I know that sustainable shopping isn’t always easy, so I love discovering and sharing places that are working to make it easier for us on our conscious living journeys.
Which is why I am proud to partner up with Made Trade—a curated online ethical marketplace bringing together the best of the best from beautiful ethical brands all in one place.
Before I get too far into talking about Made Trade and their incredible consciously-crafted products, though, I want to be sure to let you know that if you find something you like on Made Trade’s site, you can use my link for $15 off your purchase!
There are a few ethical marketplaces out there, but Made Trade’s consciously-curated collection of pieces is definitely special. The quality of products, their in-depth look at ethical criteria, and their editorial-level imagery is unmatched. As their tagline on their website quite accurately describes, their marketplace is “a destination for exceptionally designed, ethically made goods.”
The Portland-based one-stop ethical shop focuses on women’s and men’s clothing, accessories, jewelry, and home goods, with clearly labeled standards for sustainability and ethics that make shopping for your values simple and straightforward.
I’ll be digging more into the values behind Made Trade a little bit later in the post, but first I wanted to review a couple of pieces that their lovely team sent me to test out and share with you all!
The Building Block Pendant – Horseshoe Circle (Brand: Days of August)
Neutral Sahara Cushion (Brand: Kiliim)
Made Trade also has a wide variety of home goods in their online curated shop—including this handmade pillow from Kiliim, a social enterprise based in Egypt focusing on reviving the traditional local craft, kilim, and supporting kilim artisans with fair wages.
While this pillow is stylish enough to be in any major home decor store, I love knowing that it’s so much more. The pieces from Kiliim are keeping a craft alive that’s been passed down through many generations and allowing artisans in a small Egyptian village, called Fowwa, to make an income for their incredible work. Now that’s the true beauty of artisan-made goods.
Without Made Trade, I don’t think I would have ever heard of this brand, but wow, do they have stunning pieces! This is one of the reasons why I believe that online ethical marketplaces serve an essential part in the ethical fashion movement. A lot of these ethical, artisan-made brands are smaller and aren’t quite able to break through on a large-scale on their own, so curated shops provide an essential bridge to bring their rare, precious crafts to all of us
So those were the two pieces I tried out from Made Trade but there is so much more to discover on their site! Their online marketplace has plenty of beautiful conscious brands with clothing and accessories for men and women along with home goods, including pillows, rugs, blankets, and baskets.
And every brand included on Made Trade has one or more of their five major values: Fair Trade, Heritage, Sustainable, USA Made, and Vegan—which are all values that I firmly believe in for the products I buy and share on Conscious Life & Style.
1. Fair Trade
These are products made by artisans earning dignified wages and working in safe conditions. Fair Trade was the first standard I learned about when I started by ethical fashion journey and it’s one that I still strongly believe in. To guarantee ethical labor, Made Trade looks for brands that have a Fair Trade certification or who have demonstrated a commitment to transparency and ethical labor that meet or exceed certification requirements.
My Fair Trade Favorites:
KAZI Cool Color Blocked Extra Large Raffia Plate
Anchal Project Large Patchwork Naari Pouch
KAZI Natural Rectangular Raffia Tray
KAZI Fandango Pink Raffia Table Runner
2. Heritage
Heritage brands are those which are working to sustain and revive traditional crafts and art forms. Products in this category are made using techniques that have been passed down through generations and may be at risk of being lost.
My Heritage Favorites:
Symbology Blooming Floral Hi-Neck Blouse
Photo: Lance Skundrich & Made Trade
Symbology Peacock Feather Kimono Wrap Dress in Navy + Gold
3. Sustainable
Within the sustainable criteria on Made Trade, you’ll find goods made from eco-conscious materials such as Pinatex, upcycled or recycled fabrics, deadstock fabrics, and natural fabrics including linen. They also look for brands with sustainable production practices, such as using renewable energy and offsetting emissions.
My Sustainable Favorites:
Audrey Weaves Lindsay Earrings
4. USA Made
As a US-based company, Made Trade believes in sourcing local goods made in America. But they don’t source from just any USA Made brand—they ensure that the company is also paying living wages, sourcing sustainable materials, and following other sustainable practices in their supply chain and production.
My USA Made Favorites:
Altar Moonstone Goddess Dart Collar
5. Vegan
This one is pretty self-explanatory but the vegan products on Made Trade are completely free of any material or ingredient containing animal products. A vegan product does not always mean eco-friendly, though, so I was glad to see that Made Trade considers the sustainability aspect as well when curating vegan brands. Their marketplace does not include synthetic faux leather, but rather natural, plant-based leathers…including one of my favorite materials: Pinatex!
My Vegan Favorites:
TOOCHE Lavender Peony Straw Bag
Anchal Project Hand Stitched Slate Canvas Tote
As you can tell, Made Trade has taken an in-depth approach to the structure and criteria of their marketplace. Not just US-made… but ethically made in the US, not just vegan… but sustainable vegan materials, not just artisan-made but fair trade artisan brands.
I have been truly impressed about the standard that Made Trade has put in place for the products they choose to sell. Consumer trust is essential to any company, but especially one focused on ethical goods from such a wide range of sources.
And as you saw in the photos, this online marketplace has equally high standards for aesthetics as their ethics—the home goods, clothing, and accessories are all exceptionally designed. Made Trade really has it all!
So what are you waiting for? Go discover Made Trade’s collection of ethical goods. (And remember, if you find something you like, you can get $15 off with this link)
This post has been sponsored by Made Trade. As always, all companies I include on Conscious Life & Style align with my values and style, and are brands I would otherwise support.
