Write On: Changing how I shop

I smelled Boeccure’s office before I saw it.

I was a little lost looking for the handmade natural soap company at N The Art Space, a local complex of artist studios. But then the scents of lavender and lemon drifted toward me, and I walked faster to the door they seemed to be coming out of. Boeccure founders Melinda Thiessen and Kyle Baker welcomed me inside.

As I chatted with them for this month’s article on local soap makers, they showed me around their small studio. They opened drawers full of nearly 50 different types of fragrance oils and showed me the tools they use to cut and carve the soaps.

They explained how they need special ventilation and masks to guard against fumes the soap-making process emits.

It was totally fascinating to see how soap is made. And the end result is stunning—Boeccure’s marbled soaps are works of art. They’re some of the prettiest, most delicious-smelling soaps I’ve seen.

I’ve always been a fan of Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics’ charity-driven, divinely scented natural bath products. But it was awesome to learn how many people are making similarly amazing products right here. I’ll take a break from Lush to support BR makers instead.

It’s been a running theme for me lately as I try to be more intentional about what I buy—to know what things are made of, where they come from and what their story is.

But it’s especially kicked into overdrive the past few weeks, as I’ve been inspired by Kaci Yoder’s cover story on local makers. Touring Andrew Moran’s Midcity Handmade studio has me reconsidering my IKEA furniture. Maybe I should be saving money to invest in local hand-carved pieces instead.

It brings me back to a conversation I had earlier this year with Rebecca Gardner, the owner of Hands Producing Hope. Her fair trade company gives impoverished Rwandan and Costa Rican communities opportunities to make goods and earn above-fair wages.

Eventually, our talk turned to our shopping habits. Hands Producing Hope’s prices—$20 for a necklace, $50 for a basket—aren’t far off from Target prices.

“Maybe next time I think about throwing something cheap into my shopping cart, I should put it back and instead buy something that will make a difference,” I told Gardner.

“When you’re buying a necklace at Target, you’re just buying it because it’s cute,” she replied. But with a company like Hands Producing Hope? “Your dollar just does so much more. Everything we do is funded by people just buying a necklace or a bracelet.”

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not ashamed of shopping at places like Target and IKEA. They’ve allowed me to explore my style while sticking to a budget. But meeting Gardner opened my eyes to making purchases with more meaning.

“You don’t have to change a lot, but make small changes,” she said. “At Christmas this year, I’d love to know all my gifts are fair trade.”

As we approach the season of gift giving, these makers’ stories have inspired me to be more thoughtful about my holiday purchases. Maybe this year, I’ll give my family Cajun Crate food subscriptions and my friends art by Louisiana makers.

And if you’re thinking of doing something similar this holiday season, it’s not hard to find local makers. Go to White Light Night Nov. 18. Search for local makers on Instagram and Etsy. Before you make a purchase, think about where that product comes from.

After all, it’s true what they say: It’s the thought that counts.

This article was originally published in the November 2016 issue of 225 Magazine.