Yvonne Glasgow
When you buy handmade items, it puts money into the pockets of creators and small businesses. It’s also a fantastic way to get something truly unique that everyone else on the block won’t have. Even better, most crafters sell their wares online.
Although things are starting to open up again, it might be a while before arts and crafts fairs are back on in your location. Fortunately, there are tons of places on the internet where you can buy everything from handmade clothing and home décor to paintings and pottery!
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Etsy
Most folks know about Etsy. It’s a marketplace filled with handcrafted, vintage, and crafting items. There are some items on Etsy that don’t fit the handmade or vintage overall outlook of the platform, but that shouldn’t keep you from enjoying the shops that are there.
Be sure to read the descriptions sellers offer on each item, and don’t be afraid to reach out to a particular seller for verification of the handmade authenticity of an item.
Etsy makes it easy to type in your search terms and find whatever you’re looking for, whether it be a piece of art for the wall or a handmade Halloween costume. Many sellers offer free shipping, as well. You’ll also find wonderfully curated lists of items, including some for upcoming holidays.
Amazon Handmade
For Amazon fans, you can get your handmade fix there as well. Amazon Handmade offers products from crafters around the world.
The benefit of shopping for handcrafted goodies on Amazon is you might be able to use your Prime membership for fast and free shipping on some items. Amazon Handmade also offers the ease of shopping with curated collections, much like Etsy.
Uncommon Goods
Uncommon Goods is a marketplace of wonderfully handcrafted items run by artisans who also sell their items through the site. While you might not have heard of it, the site has been around since 1999.
What sets Uncommon Goods apart from many of the other handmade marketplaces online is it strives to curate goods that serve a purpose or solve a problem, and that are also made of recycled materials whenever possible. The site doesn’t sell any items made with leather, fur, or feathers.
indieCart
In 2004, a shopping site called Hyena Cart was the go-to for homemade diapers. Indie art was then created as a sister company, offer a juried shop of other handcrafted items. The two sites merged in 2020, and now, indieCart continues to be packed with great handmade products.
Much like Etsy, indieCart is broken up into individual storefronts. Although the site only has 45 stores right now, there are thousands of handmade items available. You can visit a creator’s store and see what he or she has available, from beautiful jewelry and handmade clothing, to essential oils and more.
Art Fire
Art Fire is another indie marketplace where you can visit individual sellers’ boutiques to shop their handmade goods, as well as vintage items. Like Etsy, there are sellers from all over the world.
Art Fire also has a blog that’s full of inspiration. From crafty tips to start your own DIY projects to impressive recipes you’ll want to try, this site might inspire you to start your own creative adventure.
GLC Craft Mall
GLC Craft Mall offers another handmade marketplace with sellers from all over the world, with individual shops to peruse, much like Etsy. However, until you find a favorite seller, you can search by category or item to find the specific handmade creations you’re searching for.
If you’re a crafter yourself, GLC Craft Mall allows sellers to sell craft supplies, as well. If you find yourself inspired while shopping, you can find everything from brand new skeins of yarn to jewelry-making kits.
iCraft
Based out of Canada, iCraft is a handmade marketplace that focuses solely on handcrafted arts and crafts. With sellers from all over, you can easily search for free shipping to your country of origin.
One neat aspect of iCraft is that they do Spotlight posts on their crafters—you’ll see a “Meet the Maker” section on the right as you scroll down. It’s interesting to learn about the individuals you’re buying from, as well as how and why they do what they do.
Aftcra
If you prefer to shop strictly American handmade goods, Aftcra has you covered. The name is an anagram for “a craft,” and it’s been around since 2012.
Aside from selling only American-made goods, another thing that sets Aftcra apart from other crafting marketplaces on the web is it’s a “boutique” shopping experience.
This means there are no products available for under $10. This is a place to shop for well-made, creative goods, rather than the cheap stuff you might find on other marketplace websites.
Cargoh
Much like a juried craft show, Cargoh doesn’t let just anyone sign up and sell with them. Because it focuses on the creators and products available through its marketplace, you can get some of the best handmade items available anywhere on Cargoh.
Some of the items are so impressive, it’s hard to believe they’re made by a small business rather than a large corporation. You can search by category or item, check out gift guides, and more.
Storenvy
From emerging brands to handcrafted goods, Storenvy is filled with shopping goodness. The focus of Storenvy is for sellers to turn their creations into a “brand,” not just crafts. This means you’re buying from people who are dedicated to their business and want you to become a repeat customer.
At this writing, there are over 50,000 brands available on the Storenvy marketplace. From independent clothing to beautiful home décor items, Storenvy is like shopping at your favorite big-box store, but getting all of the goods directly from the people who make them.
When you buy handcrafted products, you can get truly superior, unique items. And, bettet yet, you also put money into the pocket of a passionate entrepreneur. With every purchase, you’ll make a creative soul dance a happy jig.
