Avocado Matcha Face Wash is one item for sale at Moon Rivers Naturals, a store that sells natural and organic skincare in downtown Tyler. The skincare products are made on site, hand packaged and hand labelled. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Those interested in knowing where and how their clothing is made may appreciate a visit to Brands and Threads on Saturday morning.

Inside the shop, at 257 S. Broadway Ave., employees will be live screen printing the business’ popular East Texas T-shirt.

Customers can opt to bring their own T-shirts in and have the logo applied for $10.

“A lot of people don’t really get to connect their clothing to the people making it,” said Justin West, who owns the business with friend Loren Roe. “We’re just those faces of people that are making locally based clothing.”

The downtown Tyler business is one of many slated to participate in Small Business Saturday.

American Express created Small Business Saturday in 2010 as a way to help small businesses attract more customers. It has since become an annual shopping tradition on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

“What began nine years ago as an effort to support local stores during the holiday shopping season has become the Shop Small movement, bringing together millions of shoppers, small businesses of all kinds, civic leaders and organizations in thousands of towns and cities across the country,” Elizabeth Rutledge, chief marketing officer at American Express, said in a news release. “Shopping small has a significant and positive effect on local communities, and we hope Small Business Saturday will help to amplify that effect during the crucial holiday shopping season.”

West said he thinks Small Business Saturday is great because of its ability to bring in new customers who may be looking for unique gifts for family and friends. He said the shop will be releasing new T-shirts and whiskey glasses.

Just next door at Moon River Naturals, 265 S. Broadway Ave., customers will find natural and organic skin care products all made, packaged and labeled on location.

The aroma of the shop greets customers about as quickly as smiling staff.

“We’re kind of inspired by nature,” said Stephen McNeely, who owns the business with his wife, Stefanie. “A lot of our scents are either very whimsy or floral. For us, scents bring back feelings and memories very quickly, so we’re trying to allow people to create those with our products.”

He added that he appreciates that Small Business Saturday may also help drive more people downtown to take a look at the local businesses that are striving to bring new energy to the area.

As for those who come to Moon River Naturals Saturday, McNeely said they will find several deals and an ambience similar to shops in Austin or Dallas.

He said he hopes customers are able to come in and find a new natural or organic product that they can use to replace a synthetic product in their cabinet.

McNeely also thinks it’s a great opportunity for more customers to get a look at what’s happening downtown.

“We really like to make an impact locally and connect with customers,” he said. “Especially the downtown area. We believe in community.

“There is so much culture within these buildings, the history that we would like people to see in a new light,” he added.

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Moon River Naturals, 265 S. Broadway Ave, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Brands and Threads, 257 S. Broadway Ave., will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Live screen printing is slated to take place at the shop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.