Portland, Me., has transcended the D.I.Y./Etsy aesthetic to become a mecca for high quality, crafted accessories, clothing, leather goods and more. It is locals who are driving this artisan movement in neighborhoods like the Old Port district, in the heart of the city, where streets lined with 19th-century brick buildings house stores, restaurants and bars. While the waterfront strip and the thoroughfares off the Old Port district are packed with pedestrians, Middle Street and a few streets around it see less foot traffic and are shopping gems. Yes, there are some chain stores here, but the locally owned boutiques, selling handmade wares from Maine, are the standouts.

Portland Trading Co.

Go down a flight of stairs and enter what the owner, Kazeem Lawal, describes as a “general store which sells a little bit of everything.” For Mr. Lawal, that means men’s and women’s clothing from independent designers, home goods, beauty products, shoes, vintage books and even cookware. But these aren’t your ordinary-looking items — everything has flair, and it’s easy to see why Mr. Lawal has a large and loyal following that includes both locals and customers who live elsewhere in the United States and abroad. From $5.

157 Middle Street; portlandtradingco.com