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 ... Read More
Where To Shop
18 Beautiful Ethically Made & Fair Trade Rugs
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 2022. 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 ... Read More
Ethical Alternatives to Urban Outfitters Fashion & Home
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 ... Read More
Sustainable Gift Ideas Under $50
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 ... Read More
Sustainable Lifestyle Gift Guide: Neutral Artisan Home Decor
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 ... Read More
Bright, Bold Fall Home Decor by Fair Trade Brand Anchal Project
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 ... Read More
