sewing studio in the Outer Sunset, creating items under the moniker "Mitten Maker." But she really wanted a workspace closer to her Inner Richmond home, and when her current location became available four years ago, she jumped on it.

"I saw this building empty for a long time, and I thought it had the potential to be both a workspace and a small store," said Anderson. "Also, I love this neighborhood."

Over time, Anderson grew out of the space and moved the production part of the business to a shared studio across the hall, allowing the window-clad, street level space to be used exclusively for retail. 

At first, Foggy Notion only sold items that either Anderson or her friends made, such as a line line of bags called "Shelter," created by her friend Karie Reinertson (and pictured below).

As things progressed, she began reaching out to other small producers she found interesting, some of whom also began to seek her out as well. "Over time, it's evolved into a local place where people know they can find quality gifts for others," said Anderson. "The original intention was to surround myself with things I made and things I love myself. Everything in the store is high-quality, and I always like to support small business owners. For me, I find it really gratifying to have a one-to-one relationship with the person I'm buying from."

As an example, she pointed out a bitters kit made by Tim Obert, whose company Seven Stills is also launching a brewery and distillery in the Bayview. According to Anderson, she first met Obert in the neighborhood, liked what he was doing, and began to carry his products, even hosting a few Seven Stills tastings in her shop.

Other products that Anderson offers include handmade ceramics, jewelry, fragrances, "apothecary items," and accessories. For the most part, she limits what she carries to creators on the West Coast.

Although shops like hers are now more prevalent throughout the city, Anderson told us that when she first moved to the neighborhood 12 years ago, she couldn't really picture a shop like hers surviving. "I didn't realize we could be successful until stores like Park Life and Seedstore opened. I definitely see this shop as part of a community of stores where locals now shop," she told us. 

"I think people within San Francisco are finding out about the Inner Richmond," Anderson continued. "To me, it's a diverse neighborhood, and it's really cool that there's activity on the streets from morning to night. It's just kind of lively all day. It's a well-rounded community that's kind of perfect, to be honest. I'm glad people are finding out about it. It's awesome."

Anderson also told us that she's happy to see more businesses moving into the neighborhood that focus on healthier lifestyles, such as yoga studios, the new farmers market, and Nourish Cafe, which focuses on organic, plant-based cuisine. She's a huge fan of the community's traditional Chinese herbal medicine stores as well. 

Looking to the future, Anderson plans to ramp up production on making her own goods. She also hopes to host more workshops in her store; last week, she featured an herbalist from Willits-based Grandmother's Medicine, which highlighted different ways to work with natural herbs. 

Beyond that, Anderson hopes to continue providing her neighborhood with the kind of items she would purchase for herself. "I figured, if I'm not seeing these things for sale here, and it's stuff that I want to buy, then I have to make that happen."