Whether you’re adding a sustainable mirror to your space for functionality or beauty — or perhaps both! — these mindfully crafted mirrors will help you complete your vision.
This guide features everything from rattan wall mirrors to industrial-grade bathroom mirrors to minimalist floor length mirrors.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through some of these links, we may earn a commission which enables us to keep creating resources just like this one. As always, these are brands that meet high standards for sustainability and are brands we truly love — and that we think you’ll love too!
What to Look for in a Sustainable Mirror:
While quality can vary, mirrors are all made from glass, which is generally regarded as a lower impact material. But there are a few more aspects to consider if you’re looking for an eco-friendly mirror.
Search for Secondhand Mirrors
Shopping for pre-loved mirrors keeps existing mirrors out of the landfill while reducing the need for new production. Get tips for shopping secondhand home goods here!
Local Secondhand Options:
- Local thrift shops and furniture resale stores
- Estate sales or garage sales
- Apps like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp for local pickups
Online Secondhand Options:
While these options are typically priced a bit higher (and may involve shipping fees) they can be more convenient and curated than the above options. These resoruces do all the work of inspection, cleaning, and delivery for you.
- Kaiyo is best for big name brands at lower prices. The resale site has gently used, mid-market furniture (think West Elm and Ethan Allen) for prices that are anywhere from 10-85% lower than new.
- Chairish is best for unique finds and investment pieces. The vintage site has a stunning, curated selection of everything from art deco mirrors to traditional 19th century mirrors.
- Happy Vintage Studio is best for vintage accent mirrors. This “star seller” on Etsy has plenty of one-of-a-kind mirrors of all shapes and sizes — and at quite reasonable prices for vintage, too. You can get the pieces delivered or do a local pickup if you’re near the Virginia-based seller.
Responsible Materials
If shopping new, look for mirrors with eco-friendly frames made from materials like bamboo, rattan, or recycled metal.
Working Conditions & Craftsmanship
The people aspect of sustainability is just as important to consider. Does the brand publish information about how the mirror was made and if the makers earned fair, living wages? If they worked in safe conditions and had benefits? [Read more on ethical production here.]
Where to Find Sustainable Mirrors
Sustainable home shopping isn’t easy, but this guide is here to help! Check out the following vetted sources to find responsibly-made more sustainable mirrors.
1. Ethnicraft @ Urban Natural
Ethnicraft has mastered the art of creating stylish home objects with exceptional craftsmanship over the course of their 25 years in business. Their sustainable mirrors are crafted by artisans using materials like solid mahogany, walnut, oak and bronze.
The brand sources FSC-certified wood and repurposes waste, like recycling leftover wood into things like base material. regularly tests their products to ensure the highest quality
Best for: Elegant, artisan-made mirrors
Price range: $459 – $1439
2. Made Trade
This woman-owned sustainable retailer curates an exceptional selection of artisan-made small businesses making fair trade mirrors.
One brand, Casa Amarosa is a WOC-owned brand based in India working with Fair Trade Certified and Good Weave Certified partners across the country.
Another brand, Mojo Boutique sources natural materials like rattan and rafia for their free-spirited designs, perfect for a boho aesthetic
Best for: Boho mirrors with all-natural frames
Price range: $70 – $680
3. The Citizenry
The Citizenry collaborates with local artisans in various communities from around the world to share their stories and art, paying wages that are double the fair trade requirement. The retailer’s mirrors are handcrafted in Chile by Quilicura Design Studio and in Japan by The Okawa Hinoki Workshop.
Best for: Sleek minimalist mirrors
Price point: $249 – $659
4. Cisco Home @ Urban Natural
Sustainable furniture brand Cisco Home crafts their heirloom-quality furniture and decor in Los Angeles using durable and mindful materials.
Cisco Home’s industrial mirrors feature metal or fabric frames and some of their mirrors are finished with black rust to give a dark antique vibe.
Best for: Industrial mirrors with a darker feel
Price point: $1550 – $3380
5. VivaTerra
Green lifestyle retailer VivaTerra offers a selection of sustainably-crafted home decor and furniture, including mirrors. Their eco-friendly mirrors are made from reclaimed wood, like their Vintage Fir floor mirrors crafted in the USA by experienced artisans.
Best for: Rustic, farmhouse chic accent + floor length mirrors
Price point: $199 – $2000+
6. Schoolhouse
Crafted with steel frames and finished and assembled in Portland, Oregon to “exacting specifications”, Schoolhouse’s mirrors are designed to last a lifetime (and beyond). Their industrial accent mirrors can be used in living spaces, bedrooms, and even high-humidity environments like bathrooms.
Best for: Modern, industrial aesthetic
Price range: $249 – $999
7. West Elm – Natural Fiber Mirrors
Furniture retailer West Elm has several accent mirrors made with natural rattan. The natural mirrors blend contemporary shapes with a textured frame for a beautiful modern on the boho interior aesthetic.
Best for: Contemporary mirrors with natural fiber frames
Price range: $229 – $439
More Sustainable Home Decor Guides:
21 Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Conscious Space
Sustainable Throw Pillows for Every Aesthetic
Fair Trade Baskets & Hampers to Store Everything and Anything
The post 7 Sustainable Mirrors That Make for Stunning Wall Decor appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
Just like fashion has been overrun by fast fashion, home goods and furniture have similarly seen a rapid decline in quality. Rugs are no exception.
And similar to fashion, these cheap goods come at a high cost — namely, to the planet and to people. In fact carpet and rug production is rampant with exploitation.
On the other hand, fair trade rugs present the best of what a rug can bring to your home: artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage.
The brands featured in this guide are partnering with (and fairly paying!) skilled artisans who are using generations-old — and sometimes even centuries-old — techniques. These artisans are sustaining long lines of crafts, preserving their cultural diversity, and celebrating the richness of their time-honored crafts.
There’s simply no replacement for a timeless, quality artisan-made rug — they’re like pieces of art you can lay out on your floor or hang on your walls.
So, enjoy browsing through this guide to sustainable rug brands listed out below and best of luck on your search for the right fair trade rug!
Where to Find Ethical and Fair Trade Rugs
Note that this guide includes affiliates and partners. As always, brands must meet high standards for ethics and sustainability to be featured and all opinions are my own.
1. Obakki
Best for: warm-hued handwoven wool rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Runners, Accent Rugs
Obakki partners with artisan weavers primarily in Oaxaca, Mexico — including individual makers like José — who hand-dyes and weaves rugs on a traditional pedal loom using locally sourced sheep’s wool and natural dyes derived from native plants. The brand also works with Rrres Design Studio, a Latin American studio dedicated to preserving traditional Oaxacan weaving techniques, and sources handwoven textiles from artisan communities beyond Mexico as well, including Morocco.
Each rug is made from 100% wool with no synthetic dyes or backing. Most pieces are made-to-order with a 4-8 week production window, shipped directly from the artisan partners.
Price Range: $460 – $4,159
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Natural Dyes, Craft Preservation
2. Kiliim
Best for: modern wool kilim rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
If you’re well-versed in rug terminology, you may recognize that this brand’s name looks similar to the word kilim.
Kiliim’s rug are made using authentic kilim rug craftsmanship by artisans in Egypt coming from generations of kilim artisans. To ensure ethical production and to support the preservation of this heritage craft, Kiliim pays living wages to all artisans.
Price Range: $95 – $4,812
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers
3. Urban Natural
Best for: browsing fair trade rugs in lots of styles and sizes
Categories: Outdoor, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs
This natural home and lifestyle retailer has a beautifully curated selection of sustainably-made rugs crafted with materials like jute, sisal, wool, and cotton.
Several brands on Urban Natural are also ethically hand-loomed or hand-knotted, such as Loloi — a GoodWeave partner — and Jaipur Living — a brand that partners with thousands of local artisans to sustain heritage crafts.
Price Range: $259 – $9,755
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials
4. LOOMY
Best for: pet-friendly and performance rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs
Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to crafting beautiful artisan-made rugs that will last for decades to come.
LOOMY partners with highly-skilled artisan weavers who craft quality rugs made from eco-minded materials like banana silk, jute, and recycled cotton, plus performance options made from 100% recycled polyester built to withstand whatever life brings you.
Price Range: $298 – $8,298
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation, Vintage Options
5. West Elm
Best for: fair trade rugs in on-trend mainstream styles
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
West Elm is bringing ethical rugs to a broader market with their collection of Fair Trade Certified
wool and cotton rugs. While I recommend browsing the smaller shops listed above first, West Elm is supporting the movement to responsibly-made, fair trade rugs.
Price Range: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade production, Majority Natural Materials
6. Jubi
Best for: Modern rugs in vibrant prints
Categories: Accent Rugs, Circle Rugs, Runners
Jubi is a Brooklyn studio founded by textile designer Cassie Dagostino. Every rug is handmade from New Zealand wool by fourth-generation weaving families in Bhadohi, India using traditional techniques. Each rug is made-to-order, meaning no excess stock. Since everything is made to order, expect between 3 and 7 weeks for your rug, depending on the technique used.
Conscious Qualities: Pays Above Market Rates, 100% Wool, Made-to-Order
Price Range: $228 – $668
Shipping: Free worldwide shipping
7. Rejuvenation
Best for: Classic rug styles made in Fair Trade factories
Categories: Accent Rugs, Runners, Area Rugs
Home retailer Rejuvenation has a selection of rugs made in Fair Trade Certified factories. Their collection includes undyed hand-loomed rugs to geometric flatwoven wool rugs. And while I’d typically avoid synthetics, it tends to be unavoidable for outdoor rugs — so Rejuvenation’s Fair Trade 100% recycled poly rug is a good option.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Certified, Mostly Natural Materials
Price Range: $79 – $1,649
Shipping: Contiguous U.S. shipping for 10% of product price (add $20 for HI, AK, and US. territorries)
Liked this guide to ethical rugs? You might also enjoy:
Ethical Home Decor Brands to Curate a Beautiful, Conscious Space
Eco-Friendly Furniture to Furnish Your Home Sustainably
Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Blankets to Cozy Up With
The post 5 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
As a longtime book lover, I may be biased, but I think a full bookshelf is one of the most beautiful additions to a space. There’s nothing better than seeing a showcase of your favorite reads alongside a TBR list.
A bookcase, though, can of course be used for all sorts of purposes from placing your favorite photos of family and friends to showcasing treasured vintage finds.
Whatever the case, this guide will help you find the right sustainable bookshelf for your living room, office, or wherever you like to cozy up with a good read!
So what make a bookcase more sustainable? What makes a bookshelf non-toxic?
First of all: sustainable and non-toxic are two overlapping — but distinct — criteria. And both of those terms can come with a lot of opinions and varying definitions.
When it comes to sustainable bookcases, I look for:
- Responsibly Sourced Materials: most bookshelves are made primarily with wood. While natural, unsustainable wood sourcing can be a cause of deforestation, so we want to see that the wood was from responsibly managed forests or made from reclaimed or repurposed wood. Some bookshelves may feature metal, in which case recycled materials here are important.
- High Quality Construction: sustainability includes longevity — how long will you be able to use that furniture piece before it goes to the landfill and gets replaced? Look for transparency around craftsmanship and woodworking processes. Another sign of quality is the length of warranty a company has for its products.
- Ethically Made: this one is straightforward in theory — were the people making it paid fairly and working in safe conditions? — but is unfortunately not always easy to find information. In this category, I look for transparency in practices, what relationship the brand has with the manufacturer (some produce in-house which is the best case scenario for transparency!), where it was made, and how well the makers were paid.