About ourCommonplace

ourProcess

At ourCommonplace, we want you to put your trust in us as a marketplace and community. Striving to be a one-stop-shop for fashion forward, ethical, and sustainable goods, we vet all of our brands so you don’t have to.

So, what do we mean by "vet"? What makes a product sustainable? How do we know that it’s ethically made? If you’re curious we’ve got you covered. 

ourMission: A Higher Standard

There are 2 main considerations that we take into account when bringing on board brands to our platform - ethicality & sustainability. 

The fashion industry is one of the most polluting and inhumane industries and changes need to be made in order for us to move towards a more circular and fair economy. Our comprehensive vetting process dives into the practices of each brand in order to ensure they align with our elevated goals and standards. The following are some of the things we look for when on-boarding brands...

ourValues


Sustainable Goals & Standards

  • Sustainable certifications
  • Low environmental impact & longevity
  • Eco-friendly production
  • Up-cycled and recycled materials
  • Thoughtful packaging

Ethical Goals & Standards

  • Ethical certifications
  • Ethical production
  • Decent working conditions
  • Ethical treatment of workers
  • Fair wages
  • Ethically sourced materials

Toxic Free Goals & Standards

  • No ingredients on ourDirtyList
  • Clean ingredients
  • Emphasis on organic materials
  • No harsh chemicals or preservatives

Cruelty Free Goals & Standards

  • Leaping Bunny certification
  • Vegan ingredients in beauty products
  • OR ability to certify absolutely no animal testing through other means if in process of obtaining official certification as a small business
  • Brands don’t manufacture or sell in countries that require animal testing

BIPOC Owned Goals & Standards

  • BIPOC founders
  • Fostering of job creation and opportunities
  • Appreciation of culture & local communities
  • Respect for tradition

Woman Owned Goals & Standards

  • Highlighting women founders
  • Fostering of job creation and opportunities
  • Support women in developing countries

ourTransparency

Becoming a more conscious consumer means asking questions and receiving answers. This is why we love putting the spotlight on our brands and all the good they do. Along with each product description you can find information about the brand and the materials used to make their products. If you need more information let’s take it a step further...

A major part of transparency in the sustainability industry is acknowledging that the industry itself is still evolving. Because there is no central authority or government regulations, we must rely on certifications and photographic evidence from a lot of the small businesses and independent designers we work with. By taking a comprehensive approach case by case, we must be understanding of circumstances such as founders who are producing products themselves, small in-house teams, or brands producing in developing countries. If you would like to dive deeper into the certifications we use in our vetting process feel free to do so here.

ourCommonplace Founder Sunny Wu

ourCommonplace was officially launched in 2020 on the principles of giving a voice to ethical and sustainable brands that also embody diversity, equity, and inclusion. This ethos is a reflection of our founder, Sunny Wu, as a result of her being both a first generation Taiwanese American and woman entrepreneur. Her lens of social and environmental responsibility drives the thoughtful curation of incredible brands with a common goal to make these high standards and transparency commonplace throughout the industry.