Well, I have to admit that I didn’t trust Etsy at first. I didn’t know the website and everything was just looking a little sketchy. The Dutch translations were very weird and I didn’t understand the concept at all. However, the products (most of them, not all) were looking very good and promising. So I dove into this concept and came to realise its actually a very trustable platform for people/companies that make things theirselves. So a few months ago I gave it a try and ordered some shoes. I was impressed! Then I ordered much more, such a jewellery and trousers. That being said, I decided to wrap up my favourite ethical and sustainable Etsy shops in a list.
I hope this list serves as a little starting point in the Etsy jungle for you. It’s true that some Etsy shops just resell things they bought on AliExpress (a website I don’t like for multiple reasons). In this list I will only include ethical and sustainable Etsy shops. Stores that truly believe in quality, creativity and longevity and therefore share the same slow fashion values as I do.
Category CLOTHES
1. Fine Thee
There’s never ever something wrong with handmade and vintage. Mihaela shares these values too and runs an Etsy shop selling high quality vintage and handmade pieces. She really knows a lot about fabrics and what to look for in a garment. That’s why you’ll find only classic, yet unique pieces at her shop. I’ve got a handmade pair of trousers and they’re my ultimate favourite. But I also love her vintage picks, like the red blouse below.
2. The Delicate Store
The Delicate Store, as the name suggests, offers a range of delicate womenswear. Everything is produced ethically in Izmir, Turkey. Besides that, this Etsy shop values sustainability a lot too, therefore they only use natural and high quality materials such as linen, raw silk and cotton. An outfit from The Delicate Store will definitely make you look effortlessly stylish.
Shop from The Delicate Store here.
3. Poulithelabel
Pouli is a small and sustainable Etsy shop, that is heaven to people who focus on good fabrics and design. They manufacture everything in-house in limited hand-cut and sewn batches (in a small studio in Kent, England), largely on a pre-order basis. Besides their own collections, they offer great quality vintage garments, accessories, and objects.
4. LINENIDstudio
Linen is one of my favourite fabrics, as it’s super light weight and comfy to wear. If you want to read more about linen, I suggest reading this blog post I’ve written (How sustainable is linen?). D96P produces only linen clothes, most of them handmade to order and everything comes from Lithuania. Their style is effortless, timeless and modern. I haven’t ordered anything yet, but once I did I’ll leave a review on this blog post. With their fully transparant production and fabric use, D96P is definitely a one of the more sustainable Etsy shops.
Follow me on Etsy for more sustainable and ethical store favourites.
Category SHOES
1. Kionas Sandals
This was the first order I’ve ever placed on Etsy and I was very satisfied with the result! I was looking for comfortable sandals, which could be a replacement for my 10 year old sandals that were hardly holding up. The sandals from Kionas are all handmade in Greece made from vegetable tanned leather. These sandals have been a great addition to my last year’s summer wardrobe. They survived sunshine, some rain and camping!
Shop from Kionas Sandals here.
2. Mario Doni
This shops produces shoes and sandals all made in Italy. The leather is vegetable tanned and you can ask for any adjustments as well, as the shoes are made to order. Next time I think I will buy sandals from them 🙂
3. JustLeatherGR
Actually just yesterday I discovered this brand on Etsy. JustLeatherGR produces leather goods in Greece, something the brand name already suggests. Since I was looking for strappy, yet comfortable (as always) sandals, which don’t have a too high heel, I came across them. The shop owner Christina was very helpful and responded within minutes. I haven’t ordered yet, but maybe I will this summer.
Category ACCESSORIES
1. TurtleStory
A little while ago, I bought a hair clip by TurtleStory and it’s one of the most beautiful clips I’ve ever owned. All their pieces are made by hand in their workshop in Poland. Besides that, they solely use premium materials, which are sustainable, non-petroleum based, hypoallergenic Italian cellulose acetate (Tortoiseshell). These hair claws will last you a long time, that’s for sure.
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I hope this was helpful! If I missed an ethical store, please let me know. What are your sustainable Etsy shops?
