World Finds || On Artisan Made + the Value of Transparency
I’ve partnered with a lot of brands who create “artisan-made” pieces. I’ve used the word countless times and even see it popping up more and more frequently in more conventional shopping situations. Is it a buzzword that brands use to get people to buy their product by tugging at our heart-strings, or is it a true brand value aimed at empowering people, not using them for profit?
The real kicker is that it can be both. It’s up to us, the consumers, to sort through the fog of buzzwords and determine which brands are really “walking the walk” when it comes to empowering the people they claim to empower.
When World Finds approached me about a collaboration, I could tell really quickly that they were truly one of the “walk the walk” brands, not merely using buzzwords to sell a product or hop on the ethical bandwagon.
I wrote a while ago about how I determine which brands I choose to work with (and shop from) in an effort to make it easier for you to wade through an endless sea of “ethical fair trade eco friendly artisan made zero waste natural green” brands. When I filter World Finds through those qualifications, it doesn’t take long to give them all of the green lights.
First up, their transparency is beautifully refreshing. On their website, they don’t merely use words like “partner with artisans” or “pay our workers fairly”, they show faces, link to real people and tell their stories, and go so much more in depth about their supply chain and goals for working with at-risk women in India. It’s steps like these that make truly ethical, truly fair trade brands stand out from the rest.
Next, World Finds shares MEASURABLE IMPACT. More than sharing ambiguous goals for the future, sustainability initiatives “that will start in the future” (something you see a lot), World Finds shares how they’re already taking charge, bettering the world, and following through. Each piece made by one of their more than 700 artisans in India provides them with a safe, fairly-paid, long term, culturally respectful, child labor-free place to work. Each bracelet, ring, necklace, scarf creates a future, not just financially but holistically.
Their pieces are versatile, well-made, respectful of the culture where they’re made, and best of all, truly create better lives.
I chose several rings from their site because I didn’t have any simple, gold statement rings and love how I can layer them (like I’ve done in the photos) or wear them alone. The statement Peaked Sphere earrings were a fun surprise from the World Finds team and I love how they pair with everything in my closet. Each item is timeless, durable, and versatile.
You’ll see more from World Finds in my upcoming gift guide (really, these pieces would make perfect holiday gifts), but for now, head over to their website to see what a truly transparent, impact-driven brand looks like. In an industry where it’s difficult to sort the buzzwords from the change-makers, we need more brands like this one.
*This post was sponsored by World Finds. All opinions, photos, and storytelling are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands who make the fashion industry a more respectful, transparent place.*
