On my slow fashion journey, I’ve been continually exploring ways to get clearer on my personal style, and few practices have been as helpful as defining my style words.
I’m going to share my process of uncovering my style words through three different stylists’ methods, which I hope will offer you some insights into defining your own personal style as well.
Before we dive into the nitty gritty, let’s start with the basics…
What Are Style Words?
Style words are adjectives that help describe your personal approach to dressing.
You’ve probably used style words already to describe what you wear: think words like classic or modern, bold or minimal, refined or relaxed, glam or casual, masculine or feminine.
The problem that many of us have run into with this is that it’s really difficult to pick just one word to encapsulate something as layered and personal as our own style.
That’s why many stylists and style content creators suggest selecting three words — and are clear that these words can evolve throughout your life.
How to Find Your Style Words
There are several methods to finding your style words and each may resonate with you in a different way. On my own personal style journey, I’ve tried all of them!
- Allison Bornstein’s Three Word Method
- Alyssa Beltempo’s Three Word Rule
- Amy Smilovic’s Three Adjectives
Below I’ll break down what each method entails and share my own personal experience with these methods.
There isn’t one that is objectively better or worse, but you might resonate with one more than another or like to experiment with all three to see which method leads to the best results.
The Three Word Method
Allison Bornstein has a step-by-step approach (that’s gone viral on TikTok) to finding your three style words.
What is the Three Word Method?
In this personal style method, developed by Bornstein, your first style word is a practical word, your second style word is an aspirational word, and your third style word is an emotional word.
Word 1: Practical Word
Essentially, this is a realistic look at what your style is now.
Bornstein recommends to go to your wardrobe and pull out your “regulars”. This is what you actually wear all the time, not what you wish you wore or want to wear.
Look for similarities among these regulars and sort out what word you might use to describe these pieces. Are all of these pieces oversized? Casual? 70s inspired?
For me, the first style word I found was feminine. My most-worn pieces are the ones with a feminine element, like a ruffle, romantic, an eyelet knit, or a floral print.
Word 2: Aspirational Word
The second word, Bornstein explains, is how you would describe what you want your style to become or how you ideally would want to dress.
Perhaps this might be how you describe the pieces in your closet that you wish you wore but you don’t.
Or if you’ve been following a lot of style content on social media, check your saved images or screenshots. If you use Pinterest, what’s on your style board?
Then among those images (or the pieces you’d love to wear that are already in your wardrobe), figure out if there are commonalities. Are all of these styles bold and colorful? Warm and neutral? Minimal and sleek? Oversized? Y2K?
After looking at my aspirational style screenshots and saved Pins, I was still unsure what exactly my second word would be. The looks I saved were certainly feminine, but that was already covered in my first word.
Other words that came up were natural or down-to-earth (a lot of natural fabrics and materials) and structured (like a bag with a solid structure) or elegant (like a tweed blazer).
But then I looked back at my favorite outfits, and realized that the looks I felt best in were the ones that had a feminine and structured element. For example a moto jacket with a flowy skirt or straight-leg jeans with a ruffled blouse.
Word 3: Emotional Word
The last word is perhaps the most interesting, but also the most challenging, word to figure out.
The final word is how you want to feel in your clothes. Do you want to feel powerful? Sexy? Warm? Joyful? Relaxed? Bornstein describes this as the “finishing touch” to your style.
Finding my third word took me months to refine!
It wasn’t until I watched this video of Bornstein where she helped a friend, Grace, find her three style words that I finally settled on the word “warm”.
This felt like the perfect word to round out my three words. I want to feel comfortable and look welcoming in my style. My first two words (feminine and structured) could come with the risk of appearing too unapproachable or stiff.
At first I thought my third word might be “cozy”, because that encapsulates how I want to feel. I don’t just want to feel comfortable, but I want to be comforted by my clothes. And cozy seemed to describe that.
However, with some of my outfits, integrating “cozy” felt too casual. It was also a bit tougher to interpret a word like cozy in summer when I just want to dress as cool as possible, though I do like adding in a pop of color or joy.
So when Bornstein shared that “warm” could be interpreted as joyful too, it felt like the perfect style word.
In warmer months I’ll interpret warm as joyful and playful. Whereas in cooler months, I may interpret warm as feeling warm with a cozy sweater.
During any season, I also might interpret warm as grounded or down-to-earth and integrate a natural element, like a straw hat or bamboo bag. So warm to me integrates the “natural” word I listed above as a contender for my second word.
And that’s the beauty of style words — it’s about how you interpret them. They’re there to help you get dressed in outfits you love and be more mindful of your purchases. No one else has to know your style words or understand them!
My Results After Trying the Three Word Method
So with Bornstein’s method, I came to my final three words being: Feminine, Structured, Warm.
These feel quite true to me. When I look at my favorite outfits in terms of appearance, they bring in both the feminine and structured elements. And when I think about my favorite outfits in terms of comfort, they bring in an element of warmth.
My style words from the Three Word Method feel quite tangible. They’re specific enough that I can answer “yes” or “no” when I ask myself “does this outfit embody my 3 words?
But they’re also flexible enough that I can use them to get dressed from the clothes already in my closet (and I don’t need to buy anything new).
The Three Word Style Rule
If you want to explore a slightly different approach, Alyssa Beltempo, a slow fashion stylist and content creator, has a 3 Word Rule to help find your personal style that is a bit more flexible.
What is the Three Word Rule?
Alyssa Beltempo shares three methods to find your style words with her Three Word Rule: your go-to’s your functional word, and your inspirational word.
Unlike Bornstein’s Three Word Method, Beltempo explains that you can use just one of these processes to find all three of your style words as well if you prefer.
Your Go-Tos
Similar to Bornstein’s “regulars”, Alyssa suggests to find your first word (or all of your words) by finding the comment elements of style among your go-to items. The elements of style Alyssa talks about often on her channel — and in her Shop Your Closet events — are silhouette, texture, proportions, color, and vibe.
Again, my word here would be feminine. I tend to wear feminine silhouettes (fitted waists, v-necks, flutter sleeves and flowy skirts), colors (I like to wear pastels for daytime) and textures (like soft and silky).
A Functional Word
The second method or the source of your second word should answer questions like, what does your lifestyle look like? Or what are the favorite parts of your day?
As Beltempo shares, “when we look at [style] words from a personality perspective or a lifestyle perspective, it can also help us make decisions that are more in alignment with who we are or what we do every day.”
This could be a word like comfortable or carefree if you work from home or have a busy life. Your word could also be polished if you go into an office regularly with a strict dress code.
Finding my functional word was a bit challenging for me at first. I work from home and so the easy word here would be “comfortable”. That word, though, feels too obvious and not all that helpful when picking out outfits.
And it comes with the risk of being interpreted as wearing sweatsuits everyday. There’s nothing wrong with that if that is what you enjoy wearing each day, but it didn’t resonate with me.
So then I decided to go a bit deeper and less literal. I want to be comfortable, yes, but when do I feel most comfortable?
And when I thought about what comfort is to be, the word grounded came up.
I love a floral dress and a pleated skirt, but I need a textured rattan bag or a sneaker to ground it. The word grounded inspires an earthiness and also a sense of functionality. It also describes my personality, which I’d describe as down-to-earth, along with other adjectives.
I like to live simply and I’m not drawn to flashy things. Being at home with a book is often more appealing to me than a party out! But I wouldn’t describe my style as minimalist. So grounded feels like the right word here.
Inspirational Word
Finally, Beltempo suggests to create a style inspiration moodboard, or reference an existing one, and then pull out the key theme(s). This can be your way to find your third word or all three of your words.
This is quite similar to Bornstein’s aspirational word.
So I also had the same word here: structured. I noticed that my favorite casual outfits had a rougher, more structured element, like a pair of jeans or solid belt and my favorite formal outfits also brought in structure through a bag or footwear choice.
My Results from the Three Word Rule
I ended up taking one word from each process, so my results were quite similar to the results I had with the Three Word Method. My words here would be Feminine, Grounded, and Structured.
The main difference of Alyssa Beltempo’s Three Word Rule is that instead of an “emotional” word, we’re finding a word that’s a bit more functional or more personal.
I actually really like the word “grounded” that I came to with this method.
The Three Adjectives Method
Amy Smilovic, the Founder and Creative Director of Tibi is also an advocate for using three adjectives to define your personal style. She doesn’t necessarily name the method, but she does share an exercise for finding your adjectives.
And Smilovic’s method might be completely different from anything you’ve heard of before.
She suggests that you do not look at what you wear regularly nor do you ask your friends or family for their opinions. Instead she suggests to look to quotes to help peel your style adjectives back.
Smilovic proposes this method because the feeling you get from your favorite quotes is “visceral… they reveal your thoughts and aspirations.”
Quotes aren’t about approval or external validation (whereas what we wear often can be) so quotes can be a way to dig deeper into our personal style.
How to Find Adjectives From Your Quotes
This method requires a bit more creativity, to be sure. I looked through my Pinterest board of “Inspirational Quotes” and my screenshots on my phone.
I have so many quotes that I like, so it was challenging to narrow it down to three. But I tried to think about the quotes that I felt a deep pull towards — ones that give me that “visceral” feeling.
The three quotes I decided on were…
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu
In terms of adjectives, this quote makes me feel of relaxed, calm, easygoing, carefree, flowy, flexible, tranquil, chill, and casual.
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker
The first adjective I think of is powerful, but also confident, energetic, compelling, dynamic, and capable.
“The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”- Chinese Proverb
When I read this proverb, it gives me the chills. I think of words like resilient, steadfast, expansive, persistent, enduring, and determined.
My Results from the Three Adjectives Method
Now comes the interesting part!
I looked at the adjectives from the quotes and thought about which terms would best translate into style words. That might be Relaxed, Confident, and Enduring. Words like energetic and dynamic could also be style words, though for my own personal style I tend not to gravitate towards bold and colorful pieces.
Finding my three adjectives was interesting and I appreciate the emphasis on defining your style as something that comes from within.
That said, I’m not necessarily clearer on what to actually wear after finding my adjectives, like relaxed and confident.
Perhaps this is because I picked quotes that were more inspirational rather than practical. Or it could be because I need to spend some more time and thought on how these adjectives can also be style words.
So all this to say that this particular method hasn’t worked for me thus far. Perhaps though, the adjectives method will result in your own personal style epiphany! I think it’s still fun to give it a try, if for nothing else but a self-reflection process.
A Style Word Ideas List
You might now be thinking, ok this all sounds great. But how do I think of style words? What could my style words be? Here is a list of 100 style word ideas to get you started.
- Casual
- Relaxed
- Carefree
- Calm
- Cool
- Effortless
- Ease
- Comfortable
- Practical
- Sporty
- Laidback
- Refined
- Polished
- Luxurious
- Grounded
- Thoughtful
- Sensible
- Outdoorsy
- Vintage
- Retro
- Grungy
- Futuristic
- Western
- Natural
- Contemporary
- Punk
- Modern
- Elegant
- Timeless
- Balanced
- Clever
- Unexpected
- Alternative
- Feminine
- Romantic
- Soft
- Delicate
- Preppy
- Bold
- Bright
- Eclectic
- Colorful
- Vibrant
- Joyful
- Flirty
- Confident
- Masculine
- Structured
- Streamlined
- Tailored
- Clean
- Androgynous
- Neutral
- Simple
- Minimal
- Classic
- Polished
- Sophisticated
- Cozy
- Warm
- Adventurous
- Subtle
- Flowy
- Harmonious
- Academia
- Folksy
- Urban
- Global
- Creative
- Playful
- Fun
- Sculptural
- Ornate
- Artistic
- Powerful
- Sexy
- Sensual
- Chic
- Quirky
- Edgy
- Understated
- Oversized
- Fitted
- Elevated
- Undone
- Intentional
- Discerning
- Glam
- Striking
- Modest
- Organic
- Smart
- Dramatic
- Dark
- Mysterious
- Chromatic
- Artsy
- Funky
- Antique
- Surreal
How to Use Your Style Words
Ok so now that you have your style words, what do you do with them? How do they help you with your personal style?
There seem to be a few main benefits to having your three style words in mind.
1. Having Style Words Makes Creating Outfits Easier
Your style words can help you clear out all the noise of what you “should” be wearing and help you put together outfits that are uniquely you.
In practice, this could look like picking out a piece from your wardrobe that satisfies each style word and use that to create a look that suits your individual style.
For example, if my words were feminine, structured, and warm, I might include one feminine piece (like an eyelet ruffled top), a couple structured pieces (like a pair of straight leg denim jeans and a structured leather bag) and a piece that makes me feel warm and welcoming (like a pair of natural raffia sandals or a whimsical piece of jewelry).
Smilovic suggests that you should be able to describe each piece you own and buy with your three words. Personally, I find this method challenging in practice because my words are somewhat different from each other. And this focus on the individual garment leaves me a bit stuck when I try to create outfits.
Though you might find that simplified method really helpful, especially if your words are more similar.
For my style, I like this idea of “tension” in an outfit that Alyssa Beltempo and Allison Bornstein talk about. It makes the outfit feel less like a style archetype you might get from a quiz in a magazine and more individualized.
Bornstein even emphasizes that the people with the best and most interesting style often have contrasting or even opposite style words.
2. Style Words Help You Buy Fewer, Better Aligned Pieces
Shopping, like anything else in life, is often easier with a strategy.
Many of us talk about wanting to be more intentional with our purchases and yet actually doing this in practice is a lot more difficult. It’s just too easy to get swept away with marketing campaign imagery and persuaded by what everyone else is wearing on Instagram.
Your style words can act as a filter.
When you’re trying to decide if you should buy a piece or not, you can ask yourself: “does this meet one of (or a couple of) my style words?”
Again, Amy Smilovic suggests that each piece you buy should meet all three of your words. Maybe this works for you if your words are complementary!
However, if your words are contrasting you probably just want to look for one (maximum two) of your style words in a piece at a time.
When this is the case, I find it helpful to ask if I can wear that piece with another garment already in my closet that meets one of my other words. I.e. if a piece would fall within my “feminine” style word, I’d ask: “does this go with one of my structured or more grounded pieces in my wardrobe?”
This helps me purchase pieces that I know I’ll get a lot of wear out of and avoid making a purchase that just sits in my closet for the next five years.
It also helps me totally eliminate purchases. If a piece doesn’t fit under at least one of my style words, it’s a no. Sometimes a piece looks fabulous on someone else but when you actually think about wearing it yourself, it just doesn’t feel right.
3. Your Style Words Help You Wear Your Unworn Pieces
No matter how much of a minimalist or slow fashion advocate you are, I think it’s safe to say that we have all had pieces in our closet that went unworn.
Your style words can help change that, though.
As Bornstein suggests, when you’re not sure how to wear with a piece — whether it’s a brand new item or just something you haven’t worn — you can define it with one of your words, and then bring in something from one of your other words.
Let me illustrate this with a real example from my closet. I have a blazer that alone, just felt too masculine and serious for my style. Using this idea of pairing my words together, though, I paired that structured blazer with a fun blouse and “grounding” pair of boots. All of the sudden the blazer felt like a natural fit.
So Is It Worth It To Find Your Style Words?
While it can take time to really refine your style words, I would say yes, it’s so worth it!
Finding my style words has been immensely helpful in creating looks that I feel comfortable in — I am finally able to pin down what it is about an outfit that makes it feel like “me”.
Now when I look back at some of my favorite outfits, it’s so clear why I love them — because there are elements of each part of me within those outfits.
In terms of knowing what to buy, the style words help me a bit as well. I tend to gravitate towards wanting to buy feminine pieces — lace trim, ruffles, florals! — and forget about the fact that I also like some solidity to my outfits as well.
So these style words have helped me balance out my purchasing decisions so I’m not stuck with a wardrobe that feels too frilly.
I’d love to hear about how your process for finding your style words goes as well!
And if you want to dive deeper into personal style, our contributor Stella wrote a great piece, How to Find Your Personal Style (and Why It Matters).
The post How To Find Your Style Words (Plus 100 Examples) appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
The right sustainable rug can completely transform a space. A plant-based fiber rug like jute or sisal can create a grounding warmth, while a thick responsibly-sourced wool rug adds a sense of luxury. An artisan handcrafted rug infuses character and authentic culture where a vintage one can add layers of history and soul.
Furniture is functional and can be beautiful, but adding an exceptional rug is what brings it all together. A rug is at the center — at the heart — of your living room or bedroom or dining room. In other words: a rug is how you start to turn those four walls into a home.
That said, unfortunately most rugs today are mass-produced from synthetic fibers like polyester (read: plastic), finished with toxic chemicals, and made in unethical labor conditions.
Thankfully, there is a better way. Let’s talk sustainable rugs.
What is a “Sustainable Rug”, Exactly?
I like to include an in-depth explanation on “sustainable” in our guides because there’s no standard definition of the term when it comes to fashion or home goods. So here’s how we define “sustainable rugs” at Conscious Life & Style.
Natural Materials:
We’re looking for natural fibers like jute, seagrass, sisal, hemp, cotton (less common) or ethically-sourced wool. Recycled natural fibers are a great bonus, as is organic. The most reputable organic certification for fibers currently on the market is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
We’re steering clear of synthetic rugs, including recycled polyester in this guide, because they risk releasing microplastics into our homes and environment.
Also natural fibers that aren’t treated with or blended with synthetics are generally biodegradable at the end of their life.
“Recyclability” when it comes to textiles is largely a misnomer. We have far more textile waste than we do textile recycling infrastructure capacity. Plus many types of fabrics still can’t be recycled properly — if at all — today.
Dyes & Chemical Usage
Another source of impact is the dyes and other finishes used on the rugs. Many of these dyes and finishes are synthetic.
One better option is a “low impact dye” — this generally refers to a synthetic dye that doesn’t contain common toxic chemicals (like heavy metals) and has a higher absorption rate, which requires less water. Natural dyes on the other hand are non-synthetic colorants derived from plants, minerals, or sometimes even insects.
There are also additional chemicals these companies may add to rugs like PFAS (forever chemicals) for stain or water resistance or flame retardants. So if you see claims like “stain resistant” or “easy care” you probably want to do some additional digging to ensure those textiles weren’t treated with toxic chemicals.
One certification to look for is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, which is a label for textiles that have been tested against common harmful substances.
Ethical Production Practices:
Unfortunately forced and child labor is still happening in the carpet and rug industries. So transparency is key. Two certifications to look for are GoodWeave (assurance against child, forced, and bonded labor) and Fair Trade Certified
. Certifications are certainly not an end all be all, so I’m also looking for transparency from the brand — who makes their products? How are they made? What is their relationship to those makers, artisan cooperatives, or facilities? Are they working in safe conditions? Are they paid fairly? A living wage?
Another element here is craftsmanship. Many of these rug-making techniques have been around centuries, but are at risk of dying out with the rise of mass-produced rug makers. Is the brand showing a commitment to sustaining heritage techniques and generations-old craftsmanship?
You might also like to look for local production, though local doesn’t automatically mean ethical. I still like to look for transparency here, as exposés have found there are still sweatshops in the US, too.
Durability & Longevity:
This one is the most challenging. Not only is it difficult to assess the durability of a rug before you’ve purchased it (even most reviewers only comment on their initial experience), but durability is also significantly impacted by how we care for that rug. Do you wash it often? Do you have pets? Kids? Are you putting the rug in a high-traffic area? Is it getting wet often (like in a kitchen or bathroom)?
That said, I’m looking for attention to craftsmanship from a brand, and attention to detail. There are also certain elements to look out for. For example:
- Thicker and denser rugs generally hold up better than looser or low-density tufted rugs.
- Reinforced edges prevent fraying and strong backings prevent the rug curling at the edges.
- Hand-knotted rugs are labor intensive (and may be pricier) but can last decades or even centuries.
Top Picks for Sustainable Rugs
Ok so that was a lot! But no stress — I’ve done the hours of heavy lifting and digging for you to curate this guide to brands with sustainable rugs. So let’s dive in.
Note that Conscious Life & Style is reader supported and this guide includes affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase via some of these links, I may earn a commission. As always all brands meet are rigorous sustainability criteria.
Secondhand First!
Part of our philosophy at Conscious Life & Style is to look secondhand first. So before we dive into the brands, here are some places to find vintage and pre-loved rugs first:
1. Urban Natural
Best for: Living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms
Urban Natural is your online destination for finding responsibly-made, exceptionally crafted home goods from sustainably-minded makers. Brands on Urban Natural include Loloi, a well-respected GoodWeave certified rug brand with rugs ethically hand-woven in Varanasi, India; and Jaipur Living, a company dedicated to preserving time-honored handcrafted art and rug weaving traditions, partnering with 40,000 artisans across hundreds of rural communities throughout India.
Other sustainable rug options on Urban Natural include 100% linen rugs from Libeco, which holds the Masters of Linen® quality label; and 100% wool rugs made in the USA from Earth Weave, the first US carpet manufacturer with a completely natural product line.
Materials: Wool, Jute, Sisal, Cotton, Silk, and Linen (Note: there are a couple of “performance” rugs made with polyester)
Price Range: Starts at $179
Shipping: Ships within the US
2. Lorena Canals
Best for: Living rooms, entryways and bedrooms
Lorena Canals revolutionized the rug industry with machine-washable cotton and wool rugs that don’t compromise on beauty or sustainability. Handcrafted in the brand’s own factory in India since 1998, each piece uses natural or recycled fibers, non-toxic azo-free dyes certified by GOTS and OEKO-TEX standards, and a water-efficient cone-dyeing method that conserves 75% of water compared to traditional processes. The aesthetic ranges from playful geometric patterns and kitchen tile motifs to minimalist neutral textures in their Woolable collection. With customizable options and designs that celebrate the natural colors of undyed wool, these rugs pair practical washability with artisan craftsmanship, all while supporting the brand’s Sakûla Project school for children in northern India.
Materials: Cotton, Wool
Price Range: From $145
Shipping: Global | Outside of US and Canada? Use this website to order instead.
3. CICIL
Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and dining rooms
Founded by two former Patagonia textile experts in North Carolina, Cicil brings radical transparency to rug-making with a supply chain that travels less than 1,000 miles from wool to floor. Their braided and shuttle weave rugs use 70% undyed wool sourced directly from small family farms across upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, combined with 30% jute for durability. With shapes ranging from linear and oval to curvy and arch designs, each piece celebrates natural wool tones—from deep grays to warm beiges—without any synthetic dyes or finishes. Made in the Carolinas using traditional techniques on vintage looms, Cicil’s approach is intentionally “anti-innovation,” focusing instead on time-tested methods that create rugs built to biodegrade gracefully after a lifetime of use.
Materials: Wool, Jute
Price Point: From $459
Shipping: Ships within the US (all orders ship free)
4. West Elm Fair Trade Certified
Best for: Living rooms, dining rooms, offices, or bedrooms
I tend to put large retailers, like West Elm, through much stricter scrutiny in my vetting process because they have larger supply chains which makes transparency much more difficult. It’s easy to know your factory without a certification if you work with one or two facilities. It’s much harder when you work with 20 — or 200. That’s why I appreciate that West Elm has such an extensive selection of rugs made in verified Fair Trade Certified factories.
Most of West Elm’s rugs are also made from 100% natural materials like sisal, jute, wool, and cotton. Though like most companies, their “Performance Rugs” are made with polyester. West Elm does use 90-100% recycled polyester for these rugs which makes it a lower impact choice from a carbon emissions point of view. It may still shed microplastics, but if you have pets that could be worth the trade-off for you to have a durable rug.
Note that West Elm does not have non-toxic related certifications for most of their rugs, so this can be a great choice if you value aesthetic variety, ethical production, and natural materials, but if your top priority or concern is that the rug was tested for potentially harmful chemicals, West Elm might not be the right fit for you.
Materials: Wool, Jute, Sisal, Cotton (Performance rugs use recycled polyester)
Price Point: From $459
Shipping: Ships within the US and select other countries
5. Schoolhouse
Best for: Bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms
Schoolhouse brings American design sensibility to handcrafted rugs woven in India using natural materials. Their collection spans hand-knotted wool pieces with vivid, whimsical patterns like the Sundrop design to reversible flatweave plaid styles perfect for layering. Natural-dyed wool yarn creates rich, enduring colors—from burnt orange and chartreuse to soft neutrals—while jute-chenille blends offer versatility underfoot without the typical scratchiness. With 80% of their assortment domestic and FSC-certified materials across their product lines, Schoolhouse prioritizes reducing carbon emissions through consolidated shipping and minimal plastic packaging.
Materials: Wool, Jute, Cotton, Recycled PET (note: PET is plastic, so this isn’t our top recommendation)
Price Range: From $79
Shipping: Ships to all US States and Canada
6. Nestig
Best for: Nurseries and playrooms
Nestig transforms nursery floors with whimsical, machine-washable rugs that parents actually want to clean. Hand-loomed in Brazil by local artisans with over 20 years of experience, each piece uses 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton grown locally and dyed with non-toxic pigments. The designs range from playful vehicles (dump trucks, airplanes, sailboats) and animals (dinosaurs, bears) to sophisticated geometric patterns and world maps. Nestig operates on a “just enough” business model that minimizes warehouse inventory and carbon footprint, partnering exclusively with sustainable, family-owned businesses. Every rug arrives as a truly one-of-a-kind piece with natural variations that come from artisan craftsmanship.
Materials: Organic Cotton
Price Range: From $399
Shipping: Ships to US, Canada, and the UK
7. Salem Hello
Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and statement spaces
Salam Hello bridges the gap between Moroccan artisan tradition and contemporary homes with transparency at its core. Each handwoven rug is crafted by Amazigh women in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, preserving techniques passed through generations while ensuring fair wages and artisan recognition. The collection includes ready-to-ship vintage and new pieces alongside made-to-order designs where you choose size, color, and pattern. From neutral flatweaves and textured hand-knots to bold geometric designs rich in traditional symbolism, every rug carries protective meaning woven into its fibers. With collaborations like their Izra collection with General Assembly and the Atlas Form line, Salam Hello offers refined modern interpretations alongside authentic traditional styles.
Materials: Wool
Price: From $625
Shipping: Ships Worldwide
8. Organic Weave
Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, and kids’ rooms
Organic Weave was born after founder Linda witnessed child labor at the rug manufacturers in India her family’s rug business was sourcing from. When Linda became the buyer at her family’s company, she started sourcing exclusively from the only supplier that was committed to not employing children.
Today, Organic Weave is GoodWeave certified — a certification providing additional assurance there isn’t child labor in the supply chain. And as the name suggests, the sustainable rug company also uses organic materials: 100% organic wool for high-traffic areas like living rooms and 100% organic cotton for lower traffic areas like bedrooms. Their handmade, artisan crafted rugs are Global Organic Textile Standard Certified too.
Materials: Organic Cotton, Organic Wool
Price Range: From $1,789
Shipping: Ships Worldwide
9. LOOMY
Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms
LOOMY proves that sustainable doesn’t mean sacrificing style with a curated collection of contemporary rugs made entirely by hand from indigenous artisan weaving communities worldwide. Their natural fiber collection includes wool, jute, cotton, hemp, and sisal rugs alongside performance options crafted from recycled P.E.T. plastic diverted from oceans and landfills. From shaggy textures and bold geometric patterns to minimalist flatweaves, every design is exclusively created in-house and made without mechanical assistance, using traditional spinning, natural dye baths under the sun, and generations-old loom techniques. The brand’s transparency extends to sharing exactly who made each rug, how many hours it took, and the sustainable materials used.
Materials: Wool, Jute, Cotton, Hemp, Sisal, Recycled P.E.T.
Price Range: From $278
Shipping: Ships to all US States and Canada
10. Revival
Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms
Originally founded as a vintage rug curator, Revival now makes a wide range of affordable, beautiful rugs for all needs, whether you have kids, pets, or just want an easy-care washable rug.
Not all options from Revival are sustainable, and some are made from virgin polyester, so for natural fibers I’d direct you to their Wool Rugs collection and Jute Rugs collection, including their naturally dyed jute rugs. Revival also carries one-of-a-kind rugs, which include vintage options.
Materials: Wool, Jute, Recycled Polyester (also has some rugs made with new polyester, which I’d avoid)
Price Range: From $169
Shipping: Ships to contiguous US and selected other international destinations
Honorable Mentions: More Sustainable Rug Options
Here are some additional companies with sustainable rugs to check out! These didn’t make the “top 10” list based on our criteria, but you might have different priorities. So if you’re not finding what you’re looking for above, I recommend taking a look at this list too.
Hook and Loom: if you’re looking for a non-toxic organic rug, Hook and Loom has undyed organic cotton and natural wool rugs made without added chemicals. Their website doesn’t have the most modern user experience, which can make shopping a bit more cumbersome, but the brand has thousands of positive reviews.
Sabai: Sabai’s all-natural textured rugs are crafted from jute and wool in North Carolina by skilled rug makers. They are one of the few companies to manufacture their rugs in the US. That said, the rug does appear to be on the thinner side considering the price point.
The Citizenry: Hand-knotted and hand-loomed by artisan partners across the globe from Morocco to Peru each piece blends modern minimalist design with time-tested techniques passed down through generations. The Citizenry’s collection features everything from plush, textured wool designs to natural jute pieces, and the retailer guarantees 100% fair trade standards on every product, partnering directly with artisan communities. However, many customers complain online about slow shipping and poor customer service, so that’s something to keep in mind before purchasing.
Yaya & Co: this brand has some high sustainability standards like 100% organic certified materials and production in a Fair Trade Certified family-owned factory! Their designs are quite colorful and fun too, which isn’t always easy to find with organic materials. Their selection is more limited compared to the other brands and retailers, which is the only reason they didn’t make it onto the top 10 list.
The post 10 Best Sustainable Rugs For a Healthier Home and Planet 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. The Citizenry
If you’re browsing for fair trade rugs, but looking for a more minimalist or neutral aesthetic, look no further than The Citizenry.
The brand’s natural, handmade rugs — made by artisans working in fair trade conditions — feature striking prints but more subtle colors. Next to each product page you’ll be able to learn more about the workshop and the artisans behind that piece.
Price Range: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation
Categories: Area Rugs
2. Kiliim
If you’re well-versed in rug terminology, you may recognize that this brand’s name looks similar to the word kilim. Kiliim’s rug are made using authentic, well, kilim rug craftsmanship by artisans in Egypt coming from generations of kilim artisans. To ensure ethical production and to support the preservation of this heritage craft, Kiliim pays living wages to all artisans.
Price Range: $ – $$$
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
3. Urban Natural
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: $$+
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials
Categories: Outdoor, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs
4. Zuahaza
Each of Zuahaza’s artisan-made rugs is creatively designed with unique patterns and expertly handwoven by weavers in Colombia. Zuahaza’s captivating rugs are made from sustainably-sourced fique, a natural fiber from Colombia that is similar to hemp. And, just like hemp, fique requires little water to grow and is rarely attacked by pests (meaning fique is always grown organically without chemical pesticides).
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Conscious Qualities: Organic Fibers & Natural Dyes, Cultural Preservation, BIPOC-Owned
Categories: Area Rugs, Runner Rugs, Accent Rugs
5. LOOMY
Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to making beautiful, non-toxic rugs that will last for decades to come.
LOOMY partners with highly-skilled artisan weavers who craft quality rugs made from eco-minded materials like banana silk, jute, and recycled cotton built to withstand whatever life brings you.
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Conscious Qualities: Eco & Non-Toxic Materials, Craft Preservation
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs
6. Leah Singh
Leah Singh’s designs are a reflection of the designer’s background, growing up surrounded by the rich artistry of India and studying at Parsons amidst the structural, minimal lines of New York.
All of the brand’s rugs are made by artisans in India who use embroidery, weaving, and printing techniques native to their respective regions.
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Conscious Qualities: BIPOC-Owned, Ethical Production, Cultural Preservation
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners
7. West Elm
West Elm is bringing ethical rugs to a broader market with their collection of Fair Trade Certified
wool and cotton rugs. While I recommend browsing the smaller shops listed above first, West Elm is supporting the movement to responsibly-made, fair trade rugs.
Price Range: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade production, Majority Natural Materials
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
Liked this guide to sustainable 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 7 Best Ethical Fair Trade Rugs to Elevate Your Space appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
A durable set of eco-friendly dinnerware is a solid ingredient for a sustainably set table! But…
What is Sustainable Dinnerware?
Well looking for secondhand and vintage dinnerware is always a good start, whether that’s your grandmother’s porcelain dining sets or a pre-loved set of colorful plates and bowls at your local thrift store.
Another great place to look is estate sales. You can likely find full sets of dinnerware! If none of those options are available to you (or your just not finding something you love) you can check out a site like Etsy Used or Chairish.
*Important note on secondhand dinnerware: the FDA started regulating the use of lead in dinnerware in 1971. So you might want to avoid any dinnerware produced before 1971, unless it’s just for display!
Here are some qualities to look for when shopping for new sustainable dinnerware:
Sustainably sourced materials: such as responsibly-harvested bamboo and recycled glass.
Quality: when it comes to products you’re going to potentially use and wash daily, durability is an important factor to keep in mind. Also consider your lifestyle! Perhaps glass and porcelain aren’t the best choices if you have little ones, or you tend to drop things often. (Guilty!!)
Usefulness: You might also want to consider if you will be hand-washing or dishwashing your dinnerware. Some materials are too fragile for the dishwasher, so consider if you’ll have the time (and willingness) to hand wash them all the time. Because part of sustainability is that you’ll actually use the products and they won’t just sit and collect dust! 
Ethical production: this could look like transparent local manufacturing or artisan-made and fair trade. In any case, an ethical dinnerware brand would prioritize fair living wages for the workers, ensure safe healthy conditions (this includes no toxic chemicals used in production!) and go above and beyond to consider the wellbeing of the people who work for them and/or produce their products.
Ownership and Equity: this means looking at who owns and profits from the brands we’re supporting; if a brand is owned by a person of color, it will be indicated in their description below (BIPOC-owned stands for Black, Indigenous, Person of Color-owned and WOC-owned stands for Woman of Color-owned).
Your Values: you may have other elements you look for in a brand, such as traditional craft preservation. Or perhaps it’s really important to you that a brand is giving back to their local community.
Where to Find Eco-Friendly Dinnerware
The eco-friendly tableware and sustainable dinnerware brands featured below meet at least one (though most of them meet several) of the above criteria.
In this roundup, you’ll find sustainable pottery (including ceramic plates, sustainable mugs, and more), recycled glassware, artisan-made ethical dinnerware, and everything in between to suit your needs. I hope that this variety of brands will help you set the table, whether that’s for fancy dinner parties, Friday night pizza, or something in between.
This article features affiliates and partners. As always, we only feature brands that meet strict standards for sustainability that we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. East Fork
East Fork’s ethically-made dinnerware and tableware is next level — their gorgeous sustainable ceramics, glassware, mugs, and other goods are exquisitely designed and built for durability.
Committed to creating local manufacturing jobs, all of East Fork’s eco-friendly pottery is made in Asheville, North Carolina and is working to center equity and inclusion throughout their business.
Categories: Plates, Bowls, Cups, Drinking Glasses, Flatware/Silverware,
Conscious Qualities: Locally-Made, Transparent Production
Price Range: $$$
2. Our Place
From the same brand that brought us their cult-favorite Always Pan, comes a gorgeous collection of non-toxic dinnerware and sustainable pottery.
Our Place has hand-painted main plates and side bowls made with recycled and virgin porcelain ceramic and dinner glasses handmade from recycled glass and colored with natural dyes.
Categories: Glassware, Bowls, Plates
Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials, Gives Back, WOC-Owned
Price Range: $$
3. Fable
Prioritizing timelessness and sustainability, Fable sources quality materials and simple designs that last the test of time.
The eco-minded dinnerware company partners with makers in Portugal, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US that use conscious practices, like ethical employment, craftsmanship, and low-waste practices (like sourcing recycled clay).
Categories: Dinnerware, Drinkware, Cutlery, Serveware, and Decor
Conscious Qualities: Quality Craftsmanship, Low Waste Practices, Responsibly Sourced
Price Range: $$$
4. Zungleboo
Lightweight, shatterproof, and made from corn starch + bamboo fiber, Zungleboo creates family-friendly and eco-friendly dinnerware!
Their versatile plant-based bowls and plates are also dishwasher and microwave safe, making them easy to care for no matter how busy mealtime is. As Zungleboo writes on their website, their sustainable dinnerware is “from real plants, for real life”.
Categories: Bowls, Plates
Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials, WOC-Owned
Price Range: $$
Use code CONSCIOUS15 for 15% off!
5. Urban Natural
Green home retailer Urban Natural has stunning eco-friendly tabletop goods from leading contemporary brands like Farmhouse Pottery and Ethnicraft.
The brands Urban Natural curates source natural materials, use time-honored processes, and take quality craftsmanship seriously.
Categories: Plates, Bowls, Cups & Mugs, Flatware
Conscious Qualities: Artisan Goods, Natural Materials, Locally and Ethically Made
Price Range: $$ – $$$
6. GOODEE
For artisanal plates that can elevate your tablescape, GOODEE is the answer.
From 100% porcelain stone ceramic plates hand-crafted in the ancient Japanese town of Arita and hand-painted plates made from Egyptian clay to marble patterned ecothylene® (upcycled BPA-free plastic) plates ideal for family-friendly daily wares, GOODEE has options for everyone.
Categories: Plates, Glassware, Cups & Mugs, Serving, Flatware
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Craft Preservation
Price Range: $$$
7. Ekobo
Ekobo’s colorful eco-friendly dinnerware is available in a variety of colors and sizes, perfect for mixing and matching to create a unique sustainable table setting for any space.
The eco-friendly dinnerware from Ekobo is made from upcycled bamboo and the result is durable, dishwasher-safe, and non-toxic diningware.
Categories: Plates, Bowls, Cups, Trays, Baby Diningware
Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials
Price Range: $$
More Guides For An Eco-Friendly Kitchen:
Best Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly Tablecloths
Your Sustainable and Zero Waste Kitchen Guide
The Best Zero Waste Food Storage Options
The post 7 Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Brands To Set Your Sustainable Table appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
7 Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Brands To Set Your Sustainable Table
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