In partnership with Made Trade
Table of Contents
About Made Trade
The phrase “no ethical consumption under capitalism” has been weaponized by people who want to justify that drinking bottled water isn’t actually all that bad. In their minds, since we can’t ethically purchase anything, then we may as well purchase everything. That’s not inherently true because ethical consumption isn’t black and white, there are layers to it, and it’s more ethical to shop from some brands rather than others.
Which is exactly where Made Trade comes in. Founded in 2018, the US company is taking a stab at reducing the egregious amount of waste fast fashion companies produce per year, the gender and racial imbalances present in commercial goods, and our over-reliance on non-sustainable goods.
Made Trade is a family-run, woman-owned, small business that curates products from other small artisans. They do not create any of the merchandise on their website. Instead, they pour all their efforts into supplying customers with top-quality goods that adhere to multiple ethical standards.
What are those standards? What are their products like? What do customers think? I’ll answer all those questions, and more, in my Made Trade review. Before I get to that, let’s talk about the brand’s highlights.
Highlights
- Ethical and Sustainable: Made Trade is committed to promoting ethical labor practices, fair wages, and sustainable production methods contributing to a more ethical and environmentally friendly consumer culture.
- High-Quality Products: Made Trade curates a selection of well-crafted, high-quality products made by skilled artisans and designers. This emphasis on craftsmanship ensures that customers receive products that are built to last.
- Transparency: Made Trade provides detailed information about the materials, production processes, and stories behind each product. This transparency empowers consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.
- Diverse Product Range: Made Trade offers a diverse range of products spanning various categories, including fashion, home goods, furniture, and more. This allows customers to find ethical and sustainable options for every aspect of their lifestyle.
- Supporting Artisans: By purchasing products from Made Trade, customers contribute to the livelihoods of artisans and makers from around the world, helping to preserve traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
- Educational Resources: The platform provides educational content to help consumers learn more about ethical and sustainable practices, empowering them to make conscious choices beyond their purchases.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our mission is to help you make better, more informed purchase decisions.
Our team spends hours researching, consulting with experts, gathering insight from professionals, reviewing customer feedback, and analyzing products to provide you with the information you need.
How Does Made Trade Work?
Made Trade individually selects the pieces on their website from more than 150+ independent artisans and small businesses. As they describe it, “…we put artistry above efficiency. Fair wages above profits. Sustainability above mass production. Quality craftsmanship above mindless consumption.”
The point is, they care as much about delivering ethical and sustainable goods to customers as they do about supporting artisans. Made Trade carries only products that meet their high standards as well as possessing a minimum of two of the eight ethical practices the brand holds dear. I’ll go into those practices and values in the next section of my Made Trade review.
Before I get into that, allow me to talk about Made Trade’s carbon-neutral pledge. All their shipments and manufacturing are 100% carbon neutral. In fact, the brand even earned Climate Neutral certification in 2021. They’ve offset, and continue to do so, all their carbon emissions by buying carbon credits which are then used to fund climate change projects across the world.
Values
For any brand or artisan to make it onto Made Trade’s website, they have to adhere to at least two of the following eight values:
- Fair Trade: Products made outside the United States certified fair trade
- Handcrafted: Products were crafted or created by hand, which usually preserves older traditions and produces fewer carbon emissions
- Made in USA: USA-made products using sustainably sourced materials
- BIPOC-Owned: The company making the product must be at least 51% owned by a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color
- Sustainable Materials: Products made with earth-friendly and responsibly harvested materials
- Recycled/Upcycled: Products must be made using materials that would otherwise go to waste like bamboo or recycled glass
- Vegan: Goods cannot contain any animal products or byproducts
- Women-Owned: The company must be at least 51% owned by a woman
Made Trade rigorously assesses each creator on multiple levels. Brands have to pass an application process in which Made Trade examines their manufacturing process, goods, labor conditions, materials, and more.
The application procedure assesses sustainable material sourcing, safe working environments, and fair wages across the supply chain. Many of the items available hold third-party certifications for material sustainability, fair wages, and working conditions, all of which are listed on the product page.
All this means that if you find a product on Made Trade’s website, you can rest assured that it’s legit.
Products
Made Trade is a retailer working with small independent brands that they verify and vet.However, I can’t write a Made Trade review without giving you an idea of what you’ll find on their digital shelves. So, here’s a rundown of their product categories.
They sell bedding and bath goods like towels, sheets, duvets, and pillows, which you can search by sustainable material. These materials include:
- Bamboo
- Hemp
- Linen
- Organic Cotton
- Turkish Cotton
- TENCEL Eucalyptus
Then, there are home goods, which is where you’ll find products like rugs, baskets, storage containers, and vases. They also carry dining essentials like cutlery, plates, and mugs.
Made Trade has a unique sustainable furniture selection which includes outdoor chairs and tables made from recycled milk jugs and handcrafted artisan-made accent chairs.
Finally, there’s the apparel section, which includes clothing for women, men, and children, shoes, and accessories. Admittedly, the women’s selection is much larger than the men’s, with many of the male pieces actually being unisex. That being said, you can sort through all the clothing to find the sustainable material you want. Their sustainable materials include:
- Bamboo
- Organic Cotton
- Recycled Material
- Regenerative Cotton
- Tencel Eucalyptus
- Wool
Furthermore, you can filter clothing from BIPOC-owned manufacturers, fair trade, handcrafted, recycled, sustainable, USA-made, vegan, or women-owned.
Due to the sheer variety of products and creators, it’s hard to pin down a particular aesthetic for Made Trade besides “anti-trend.” Many of their products possess an evergreen quality. They’re meant to be your capsule pieces, your forever wardrobe, and the furniture you keep with you for generations.
Who Is Made Trade For?
If you’re a regular sustainable shopper then you should consider checking out Made Trade. You’ll discover exclusive items you can’t find at big box stores, support small businesses, and directly help the environment through Made Trade’s carbon-neutral offsets.
Made Trade Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
While everything thus far in my Made Trade review seems just peachy, it’s not enough to decide whether a brand is worthwhile if I don’t consult with what customers think. That’s why I’ve assembled a list of customer scores from various websites that are up to date as of August 2023.
- Made Trade: 5/5 stars based on more than 1,700 pieces of customer feedback
- Slumber Search: 4.6/5 stars based on dozen of pieces of customer feedback
- Facebook: 4.5/5 stars based on more than 10 pieces of customer feedback
Most of the Made Trade reviews on the brand’s website were about the individual products, so I won’t go into too much detail about them because that’s more about the product than Made Trade. As you can see through, shoppers were pretty pleased with what they bought from the website.
As for Made Trade, it appears that customers were quite fond of the site. They singled out the product selection and ethical practices for being leagues above other companies. In fact, many of them returned to Made Trade for those reasons.
“This has become my go to place for all my home decorating needs as of late. I love all the unique pieces and they are always good quality. Honorable mention to their customer service. They have been so accommodating and make me feel taken care of. Will be back for more!,” wrote one Facebook user.
The garment quality was praised for being top-notch, giving off the perception that most products on Made Trade were well worth their money. One customer wrote, “I purchased several ethically made bedsheets from this company via Amazon Pay, and they are wonderful quality much better than the cheap sheets on Amazon or big box stores. They use delivery protections on their orders and are prompt with their shipping times. All deliveries are carbon offset.”
Some Made Trade reviews specifically complimented the brand’s customer service, with one shopper on Facebook writing,
“Their sheets are just amazing. And their customer service is as good as it gets. I look forward to ordering additional items from this wonderful woman owned company. Kudos to them for promoting ethical shopping, and making it so easy and fulfilling to do business with them.”
Another customer on Slumber Search said Made Trade were more than happy to work with them to figure out their issues. “My experience has been wonderful! The website is easy to use, and when I miscalculated the number of curtains I needed, customer service was quick to respond and got my order updated correctly. Everything arrived well-packaged, present, and it was so easy putting them up. They look great, just like in the pictures. I’m very happy I decided on the meadow curtains.”
In short, most buyers had nothing but kind words for Made Trade’s practices and products.
Is Made Trade Legit?
Honestly, just reading through everything the small businesses and artisan groups have to do to be eligible to be carried on Made Trade was exhausting. I can’t imagine doing all that work myself. Made Trade and their products are without a doubt legit because they ensure each item is made with true transparency.
Is Made Trade Worth It?
Although prices are on the higher end, Made Trade distinguishes itself as a potential hub for sustainable shopaholics. Their high-quality sustainable products and enduring styles mean that they won’t end up in the recycling or trash bin next season or for many, many years to come. Plus the fact you’ll be supporting small businesses and artisans means Made Trade is definitely worth checking out.
Made Trade Promotions & Discounts
Made Trade occasionally offers sales and special discounts, but you’ll only know about them if you subscribe to their email list. They will only offer discounts as large as 60% on their sale items on special sales like Black Friday or Cyber Monday. These promotions change periodically, so you’ll want to keep an eye on them and make sure you sign up for their emails and SMS alerts.
Where To Buy Shop From Made Trade
You can start shopping with Made Trade on their website, www.madetrade.com.
FAQ
Who owns Made Trade?
Made Trade is a women-owned company that was co-founded by Cayley Pater and Andy Ives which means Pater owns more of the company than Ives.
What is Made Trade’s Shipping Policy?
For US orders, they provide free shipping on all orders over $100. Orders under that amount will be charged a flat $7.95 shipping fee. Their shipping takes on average 3-5 business days for orders within the US.
What is Made Trade’s Return Policy?
Made Trade has a 30-day return policy.
How To Contact Made Trade
Here are all of Made Trade’s contact details for customers with questions.
- General inquiries or to reach customer support: [email protected]
- Text or call 1 (888) 416-3517
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