In the home decor space, it can be hard to resist the cheap, trendy items at Target, Wayfair, Walmart or Amazon. So I'm here to inspire you with alternative options you can feel good about.
Fable
Fable believes in responsible design and is dedicated to zero-waste manufacturing. Fable sells beautiful home decor made by humans: rugs, ceramics, drinkware, flatware, lighting, all very modern and stylish. Fable is transparent about where their products come from, who the maker is, and what their practices are. They openly state that they only work with makers who have an earth-first mentality as well as treat their employees with dignity and respect.
Fable a Certified B Corp dedicated to sustainability, and transparency, by setting annual goals and publishing their annual Impact Reports.
Shopping these days can feel like a battlefield for your conscience. With the political climate and corporate entanglements, spending your hard-earned money is more than just a transaction; it influences how brands use their funds. Ignoring this is like giving your kid an allowance without caring how they spend it, (aka, hopefully not on drugs!)
Public scrutiny is a risk that companies accept when they go public. Remember Nike's scandal in the early 2000s? A BBC documentary exposed child labor in soccer ball production, inciting rightful outrage from consumers. This scandal opened the door for journalists to investigate human rights violations, which made large brands nervous about what they didn't know. The outrage drove major change in how brands work with factories, especially in countries that don't prioritize basic human rights.
Today it is common for the larger brands to enter into contracts with their factories, setting standards for workers' treatment, such as hours worked, pay, toxic material exposure and other factory conditions. It also entails third-party inspection and transparent reporting.
However, platforms like Amazon, Alibaba, Temu, Aliexpress, and Etsy complicate this dynamic, allowing anyone to sell directly through “store fronts.” The “dups” commonly peddled by influencers on social media might come from the same factories that produce your favorite brands! So, they may be infringing upon copyright, using substitute materials, or worse just hiding the hours, conditions and workforce from the third-party auditors.
So my question is, if we want to scrutinize brands’ spending, shouldn't we also scrutinize our own? Consumers have the power to make a difference, but only if they choose to exercise it.
Puebco
Pueblo is a Japanese brand; a great place for that no-one-else-will-have-it item. These are unique, small-batch items often designed by the Puebco team. They find unique raw materials or even finished materials that could be utilized in a new way. What's so cool about this brand is that they don't try to make everything look new again but rather embrace the irregularity and still make it a desirable object.
This brand makes me long for the days Smith and Hawkin was still in business. Their little gardening shop ALWAYS put me in a good mood. Their combination of beautifully made gardening implements, bulbs, seeds and plants just made me so want to be a great gardener! Their ability to merchandise the style their stores was brilliant. It was like the Neimans of garden stores.
Admittedly, Puebco hits a very specific niche. If you love utilitarian objects that are elevated and sometimes made more for display, this site is for you. I couldn't resist the rubberized utilitarian poncho. Someday I will get back in the garden, plus it rains here 9m out of the year, so why not!
PUEBCO believes that just as people are the sum of their lived experiences, the objects we share our homes with should carry that same sense of history and weight. By using recycled materials and hand made processes, PUEBCO imbues these objects with the feel of many lifetimes and a sense of history that makes each piece unique. With PUEBCO products, there are no imperfections... they are details meant to be there by design.
Yaya & Co.
I can absolutely guarantee that EVERYONE will find something they love on Yaya. If you love color they've got it, if you want neutrals, they've got it. If you only shop during sales, they have flash deals all the time. You'll find bedding, blankets, pillows, dog beds, beautiful natural linen tablecloths.
We do more than trace our supply chain, we create one. We do more than require safe working conditions, we teach them how to embrace it. We do more than contract fair trade factories, we open them and employ them. We do more than find fair trade products, we discover them. And we do more than hope for a better future, we make one.We do these things, because to be YaYa means creating quality in the details that no one even sees. We hope our diligence helps brings happiness, beauty, and richness to your home the YaYa way.
If you're remodeling or contemplating a diy makeover, you need to check out Lick. They make low VOC interior paint that is water proof and wipable! Lick also offers beautiful wallpaper in almost every style of pattern you'd want. Floral, striped, traditional, mod and great options for kids' rooms.
They've done collaborations and exclusive collections with Soho House, an exclusive and private global clubhouse for the rich and famous; and Screwfix, the predominate DIY big box in the UK.
Their products are manufactured in the UK and meet the highest standards for ecological production. They are a Certified B Corp.
What's a Certified B Corp?
A company with a Certified B Corp status is a for-profit company that aims to create value for society, not just for traditional stakeholders or shareholders. Companies are evaluated on 200 criteria in 5 specific areas - governance, workers' rights, community impact, environmental impact and "stewardsip of its customers".
The B Lab was founded in 2006, and as of December 2023, has now certified 7,600 B Corps in 84 countries and 157 industries.
"B" stands for beneficial, and indicates that the certified organizations voluntarily meets these standards, including being transparent about their results.
If you want to search for more Certified B Corp Brands, head to this link. Make sure to bookmark it so you can search over and over for whatever you're shopping for.
Revival Rugs
Revival Rugs believes "a one-of-a-kind rug shouldn't cost a month's rent." Who disagrees with that?! Revival sells rugs of all types, outdoor, washable, one-of-a-kind Vintage, Turkish, Moroccan, Jute, Wool, and more. Similar to Yaya, I challenge you to not find something you love on Revival. They source sustainable and responsible makers from all over the globe. They are very transparent about their process and offer great deals and free shipping. If you're moving to a new home and need rugs, definitely check them out.
If you follow me on social media, I've forwarded stories about Remark Glass many times. They take recycled bottles of all kinds and turn them into all kinds of new glass items. They make lighting, decorative bowls and of course sets of glasses. They of course are irregular and unique and make such a great story. They are woman owned and have already recycled 420,000 lbs of glass!
I hope these brands give you some inspiration. What I love about these brands is that nothing in these shops is common or trendy. You won't find them peddled all over Instagram or on stores at Target or Walmart. These are all unique brands with ethics you can brag about. Now, who doesn't love that?!
We've got more gift-giving holidays and events on the horizon; Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduations, I recommend you come back to this list or make sure to bookmark the B Corp link from above in the pink box. How we all spend our money makes a big difference, and EVERYONE loves something uncommon and unique.
If you're aware of another brand that you love that is focused on ethical and sustainable business practices, let us all know in the comments below!
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I love the tables I bought from Casey Grace Studios. They are perfect for my room and brighten up my life. The color is just what I wanted. The finish is impeccable. Thank you so much.
**** is a show stopper in her preppy elegance. Casey's customer service and attention to detail are incredible. including her color consultation, to find the perfect shade of green. I'm so pleased with the project and can't recommend Casey Grace highly enough.
