Why Sustainable Shopping Means Caring About the Makers
|
|
Time to read 8 min
|
|
Time to read 8 min
At Glimmery Moments, we believe that true sustainability is not just about materials or carbon footprints. It's about people. It's about honoring the hands that made what you hold, and ensuring that your purchase supports a life worth living- not just for you, but for them.
This is the heart of our Green Friday philosophy: that mindful giving means caring about the entire circle of creation, from maker to recipient to the world we all share.
When we talk about sustainable shopping, we often focus on the planet: recyclable packaging, FSC-certified paper, reduced emissions. And those things matter deeply.
But sustainability also means asking: Who made this? Were they paid fairly? Do they have safe working conditions? Can they support their families? Do they take pride in their work?
A product made from organic cotton but sewn by underpaid workers in unsafe conditions is not truly sustainable. A beautifully designed journal printed on recycled paper but sold at a price that undercuts local makers is not truly ethical.
Real sustainability honors both the earth and the people who live on it.
In a world of fast fashion and mass production, it's easy to forget that everything we buy was made by someone. The cheaper the price, the more invisible those hands become. When a product costs less than the materials it's made from, someone, somewhere, is paying the difference—often with their time, their health, or their dignity.
We've been conditioned to expect low prices. To hunt for discounts. To measure value by how little we spend rather than how much we gain. But what if we shifted that perspective? What if we saw the true cost of a product not as an expense, but as an investment in the people and systems that create it?
When you buy from small, localmakers, you're not just getting a product. You're supporting:
At Glimmery Moments, every journal, notepad, and card is printed locally in the Netherlands by small-batch printers who believe in doing things slowly, beautifully, and well. We know their names. We see their work. We pay them fairly.
Because we believe that the people behind what we make deserve to have a beautiful Christmas too.
There's a quiet resistance in choosing to pay a fair price.
It says: I value your time. I respect your skill. I want you to thrive, not just survive.
When you're willing to pay honestly for something made with care, you're participating in a different kind of economy—one rooted in reciprocity, not extraction. One where everyone in the chain, from maker to customer, is honored.
This doesn't mean you have to spend extravagantly. It means being thoughtful about where your money goes and what it supports. It means choosing one beautifully made gift over five cheap ones. It means asking, "Who benefits from this purchase?" and making sure the answer includes the people who made it.
When you buy from small, local makers, you're not just getting a product. You're supporting:
Your purchase becomes a ripple. It supports livelihoods, sustains communities, and proves that there's another way to do business—one that values people as much as profit.
This is what we mean when we say that sustainable gifting is an act of care. It's care for the recipient, yes. But it's also care for the maker, the community, and the world we all share.
At Glimmery Moments, we design stationery that helps you reconnect — slowly, simply, beautifully.
Our Slow Seasonal Recipe Journal is a sensory guide to everyday connection, helping you turn meals into moments worth remembering.
Choosing to support small makers doesn't require a complete overhaul of your shopping habits. It starts with small, intentional shifts:
Look for products that are transparent about their production. Who made this? Where was it made? Are the makers paid fairly?
One well-made gift that lasts for years is more sustainable—and more meaningful—than several cheap items that break or get discarded.
When you buy from small makers, you're supporting real people, not faceless corporations. Your money goes directly to someone who depends on it.
If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Fair pricing reflects fair wages, quality materials, and sustainable practices.
Every time you buy something, you're voting for the kind of world you want to live in. Choose to support businesses that align with your values.
This is why we choose Green Friday over Black Friday.
Black Friday is about consuming more, faster, cheaper. It's about discounts that devalue both products and the people who make them.
Green Friday is about slowing down. It's about choosing meaning over material. It's about recognizing that the most sustainable choice is the one made with care—for the planet, for the makers, and for the people you love.
From November 28 to Cyber Monday, we donate €1 from every purchase to Trees for All's Green Friday project, giving something back to the nature that inspires everything we create.
But beyond that, every purchase you make supports local printers, small-batch production, and a business model that values people over profit margins.
When you buy from Glimmery Moments, you know:
You're not just buying a product. You're participating in a circle of care that extends far beyond the transaction. And when you give that product as a gift, you're sharing that story. You're saying to the recipient: This was made with care. By people who matter. And I chose it for you because you matter too.
The holidays should not be a time when some people thrive while others are exploited.
When we're willing to pay honestly for the things we buy, we make it possible for makers to have their own beautiful Christmas. To rest. To celebrate. To feel valued for their work.
This is what collective care looks like. It's not charity. It's reciprocity. It's the understanding that we're all connected, and that our choices ripple outward in ways we may never fully see.
So this season, as you choose your gifts, ask yourself:
Because sustainable shopping is not just about what you buy. It's about who you become when you choose to care.
This Green Friday, we invite you to shop differently. To choose gifts that honor the makers, the recipients, and the planet. To see your purchases as acts of care, not just consumption.
Explore our Heirloom Collection, Seasonal Living journals, and Mood Organizers—all designed with intention, made with care, and created to last.
Because the most meaningful gifts are the ones that carry a story. And the best stories are the ones where everyone thrives.
At Glimmery Moments, we believe that paper holds more than ink—it holds intention, presence, and emotional depth. Whether you’re starting your offline journey with a card, a journal, or a notepad, our collections are here to support you.
A calmer Christmas is about slowing down and returning to what truly matters. It means choosing connection over perfection, quiet over hurry, and presence over pressure. When we create space for small, intentional moments, the season feels lighter and more meaningful.
Try shifting the focus from things to experiences. Share a meal, write a heartfelt letter, or spend time together doing something simple that you both enjoy. These are gifts that live in memory instead of cluttering a shelf.
Choose gifts that last or that create connection. Buy from local makers, reuse wrapping materials, or give something made by hand. You can also gift experiences or keepsakes, like Our Family’s Table, which helps capture memories around food and family.
Protect your time the same way you protect your plans. Schedule “no-rush” days early in the season — days to bake, rest, or simply enjoy winter light with a warm drink. Slowing down helps you notice the small, golden moments that make the holidays special.
Let their presence live on through a small ritual. Light a candle in their honor, cook their favorite dish, or tell a story they loved. Remembering them keeps the season grounded in love, and allows space for both warmth and tenderness.
