The Citizenry is setting a new bar for company transparency. By offering beautiful hand-made home goods by artisans around the globe, this company pays tribute to the people behind the product. Instead of hiding away the location of where each product was made, The Citizenry highlights the story behind each piece and even provides collections to reflect the location and culture from which each product originated.
In addition to providing pieces that pay tribute to the cultures that inspired them, the Citizenry is the “first home retailer to have 100% of [its] products made with a fair trade process [which is] audited and guaranteed by the World Fair Trade Organization.”
Additionally, each product is offered in smaller quantities to ensure that each piece is of the highest quality it can be. To top it all off, because they work directly with the artisans, they are able to “eliminate traditional industry markups” meaning you get to pay less for their luxury products.
Interesting Products to Check Out:
- Torres Square Leather Ottoman ($859)
- Angami Pillow ($135)
- Amman Runner ($425)
- La Cima Accent Rug ($175)
- Mercado Floor Baskets ($135)
- Aegean Cotton Bath Towel ($40)
- Hinoki Wood Floor Mirror ($395)
- Aurora Alpaca Throw ($175)
Their Philosophy
“We believe our homes should be reflections of the journeys we take. Our personal spaces deserve designs with a soul, a story, and a purpose. It is why we travel the world to develop our exclusive collections of home goods. Country by country, we partner with master artisans, blending our modern style with their time-tested techniques.”
The Citizenry is passionate about providing home goods that are beautifully designed and exquisitely crafted while making sure that the workers who made them are adequately compensated and recognized for their skill.
They do this by collaborating with local artisans from different countries and only using local materials, creating products that blend “our modern style with their timeworn techniques” allowing them to “achieve a combination of smart design, premium quality, and true international style.”
To further emphasize their desire to make the best quality products, the Citizenry only offers a handful of colors and styles for each product, everything they offer is handmade, and they make their items in smaller batches.
The artisans that make each product are given fair wages, good working conditions, and grants to help take their craft to “new places.”
The Reason Behind the Name “The Citizenry”
Google defines Citizenry as “the citizens of a place regarded collectively,” so it is clear to see that the founders were extremely intentional with the choice of the company’s name. It does a great job of quickly summarizing the goals of the company and the actions they are taking.
The website mentions how they “set out to build a company that celebrates the people behind [their] products. [Their] name is a reflection of the collective of individuals – artisans, designers, and dreamers – who rally together across cultures and continents to craft [their] collections. The Citizenry is [their] way of sharing these stories and products with [their customers].”
Why The Citizenry is so Sustainable and Ethical
Here are some facts they mention on their website:
Ethical
- They pay 2x the fair trade wage requirement on average.
- They have partnered with 3,178 of the “most talented makers around the world.”
- They have invested $31.7 million in artisan communities by providing fair wages, “happy working environments,” and entrepreneurship grants.
- Each product is made in small batches from the country it is from.
- They provide sustainable employment for 1,843 female entrepreneurs, fostering “a positive recognition of women’s leadership roles within their communities.”
Sustainable
- Each product is made by hand, resulting in low carbon emissions and zero-waste practices.
- Cotton bedding and bath towels are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
- All bedding and bath essentials are free of any harmful chemicals, certified by OEKO-TEX standards
- All of their wood products are FSC certified
- All wool and leather are ethically sourced.
The Artisans that Work on Each Collection
The main thing that makes The Citizenry stand out from other companies that sell sustainable home goods is that they provide so much transparency about the people that make their products.
Each workshop/artisan has a dedicated page on its website with details about the story of the artisan(s), how many employees work there, and why the artisans love what they do. They also include a lot of photos to show the working environment and the artists making the products.
It is so refreshing to see a company that makes sure the voices of artists are heard while their craft is respected and fairly compensated for. Providing the story for each product on their website helps their customers to take a step back and think about what they are buying, making the piece more than a price tag.
This close relationship with the artists and overall respect for the products being made allows The Citizenry to offer pieces that are beautifully designed, exquisitely crafted, and made to last.
“Shop the Country”
A way that The Citizenry divides up the products in their shop (in addition to the traditional categories found on most websites) is by grouping them into the country in which they are made.
This helps to group similar styles for different types of products, as well as highlight the different craftsmanship found in each country. The elegant photos throughout the website also help to further emphasize the beauty of each product found in the collections.
*The places mentioned below do not include all of the countries that The Citizenry has local artists in. If you want to look through all of their partnerships you can check out their Artisan Partners page here.
Portugal
“Light, airy linen bedding. Luxe leather accents. An escape to the laid-back oasis of Portugal.”
Stonewashed Linen Bed Bundle – Midnight Series – Full
Items found in this collection:
- Linen Bedding
- Leather Accents
Within this collection, find elegant linen bedding of stonewashed colors with traditional and European style shams that add a sense of ease and comfort to any space. The leather pillows and ottomans from this country help to add an accent with a pop of color and show off the wonderful craftsmanship of the pieces.
India
“A modern take on India’s rich craft culture. Soft earth tones, lots of texture, and a dose of architectural elements.”
Items found in this collection:
- Flatweave and Dhurrie Rugs
- Recycled and Plant-Based Rugs
- Handwoven Pillows
- Block Print Pillows
- Accents and Tableware
Within this collection, find beautiful pieces to provide multiple accents throughout your space with an assortment of rugs and pillows. Neutral and bold color options for each style offer the chance for you to provide strategic focal points within the room. With different sizes and shapes available for each category, you can easily add a statement piece and conversation starter to any room.
Mexico
“Zapotec textiles. Natural palm baskets. Hand-carved marble. A celebration of Mexico’s colorful and diverse craft culture.”
Mercado Storage Cube Basket Set of Two
Items found in this collection:
- Accent Pillows
- Flatweave Wool Rugs
- Palm Baskets
- Decor and Accents
- Leather Furniture
- Travel Prints
Within this collection, find rich colors from the intricate rug patterns to the lumbar pillows, and hand-carved marble pieces. The woven palm baskets provide delicate neutral colors contrasting nicely with the bold accents found throughout the rest of the collection.
Turkey
“Sustainably made and all organic, Turkish cotton bedding and bath towels to create a sense of sanctuary.”
Aegean Cotton Bath Towels – Black
Items found in this collection:
- Organic-Cotton Bedding
- Turkish Organic Cotton
Within this collection, find light and airy bedding and bath towels in neutral colors. Soft and sustainable materials feel heavenly to the touch and add a sense of rejuvenation to any space and routine.
Japan
“Inspired by the art of slow living. A collection to appreciate the ritual of intention.”
Items found in this collection:
- Waffle Weave Towels
- Hinoki Wood Furniture
This collection is elegantly balanced with the bold colors and texture found within the waffle towels compared to the wood furniture made with light and smooth hinoki wood. Full-length mirrors and bathmats made from sustainably sourced hinoki wood add a sense of soft beauty to any space.
Peru
“Inspired by a trek across the Andes, textiles that highlight Peru’s ancient art of weaving and incredibly soft alpaca.”
Items found in this collection:
- Alpaca Throws
- Chunky Wool Throws
- Handwoven Pillows
Immediately add more visual interest to any space with any of the throws and pillows available in this collection. Made from alpaca wool, these throws are the definition of soft and cozy and become a statement piece when not in use. The pillows offer a variety of different styles for colors while also providing neutral options that can help customers easily mix and match.
Something for Everyone
In addition to the different country collections, The Citizenry offers more traditional ways to look through their products by providing different categories for rugs, furniture, baskets, and so on. Every part of the website provides more offerings of unique pieces that will stand out in any space.
Checking out the individual artist’s page can also help to find other pieces that are not shown in the collections. It is easy to spend hours looking through this beautiful website and amazing home goods!
Why The Citizenry is an Example of Good Design
Overall Aesthetics
From the design of the website to the images throughout, and the products themselves, this company has gone above and beyond to provide a beautiful space for its customers to shop.
The Simplicity of the Design
The products tend to be more minimalist with some pieces offering exciting pops of color to add visual interest to the space. All the products work well together and the simplicity of the design naturally draws the eyes of anyone in the space.
Lasting Quality
All of the artisans that The Citizenry partner with have the craftsmanship to make products that will last a lifetime. Through slow creation and small-batch making, each artisan is able to take the time they need to create beautiful products that you can enjoy for years to come.
Design Adaptability
Because a lot of products available with this company are more minimalist, they work well together and give the customer the ability to add their own accents and make each piece fit seamlessly into any space.
Ethical Integrity
The Citizenry has redefined the term company transparency by working with local artisans from many different countries, respecting the heritage of the designs, and adequately compensating them for their time.
Environmental Conscientiousness
The Citizenry makes sure that all of their partners are using sustainable and ethical practices when making their craft. They have many certifications for the materials used and use the process of slow production to make things with lasting quality.
Social Awareness
By highlighting the many people that go into the production of what they offer, The Citizenry is able to make their customers very aware of all the time and energy that went into making each piece, providing a story in addition to a nametag.
Use of the Elements and Principles of Design
There are many products that they offer that include the different elements and principles of design. Different lines, shapes, forms, colors, and textures can be found throughout each section and collection of their website.
Designing for the End-User
There is not a huge focus on the ergonomics of the products, but The Citizenry is able to design for the end-user by making products that are designed to last and look amazing in their spaces.
Ease of Use
The simplicity of these products allows them to be used easily and being handmade means they are more likely to last a lifetime.
The Overall Experience
It is very refreshing to get complete transparency about what goes into making different products. Knowing the story behind each product is a great way to make people appreciate the products they are buying and think about the impact their products have on the Earth and the people who make them.
Is The Citizenry Worth it?
While the cost of their products can be on the pricy side, the overall quality of the pieces, the fair worker compensation, and the fact that all the pieces are hand-made make the price an adequate reflection of what you are getting.
With many different styles and countries to choose from, The Citizenry is a great way to add the taste of international travel into your home. Supporting this company is also supporting the many talented, hardworking artists who make all of their products and see the benefits in their local communities!
Image Credit: The Citizenry
Want to Get Some Background Knowledge about the Concept of Good Design?
Check out some of my other articles:
What is Good Design? – 10 Product Characteristics to Look Out For
What Makes a Good Design? Introduction to the Elements and Principles of Design
Why Should I Care About the Products I Buy? – The Importance of Good Design
