El Paso Reveals Where to Get the Best Homecoming Mums

Homecoming season is here, which in Texas means it's also time for one of our most wonderfully over-the-top traditions: homecoming mums!

And if you haven't seen one lately, we're not exactly talking about a flower pinned to your shirt anymore. Today's mums can have layers of ribbon, stuffed animals, lights, bells and just about anything else you can figure out how to attach to one.

They're basically wearable works of art.

And after asking El Paso where people get theirs made, I discovered we have A LOT of artists creating them right here at home.

El Paso Has Plenty of Homecoming Mum Makers

Hobby Lobby recently confirmed it would no longer carry its dedicated homecoming mum and garter line. But don't panic. That doesn't mean El Paso is suddenly facing a homecoming mum shortage.

If you're crafty enough to make your own, Michaels still sells supplies, and there are local shops around El Paso where you can find ribbon, flowers and plenty of other materials to build one yourself.

But let's say you look at all that ribbon, reach for the glue gun and decide you'd rather leave this particular tradition to someone else. That's where El Paso's local creators come in!

I asked our KLAQ Facebook followers where they get their homecoming mums made locally, and the recommendations came pouring in.

People tagged local businesses, independent creators and the people they personally trust to bring their homecoming mum ideas to life.

Check out the original KLAQ Facebook post below to see all of the El Paso homecoming mum makers people recommended. Many of the comments tag the creators directly, so you can click through, check out their work and find the right person for your mum.

As someone who is a big supporter of shopping local, I was genuinely pleased to see so many people shouting out their favorite El Paso creators. But I was also surprised by just how many people in our community dedicate their time to making these things.

Because make no mistake: homecoming mums are a CRAFT!

Homecoming Mums Are a Labor of Love

My mom used to make my homecoming mums, so I know firsthand how much work can go into one.

There is cutting, gluing, and layering. More gluing, and ribbon everywhere!

And that was before mums became some of the elaborate creations we're seeing today. Now you'll find everything from lights and stuffed animals to entire themes worked into them.

So I completely understand why someone would decide, "You know what? I'm going to leave this to a professional."

Especially when you see what some of these local creators can do!

Some El Paso Mum Makers Have Been Doing This for Decades

One name that came up repeatedly was El Paso Homecoming Mums and Corsages, and their story makes the recommendations even sweeter.

They've been making mums since they were in HIGH SCHOOL themselves, starting all the way back in 2000. More than 25 years later, they're still doing it and the business is thriving. They’ve even shipped out mums to Tennessee, California, Washington and as a far as Germany!

What started with making homecoming mums while actually experiencing homecoming has turned into years of creating them for new generations of El Paso students.

And they were far from the only recommendation.

The responses to our post were filled with local creators, small businesses and people who have turned this incredibly tedious craft into something they're really good at.

Whether you want something traditional and simple or a mum so elaborate that you need to consider its structural integrity, there's probably an El Paso creator who can make it happen.

And I love knowing that when homecoming season rolls around, one of Texas' most beloved traditions is also giving us another chance to support some seriously creative people right here at home.