Championing Conscious Consumerism
Since the '70s and '80s, the concept of conspicuous consumption has dominated global retail. The proliferation of luxury items and an "I want it" mindset have led to manufacturing and sales practices that tend to deplete natural resources, adversely contribute to climate change, and encourage an accumulation mindset that borders on the excessive.
But today, thanks to heightened awareness on how consumption affects the world, the mindset is shifting to a more responsible one: conscious consumption.
As an online retailer, the concept of conscious consumption - conscious shopping, if you will - is something that needs to be taken into serious consideration. It is defined as the act of making positive decisions as one shops, essentially trying to strike a healthier balance against the negative impact that materially-driven consumerism has had on the world over the past twenty or thirty years.
Being conscious about the things that you buy means that you look more closely into the source of certain items, asking whether these were produced ethically or sustainably, whether or not the people involved in their creation are treated and compensated fairly, and whether the item you're planning to buy is just an impulse purchase bought only to stay on trend like a piece of fast-fashion or one that will serve you well for a longer period of time.
For us at Helvetia and Sons, we grew up adhering to Swiss principles of quality which essentially call for buying quality over quantity, insisting on the best possible materials to ensure durability and longevity, and ensuring that materials are sourced properly and without harm to both man and nature.
In which case, we firmly support the move towards conscious consumerism by carrying smaller yet socially and environmentally responsible brands from Switzerland who adhere to the highest standards of craftsmanship, quality, sustainability, and durability. At the same time, we take our work as an opportunity to educate our customers regarding the high standards that Swiss creators and manufacturers have adhered to for generations.
Many of you have asked us why our products cost a bit higher than similar items you can easily find at any department store or fast-fashion outlet. We can proudly say that it's because these are of a superior quality as they are made by artisans who truly take pride in their work and use only the best materials they can get. Having done so, each item we carry is bound to satisfy and delight you, our customers, for a very long time.
And that, we feel, is what truly matters 🖤
SUSTAINABILITY - the Swiss Way: Read more from us here
Photo credits: Unsplashed, QWSTION, Soeder, FREITAG