Published on the Yahoo! Contributor Network
When it comes to online shopping we're all surrounded by a variety of online stores and sites; it won't come as a surprise that we might feel overwhelmed and unable to decide on that final shopping cart that we can't seem to fill or on the contrary that takes us to unaffordable values of money in just a few seconds.
This is why we shop online though: the beauty of accessing "global" stores hoping to spot that little unique dress or ring that will make our best friends jealous and that will turn us into an enviable trendsetter.
If like me you are a passionate fashionista you will probably be familiar with two of my favourite online stores that sell amazing and unusual handcrafts: Etsy and Folksy.
The former, Etsy, takes you through a never ending bazaar: from Turkey to the United States, from Australia to Western Europe. All the inspiration you felt when you walked through that souk in Marrakech will be waiting here online for you. How to get started then?
My advice is to check the blog first: this is where you will generally find interviews and articles of all the recent and original designers who joined the site. This is when I spotted little gems such as Erstwhile Jewelry, the New York duo who sells rare Victorian, Edwardian and Art Nouveau jewellery that you would hardly spot in Portobello. Signing up for the daily email comes as a natural step if you want to take the perfect ride on the verge of fashion and it allows you not to miss new designers who join and be the first to discover them.
I am myself an inspirational shopper and I find it really useful to browse the Etsy's Treasury section. A great amount of themes are grouped together so that you can literally listen to your inspiration of the moment. From Spring Treasury to Tribe Native American and to Hawaiian holidays, all your answers seem to be somewhere out there. So if you know you need some trendy items these categories will be great to help you out and allow you to satisfy your needs.
As always the category section is designed to help you in selecting your favourite items, but sometimes shopping is not about needs, but about falling in love. So my advice would be to browse those categories that have made Etsy and Folksy so popular: the Vintage, Needlecraft and Jewellery sections. You will discover some key designers that you will love and will then be able to browse their personal selection on the site.
Folksy on the other hand offers a UK customized website promoting handcrafts for this market. Again I love browsing their Frankly Magazine which features a very insightful "Meet the Makers" and "New Designers" section. I had the chance to discover Cecily Vessey and her original work inspired by London, mixing a clear architectural passion with an interior design orientation; not to miss are her lovely mugs that will make the perfect gift for any occasion. James Urge is another interior designer that I discovered on Folksy and who is worth following as he is just making the first steps on the local scene; a direct link to his website will allow you to stay tuned and own those furniture pieces before anyone else does.
Through the main navigation of the online store I always check the Folksy Highlights section first. This is where you will find the work of new designers as well as seasonal-oriented themes which are perfect to keep up with the latest trends and emerging talents.
Online shopping on Etsy and Folksy is nothing like shopping for something we need, but it is rather shopping to fall in love and to find that original piece of work to satisfy our passion for fashion. So always look for the latest news and articles on both sites and stay tuned; this is how you might spot THE next generation designer!
When it comes to online shopping we're all surrounded by a variety of online stores and sites; it won't come as a surprise that we might feel overwhelmed and unable to decide on that final shopping cart that we can't seem to fill or on the contrary that takes us to unaffordable values of money in just a few seconds.
This is why we shop online though: the beauty of accessing "global" stores hoping to spot that little unique dress or ring that will make our best friends jealous and that will turn us into an enviable trendsetter.
If like me you are a passionate fashionista you will probably be familiar with two of my favourite online stores that sell amazing and unusual handcrafts: Etsy and Folksy.
The former, Etsy, takes you through a never ending bazaar: from Turkey to the United States, from Australia to Western Europe. All the inspiration you felt when you walked through that souk in Marrakech will be waiting here online for you. How to get started then?
My advice is to check the blog first: this is where you will generally find interviews and articles of all the recent and original designers who joined the site. This is when I spotted little gems such as Erstwhile Jewelry, the New York duo who sells rare Victorian, Edwardian and Art Nouveau jewellery that you would hardly spot in Portobello. Signing up for the daily email comes as a natural step if you want to take the perfect ride on the verge of fashion and it allows you not to miss new designers who join and be the first to discover them.
I am myself an inspirational shopper and I find it really useful to browse the Etsy's Treasury section. A great amount of themes are grouped together so that you can literally listen to your inspiration of the moment. From Spring Treasury to Tribe Native American and to Hawaiian holidays, all your answers seem to be somewhere out there. So if you know you need some trendy items these categories will be great to help you out and allow you to satisfy your needs.
As always the category section is designed to help you in selecting your favourite items, but sometimes shopping is not about needs, but about falling in love. So my advice would be to browse those categories that have made Etsy and Folksy so popular: the Vintage, Needlecraft and Jewellery sections. You will discover some key designers that you will love and will then be able to browse their personal selection on the site.
Folksy on the other hand offers a UK customized website promoting handcrafts for this market. Again I love browsing their Frankly Magazine which features a very insightful "Meet the Makers" and "New Designers" section. I had the chance to discover Cecily Vessey and her original work inspired by London, mixing a clear architectural passion with an interior design orientation; not to miss are her lovely mugs that will make the perfect gift for any occasion. James Urge is another interior designer that I discovered on Folksy and who is worth following as he is just making the first steps on the local scene; a direct link to his website will allow you to stay tuned and own those furniture pieces before anyone else does.
Through the main navigation of the online store I always check the Folksy Highlights section first. This is where you will find the work of new designers as well as seasonal-oriented themes which are perfect to keep up with the latest trends and emerging talents.
Online shopping on Etsy and Folksy is nothing like shopping for something we need, but it is rather shopping to fall in love and to find that original piece of work to satisfy our passion for fashion. So always look for the latest news and articles on both sites and stay tuned; this is how you might spot THE next generation designer!
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