it's independent shops week !
This week we are celebrating and supporting independent stores that inspire us to live sustainably. It is about time that we recognize the good work and ethic of those people that create mindful and sustainable products.
If like me you want to make changes in your life and transition into a low or zero waste lifestyle, you probably feel like giving up the minute you go out shopping. May it be for groceries, beauty products, cleaning essentials, clothes or gifts we are used to buy everything at the supermarket or in shopping centers where it is all wrapped in plastic. And this makes me feel hopeless at times. The truth is, Zero Waste is not the norm, yet 😉 .
So I made some research and found some inspiring shops and creators. I’ll be sharing 10 of my favourite european shops and the reasons why they are examples for the shopping of the future.
Some of the following creators have online shops on Etsy.com. If you don’t already know what Etsy is, welcome to the global creator’s market! It is an online marketplace for independent creators, artisans and vintage sellers worldwide. You can find homemade and handmade products and artistic creations. What I also love about it is that you can talk directly to the creators and even ask for modifications or custom designs. You can literally ask for unique pieces that nobody else will have!
Accessories
Alessandra is an italian designer based in Rome who takes inspiration from the art of origami to create versatile accessories that will evolve and last.
Her beautiful creations are made from surplus textiles coming from the fashion industry and therefore minimize the impact on the environment.
I love espadrillas! The perfect summer shoe that comes in every color and every heel height.
Ibizencas is based in Spain, the homeland of this shoe model, and handcrafts the shoes from organic materials using jute, cotton and linen. They specialize in wedding style but really they have so much variety you’ll easily find the right one for you.
home
How cute are these swedish quilts? Even more if you ask me because they are handmade with love from upcycled fabric. They propose some different patterns for babies, kids and couch throw but you can easily contact Angela, the artist, to request a custom made one to suit your bed size!
Minipop is a french brand, based in Brest, focused on zero waste living.
Hélène takes the time to create every piece to offer all sorts of reusable alternatives to help reduce household waste, like bulk bags and wash cloths. Her vegan bags in cork leather are also a wonderful alternative to traditional leather bags.
The name Renée Recycle speaks for itself, it is a concept store that focuses on vintage and used objects.
The friend-owned store is based in Paris and you can feel the chic and minimalist parisian aesthetic throughout their selection of furniture and decorations.
This is a relatively new online shop that sells only natural and biodegradable products.
The portuguese owners take pride in shaping the future of consumption by offering good quality, eco-minded and socially-aware products. They want to make it possible for people to buy and still be contributing to a better world.
Melania lives in the italian countryside where she creates and sews exclusively with certified GOTS organic fabrics and specializes in creating beautiful accessories for the zero waste home.
Jewelry
Today is a jewelry brand based in the UK and takes pride in honest and sustainable design. The timeless creations are made with recycled silver and will come in a 100% recycled packaging.
Beauty
Lamazuna is a french sustainable brand that has created plastic free self care items since 2010.
They started with make-up remover pads and now have a wide range of solid shampoo bars, solid toothpaste, and soap bars.
Georganics is an english brand that is growing fast thanks to its popular toothpaste alternatives.
They have a range of toothpaste, toothpowder and mouthwash tablets that will clean your mouth in the most natural way. All in non-plastic containers.
I hope these examples will show you that we can shop differently an use our money responsibly.
Do you have any favourite eco shops? Is ther something you would want to swap for a plastic free alternative in the furture?
Let me know in the comments. 🙂
