we really need to talk about how the terms “ethically sourced” and “handmade” have essentially just become buzzwords on social media nowadays in order for dropshippers to boost their sales.
if you’re not telling us exactly where you sourced those materials from, that is an immediate red flag to me because it’s really not that hard to just say where you sourced them from, but they know this and they still choose to neglect to mention that information in their listings, because they’re talking out of their ass and they don’t care because people will eat it up every time.
this is a huge problem on websites like etsy and depop especially, with people selling things like bracelets and necklaces, claiming their charms and beads are ethically sourced, when the vast majority of the time their materials are sourced from jewellery making kits on places like aliexpress and temu. i hate to break it to you but by buying from those companies to begin with, your products are already unethical and you’re blatantly deceiving your customers.
the fact that people vehemently defend this type of behaviour and insist that it’s handmade because “they make the bracelets themselves” is baffling to me. like no, you’re buying cheap and crappy materials from shady companies with abhorrent practices, assembling the pieces and selling them for double what you paid, if not more. you’re a dropshipper with extra steps. calling yourself a small business or an artist when you do this is beyond disrespectful to actual artisans who spend hours making the charms and pieces themselves. grouping yourself with honest hardworking artists when all you do is slap some cheap materials together without any thought or love behind it is aggravating.
this isn’t even just a problem in the jewellery making community either. this has become a huge problem within the taxidermy community as well. there are just as many people claiming their taxidermy is “ethically sourced” and they never explain how. countless butterflies and other insects being listed - the vast majority of people are not breeding and raising their own butterflies and waiting until they die to preserve them. that’s a fact. it’s just not profitable, especially for such a niche hobby.
moths and butterflies that die of natural causes will usually have very tattered wings for a variety of reasons, and yet the majority of these “ethically sourced” bugs are in perfect condition. tarantulas are often sold as well, usually in perfect condition. tarantulas can live very long lives, and mature males do not look as perfect or as lovely as the specimens on the market do, meaning they were either killed before they fully matured or they are females who were killed before their time as well, seeing as females live significantly longer lives.
there have been countless times where i’ve seen real coyote tails and fox tails being sold on places like etsy and listed as “ethically sourced”, with one particular shop i spotted having hundreds of sales. where are you getting so many tails from foxes and coyotes ethically? surely you can’t be finding that many of them dead so often - that is, if they’re actually real and not faux fur, which opens another can of worms.
additionally, just because you find bones in the woods or around your home doesn’t automatically make it ethical either. i’ve seen too many people collecting bones and bodies of roadkill dogs and cats in their areas, without any consideration that they may have been somebody’s pet.
the issue of protected species also comes into question. too many people are buying taxidermied bats without the knowledge that bats are a protected species in most areas. some places in the u.s. and other countries only allow scientists and indigenous people to collect certain animals, such as certain species of eagles.
people need to start being more responsible with their purchases, especially if you’re the type of person who constantly preaches to others about how unethical fast-fashion is or how unethical it is to shop from places like shein or amazon. shop responsibly. nobody is perfect but for christ’s sake, don’t believe everything you read online.