Where To Shop

Sustainable Home Decor for Lovers of Maximalist Design

updated on May 24, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Love maximalist design but want to remain committed to becoming a more conscious consumer? Here are a few of my favorite sustainable design and decor destinations for achieving that maximalist, layered look with a relatively low footprint (versus mass-produced, corporate goods). Of course these shouldn’t be a replacement for secondhand sources and local boutiques in your community, but rather a supplement when you’re looking for that perfect piece to round out your collection. Peruse the shops below, then head over to this post to learn more about conscious maximalism in decor!

Palm pillowcases by CloselyKnitCo on Etsy

Etsy

Etsy is my go-to for home decor (and has been since I first discovered them in 2008!) because you can find both handmade and vintage on the platform, offering different ways to shop sustainably. Plus, while it’s always less taxing on the environment to shop locally than ship items from around the world, Etsy does offset its carbon emissions. If you love hunting for higher end vintage pieces, you can also try Chairish.

A few more of my favorite Etsy shops for handmade maximalist decor are Mrs Fishkin, MoiMili, SoLinen (which I mean, is perfect for minimalists too!), and Poppy & Honesty. For vintage, I love to check in on AnnabelMayVintage, SimplyChi, and LittleDogVintage for new-old finds.

Trouva

Have you shopped indie makers on Trouva before? It’s a discovery site and marketplace featuring goodies from boutiques in the UK and EU and globally. They offer carbon neutral worldwide shipping and even complimentary gift wrap, so they really make it easy to choose thoughtful gifts and decor. You can always search Google for your favorite vendors discovered on the platform, and see if any US based retailers offer them, if you are looking for something more local.

A few Trouva vendors that have caught my eye are Projektityyny, Casa Cubista, and Society of Wanderers. If you’re looking for a US based platform that works in a similar way, you might try Garmentory.

Pillows by Archive New York

Wall baskets by Kazi as seen in @emmyraver‘s home in @archdigest

Made Trade

If you’re a die-hard maximalist that is obsessed with all things bold, it’s easy to discount Made Trade. They are an ethical marketplace featuring tons of my favorite sustainable brands, but I have to admit that as a brand they lean toward the more common minimalist angle when it comes to conscious consumerism. That said, they offer some amazing maximalist vendors like Zuahaza, Kazi, and Archive New York. Like Etsy and Trouva, it takes some digging, but you can certainly find the pops of color and pattern you’re looking for, sustainably!

St Frank textiles and decor

st frank

On the higher end of this roundup, maximalist design site St Frank is such a beautiful destination for artisan-made home goods with a sustainable focus. They have an extensive collection of ethically-sourced goods for every one of your home and lifestyle needs–from wallpaper to textiles to housewares and artwork. It’s truly a one-stop shop and the bold prints and patterns they feature are ripe for layering and adding texture to your home.

Another shot by our member and home decor shop we’ve featured, Archive New York.

our blog

We first started obsessing over conscious maximalism in this trend report. From there, we posted a few shopping roundups that are perfect for helping you curate a maximalist home with intention. Our favorites:

We also share them in our directory and in our boutique.

18 Beautiful Ethically Made & Fair Trade Rugs

updated on April 14, 2025 by Angela Hamilton

Window shopping fair trade rugs is one of my favorite ways to waste time on the internet. (We all have our own, right?) Since my apartment already has all the rugs it can hold, guides like this give me an outlet for my ethically made finds. I don’t think there’s any reason to buy a rug that isn’t fairly and consciously produced in 2025. While some of these are on the higher end, you can at the very least find incredible vintage rugs from small businesses on Etsy, or while perusing your local OfferUp, Craigslist, or thrift stores. Boundless gems await!

If you’re looking to refresh your home this year, and I wouldn’t blame you with all of the time spent inside at the moment, a new rug is the perfect place to start. It can anchor your whole design and make a room look brand new. Below, find my current favorites–mostly colorful and intricate, and all produced ethically.

Tierra y Mano’s Blaise Danio Collaboration features colorful abstract rugs like the Zephyr, made in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico on a traditional foot loo.

Morrow hand-knotted rugs are subtle yet stunning, like this wool check rug in a cocoa hue. Find more neutral home goods here!

Archive New York’s Teo zig-zag rug is perfectly on trend with its brown and pink colorway. Click over to the listing to see some of the weaving process. Dreaaamy!

The Rug Company is a leader in providing fair trade rugs in bespoke colors, sizes, and designs. Their online selection is pretty overwhelming, so I like to peruse their Insta for inspiration.

Eco club member Will & Atlas offers 100% jute rugs in beautiful organic designs. Jute is one of the world’s most sustainable fibers, and works indoors and out!

Lovers of pinks, pastels, and all things bright will fall in love with the selection of authentic Moroccan rugs at Baba Souk out of Canada.

Colombia based Zuahaza, maker of throws, pillows, and other home goods, also offers ethically made rugs woven with sustainable natural fibers like fique. We snapped the first photo during a content shoot last year.

One of my favorite shops for rugs, Loom & Field, sells colorful shag rugs in patterns you don’t see anywhere else. They offer both vintage and contemporary handmade by their artisan partners.

Loomy (who offers free US shopping) has this colorful Off Balance rug among their choices of consciously crafted rugs. Each of the listings on their site will tell you about its sustainability features, such as origin and recycled materials. When I shop Loomy, I head straight to their multi colored rug collection!

Soukie Modern offers custom handcrafted Moroccan rugs, like this Beni M’rirt Rug to your specifications. They also have incredible wedding blankets, home decor, and more!

Loloi is known for partnering with incredible designers like Rifle Paper Co and Justina Blakeney on their handmade rugs. The pink wave design is so dang good (sadly since discontinued). I regret not investing in this one!

Goodee is known for high end, artisan made goods and textiles that support craft preservation and empower marginalized communities. The nanimarquina Shade Outdoor Rug and Chandelao Jute Rug are two of my favorite ethically made rugs they offer. BTW, you can find more sustainable outdoor rugs here, if that’s what you’re looking for!

You know how much I love Etsy for vintage and custom rugs. You always want to read a shop’s bio and policies, and ask the seller any questions you have in order to ensure it is produced fairly and sustainably, and going to meet your needs. Etsy is also powered by 100% renewable energy and offsets carbon emissions, which is good to know if you’re considering an international purchase. This yellow, lavender, and pink (dream combo!) wool kilim rug can be made in literally any size. I’ll link a few more Etsy favorites below!

best ethically made and fair trade rugs for 2025

Where do you shop for fair trade rugs? Share more sources with us in the comments!

Ethical Alternatives to Urban Outfitters Fashion & Home

updated on October 4, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Looking for ethical alternatives to Urban Outfitters? This mega guide is all you need! It’s got 18 brands (and counting) that provide sustainable alternatives to the UO empire. And I must say, it’s good. Like we said when we posted about sustainable alternatives to Anthropologie, we didn’t just want this to be a clickbait article full of generally sustainable companies that don’t actually look anything like the goodies you’d buy at Urban.

I was expecting a challenge, but you know what? This guide was actually really fun to write. Urban Outfitters is so alluring because their eye-catching and trendy designs are influenced by (and many times outright copies of) indie fashion designers and makers. The brands below fit the UO vibe because there wouldn’t be a UO vibe without them. And not just Urban, but Shein, ASOS, Zara, and pretty much every fast fashion retailer.

So next time you see something fabulous at a big box retailer like Urban, open this handy list and track down the real deal!

ethical alternatives to urban outfitters

Most of the brands below focus on womens fashion, but there’s also some mens and unisex fashion as well as home and lifestyle goods sprinkled in, since UO has become such a one-stop shop in the last several years. Let’s go!

Big Bud Press sells amazing fitted printed & colored jumpsuits, work pants, undies and more, in sizes XXS-6XL+.

Back Beat Co is all about that laidback California style. Their waffle tops, linen jumpsuits, organic cotton sweaters and so many more totally influence UO offerings.

For those that love a good staple piece, Known Supply is a Fair Trade-Certified ethical fashion brand that offers affordable everyday wear. They use GOTS-certified cotton when possible, and even allows you to trace your clothing back to the person who made it on their website! (Thanks to our contributor Mindy for the recc!)

Zero waste fashion brand Tonlé offers gender & size inclusive apparel, home and gifts, and maternity friendly goods for an affordable price.

Brick and mortar out of Des Moines, IA and online marketplace MARNĒ offers ethically made goods so you can shop without all the legwork as a conscious consumer. They stock some of the other brands on this list, like Back Beat Co and Whimsy & Row along with other indie faves.

Ethical fashion brand Two Days Off has expanded with the addition of a marketplace on their website, made up of other sustainable brands. Not only does their minimalist clothing, which comes in yummy trendy colors, align with UO’s vibe, they have lifestyle goods for sale such as moisturizer, books, and stationery.

LoveFool is a small sustainable clothing brand that makes cozy sets, ruched and smocked tops, and amazing colorblocked wrap tops in S-4X. Their color choices are too good.

Philly based Grant Blvd has an impressive selection of clothing and accessories made with reclaimed fabrics. The selection is ever changing, and you can find anything from upcycled fanny packs (I have this one!) to crop tops to sweaters.

If you’re looking for art and decor as cute and creative as Urban Outfitters, Bon Femmes is your new favorite boutique. This Chicago based brick and mortar + online destination highlights female artists and makers with an expertly curated collection of prints, home accents, gifts and more. Way better than Urban… Way.

It’s hard for us to get through a roundup without mentioning Eco Vibe, as this Portland mainstay has grown to offer so much in the way of consciously curated lifestyle goods (and yes, lots of plants) in the last few years. You won’t have any issues switching from UO to Eco Vibe (who offers the majority of their collection online as well) for your gifts and home goods.

Sustainable Bolivian-American brand Wasi is known for quirky, cheerful, and empowering goods like daisy-printed jumpsuits and playful hair clips.

Inner Peach is another fun, colorful, and empowering clothing and accessories brand designed and made by Orange County CA’s Olga Perelman. Their cheerful goods give me the Urban Outfitters vibes in all the best ways!

Cozy California brand People of Leisure has some of the most comfortable and effortlessly stylish athleisure wear you can buy sustainably. Waffle hoodies, organic band tees, and tie dye joggers are a few UO-like highlights.

PS: I own a POL sweatshirt and for the last year it has been one of my very faves. I wear it at least once a week!

Sustainable staple Whimsy & Row is your UO swap when it comes to party dresses, stylish corduroys, and even wedding party attire. While sustainable fashion is bound to cost more than the price tags at Urban, Whimsy & Row offers quite a bit of goods priced comparably.

Sustainable jewelry brand Milk & Rose offers affordable, minimalist jewelry with an ethereal vibe, all wrapped up in biodegradable packaging.

I think vintage is always a fitting alternative to trendy shops like UO because they are striving for that lived-in vibe in so many of their products anyway. Why not go straight to the source? Mofomelon Vintage curates a collection of playful, funky dresses, skirts, blouses, and more, that are actually the real deal.

Quinta Esencia‘s artisan made decor has a modern boho feel using lots of cream colors and natural fibers, like this hammock above.

MAAARI owners Ivy and Jeanette curate modern goods inspired by Philippine culture, paying homage to their Filipina roots, while preserving traditional craft. While their designs are timeless, they also offer a few trendier pieces that someone who loves Urban would want to scoop right up, such as the Luna Rug.

If you love Urban Outfitter jeans, don’t worry, you can find denim all of the best fits from ethical jeans company ETICA. They also offer modern basics and neutrals to achieve that casual UO look.

Final notes

For one, we tried to choose brands with a similar price-point, but ethically made goods cost more (it happens when you’re actually paying your production team, ya know?), so it was really more about closing the gap as much as possible. Secondly, we are in absolutely no way calling out independent designers and artists who choose to partner with companies like Urban/Anthro to sell their goods. If I were in that position, I’d do it too. It’s an incredible opportunity for exposure, and even though it’s little more than a PR move for them, it gives an audience to these makers and turns consumers onto some original, well-made goods in the mix. The goal of guides like this isn’t necessarily to “take them down” as much as it is to inspire them to begin offering goods that consumers are actually proud to buy.

If you’re interested in stories about Urban Outfitters plagiarizing artists, here are a couple sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/urban-outfitter-designs-1.5510978
https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/urban-outfitters-mitjili-napurrula-rug-plagiarism/
https://www.upworthy.com/here-are-5-of-many-reasons-i-no-longer-shop-at-urban-outfitters-hopefully-youll-join-me

Which sustainable brands would you recommend to a conscious consumer that loves the UO vibe?

Sustainable Gift Ideas Under $50

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

As much as I know how important it is to keep a budget in mind when shopping for holiday gifts (and anything else), I go back and forth on whether to organize gift guides by price range. I don’t like perpetuating the idea that certain goods must be under a price point (such as the $5 we’re all used to paying when it comes to simple t-shirts). That’s because I know that most mass-produced goods couldn’t possibly be priced that low if they were sustainably and ethically produced, or made in small batches.

That said, everybody’s gotta budget! And it’s frustrating to want to align your shopping habits with your values, but feel like it’s impossible to fit those gifts into that budget. So we wanted to round up some sustainable gift ideas that are affordable to a wider range of consumers, that are still thoughtful and substantial. Plus, the brands below are some of my favorites for recommending to friends just getting started on their own sustainable living journeys.

our favorite affordable sustainable gifts

From top to bottom, left to right: Capricorn Bandana from Bon Femmes, Olsen+Olsen Organic Beeswax Wraps, Hand Dipped Incense Sticks from DIGS, Baby Gingham Bubble Romper by Lola & Stella, Vintage Twisted Candles from milkteeths (love the idea of snagging a vintage version of these trendy twist candles!), Slow North Eye Mask Therapy from Eco Vibe, Mountain Pieces Print from Holistic Habitat, High Maintenance Plant Pot from Eco Vibe, Golde Pure Matcha from Minna, Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Call It Chartreuse, Au Naturel Art Print by Wilde House Paper, Sunburst Gem Headband by Llani, Groovy Comida Kitchen Towel by Wasi Clothing, Miraflores Wicker Shopper Bag From Woven Rosa, Desert Daydream Crochet Potholders from Holistic Habitat, Nana + Livy Choco Soap Bars (which are palm oil free!), & Hibiscus Mirror by Quinta Esencia Studio

more affordable sustainable gifting tips

The designers above are lovely when it comes to buying new products for family and friends, but that’s not the only way to gift sustainably. Here are a few more ideas for thoughtful gifting, that are even more affordable and eco-conscious:

Go vintage. Source a thoughtful item from Etsy or another vintage marketplace with the recipient in mind. I love to find vintage pieces for friends because you can go off of themes you know they’ll want + like, while offering something completely unexpected.
Thrift. Similarly, you can shop in-person at your local thrift or consignment shop. This is a great way to hunt for gently used (and therefore cheaper) items based off of current trend or brands you know the recipient is into. Thrift shops are also a great place for nostalgic gifts! I love finding old, meaningful books and quirky glassware.
Look for a “reuse” shop in your area. I’ve lived in a few cities over the years that have little hole-in-the-wall creative reuse storefronts that are goldmines for craft materials and gift wrap. This is a great way to make your own affordable sustainable gifts or personalize the ones you already have.
Organize a Secret Santa. Last year our group of friends opted for a Secret Santa gift exchange for the first time. It was easier on all of our wallets because we each only purchased one gift, and had an agreed upon price limit. But it was also a lot of fun! We got to see what everyone got each other and it became its own experience.

How do you make holiday gifting more sustainable and affordable? Share your tips with us!

Sustainable Lifestyle Gift Guide: Neutral Artisan Home Decor

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

I am a color lover through and through, but I lived in Los Angeles long enough to appreciate a well-designed minimalist home with neutral decor (take this Venice Beach bungalow, for example), especially if it’s got a few desert touches. While we’ve focused a lot on conscious maximalism, I do love the warmth and texture that neutrals (done right) can bring. Some of my favorite ethical home decor shops offer unique artisan finds for lovers of white-tan-beige layers, so our first sustainable lifestyle gift guide of the season came together rather effortlessly…

Two of my favorite starting points for sourcing a cozy minimalist look like this are Australia’s artisan decor brand Pampa (who has a US site now) and sustainable lifestyle boutique Housework, both offering beautiful neutrals in the warmest of ways. And don’t forget a the key to this look: a hint of wood or terracotta as a pseudo “pop of color” and lots of smooth surfaces (like candles or clay vessels) mixed with texture (from fringe to rattan to jute) throughout. Click the links above to follow the rest of the sources!

Do you know anyone who loves the look of a neutral artisan inspired home?

Bright, Bold Fall Home Decor by Fair Trade Brand Anchal Project

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Who here loves to decorate for fall but wants to keep things bright and warm for dark days ahead? (Meeeeee.) Our new directory member, Fair Trade brand Anchal Project’s Fall ’21 collection marries cozy and colorful just in time for curling up inside. If you haven’t heard of them, Anchal collaborates with female artisans in Ajmer, India to design and handcraft sustainable home decor and lifestyle products. They’re also a nonprofit organization offering social impact programs such as education and health services on top of sustainable employment for their makers and their local communities.

Patchwork Plaid, Anchal Project’s latest collection, introduces a classic motif deeply inspired by the rich history of Indian madras. It’s meant to provide comfort and familiarity, while fitting in with the modern home. It’s all made of organic cotton and the line ranges from quilts and pillows to accessories and linens.

The multi-check pattern and colorway is definitely up our alley, and I love it matched with mustard and rust tones.

Here it’s paired with cozy pillows from other collections.

Besides the decor, Anchal Project offers the multi-check (and other patchwork motifs for fall) design in this cozy patchwork quilt jacket. If you’ve heard of Anchal you’ve probably seen some of their embroidered apparel, which is always making waves (and often selling out) online and in social media.

Take a look at the collage below for more cozy brights in this collection!

Stripe Canvas Tote Bag / Multi Check Quilt Throw / Cross Stitch Pouch Clutch / Graph Table Runner / Multi Check Throw Pillow / Graph Napkin Set / Small Patchwork Plaid Quilt Throw / Graph Placemat Set

Which piece would you decorate with this fall? Shop on anchalproject.org and be sure to use code ecoclub20 for 20% off!

Thanks to Anchal Project for joining our sustainable shop directory and sponsoring this spotlight post!