January 16th, 2008

Heavens to Etsy: Green Craft Central

Posted by Monica Schenk

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Tired of finding the same old things at chain stores? Well, we have found the answer. Etsy.com is a three-year-old online marketplace for handmade goods. Over 100,000 artists and craft makers around the world have set-up Etsy shops to pedal their unique handmade goods online. You will not find anything on Etsy that is mass produced or made in a sweat shop. Money spent on Etsy goes straight into the hands that made the item you purchased. To top that off, Etsy is an excellent resource for recycled, up-cycled and sustainable items. If you are looking for that special sustainable something, Etsy is the place to go.

We put together a list of some of our favorite Etsy shops:

Bottled Up Designs makes beautiful jewelry from reclaimed glass and bottles found in rural Pennsylvania. These pretty pieces should get much more use than the bottles from which they originated. The artist who makes the jewelry says, “Out of concern for the environment and the wildlife, I have been reclaiming the antique glass and bottles from the natural wooded habitat and the rural farmland in the Pennsylvania Amish Country where I live.”   

Rikrak makes beautiful blank gift cards and envelopes crafted from repurposed vintage fabrics. (Shown at left.) They are a great way to jazz up gift certificates, event tickets or love letters.

Right Brain Thinker makes 100% recycled scrubbing clothes from old t-shirts. (Shown at right.) These easy to wash, multi-tasking scrubbies are great for daily cleaning, chrome fixtures and washing vegetables.

Arm Candy sells handbags made from used clothing, leather cast-offs and samples. (Shown at left.) Their designs are clever and their commitment to re-use is strong. The vegan-friendly bags are perfect for a fun evening on the town.

The bamboo Luna Bikini by Eco Chic will be perfect for your next eco-adventure. (Shown at right.) The naturally anti-bacterial qualities of bamboo make it the perfect swimsuit material. Eco Chic makes other eco fashions with soy, bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, and tencel.

The reusable lavender dryer bags from Pink Dixie are greener than disposable sacks and keep your laundry smelling just as fresh. (Shown at left.) Each bag comes with two packets of lavender good for 5 dryer cycles each. The bags may also be used as sachets to tuck into dresser drawers and are easily personalized with your favorite fragrant combination.

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