Sustainable
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, and it’s time we rethink the materials, processes, and packaging used to create our beloved purchases. This is why we’ve done the upfront legwork and vetted our brands to ensure that our planet’s health is top of mind for them as well.
Woman-Owned
Women lift up half of the sky - by investing in women, you’re assisting in the process of creating more wealth for families and communities. The successes of women shape the way young girls see themselves as they develop into leaders, and it's essential for the world to provide leaders that mirror half of the population.
Toxic Free
The secret behind the beauty, personal-care, and fashion industry is that they’re virtually unregulated, and therefore, allowed to use untested chemicals in their products. Exposure to these ingredients can be harmful overtime, and that’s why we’ve vetted each and every single one of these brands to ensure that they’re up to standards for those looking for a cleaner beauty routine or may be more sensitive to harsh ingredients.
Ethical
Here at ourCommonplace, all brands have our ethical stamp of approval, which encompasses decent working conditions, treatment of workers, and fair-wages. Through providing a platform for purchasing ethical goods and ensuring all brands uphold ethical standards, we hope to take us towards a more equitable and just world.
BIPOC-Owned
We believe in uplifting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities by empowering their businesses. By choosing to allocate your purchasing power to BIPOC-owned businesses, you're not only strengthening local BIPOC communities — you're also contributing to shrinking the racial wealth gap, fostering job creation, and propelling diverse representation across consumer industries.
Cruelty Free
Animal tests are often painful and cause the suffering and deaths of millions of animals every year. Having this stamp of approval means that no animals were tested on, harmed or killed in the process of making the product. When you opt in for cruelty-free brands, you’re opting out of animal testing, and investing in clean products that are made for the benefit of your body, animals, and the environment.
This style is exclusively made-to-order and will be shipped in 6 weeks.
An elegant, architectural ballet flat that feels as good as it looks. Designed for everyday wear, these slip-on shoes are cut, sewn and crafted by hand from soft Italian leather and their shape is defined by the natural curve of the foot.
The directional squared toe and flattering vamp give the humble ballet flat a simple yet modern update.
If your size is no longer available we can produce this colour on demand, which means that it's made just for you, and only you. It helps us significantly reduce waste by eliminating excess inventory. Please allow 6 weeks for custom orders.
Fits true to size - If you have a high instep or wide feet go up a size for the best fit. Leather lining and insole - memory foam padding for extra comfort - Heel height measures 5mm or 0.2 inches.
ESSĒN was founded as a response to a fashion cycle that overproduces more than it carefully crafts, chases trends more than it determines classics, and wastes more than it sustains. They strive to slow down that cycle and focus on making every piece essential.
Their shoes are hardworking classics that are aesthetically beautiful, supremely comfortable and ethically made. They allow women to move seamlessly and confidently through their day, without compromising on style, comfort and craftsmanship.
All styles are handmade in Italy, Portugal and Spain in solar-powered factories by expert artisans who have been making shoes for generations. They’re made in small production runs and in limited releases, consciously slowing down the fashion cycle and making every style a carefully considered wardrobe staple.
Shipping
Please note that all orders ships directly from our partners to you and each partner has policies unique to its boutique.
For ESSEN - All shipping is free with carbon offset! For this made-to-order brand, it takes up to 6 weeks to hand craft your order due to COVID-19 restrictions in Italy at the moment, and item(s) will arrive at your doorstep within 5-10 days to arrive at your doorstep for this internationally based brand.
After you've placed your order, you'll receive an order confirmation in your inbox. Once your order has been shipped, you'll receive an additional email with tracking number.
Returns
For ESSEN - For full priced items, if you don’t 100% love the item, let us know, and we’ll gladly accept the item(s) within 14 days of purchase for a flat $6 fee for each boutique. Discounts above 40% are not eligible for returns. Please refer to this page for instructions and details to our returns & exchange policy.
