MEEMA, maker of some of our favorite kitchen goods, was one of the select brands that we launched with in 2020. And for good reason. They take discarded denim and cotton and turn it into beautiful towels, aprons, napkins and other kitchen textiles. They live where recycling meets impeccable design meets durability. What a wonderful, and rare, place to be.

You know that feeling when you finally find the perfect skincare product for yourself? After hours of lost time and hundreds of dollars down the drain? That’s how I felt when I came across Wiley Body. As someone with many skin allergies and sensitivities, I know the value of truly clean skincare. And because I found the company at a time when Alex and I were talking about building our family, Vanessa’s inspiration for starting the company spoke to me.

Founded in 1992, Jonsteen committed to spreading “a message of respect for our environment, and a love of trees. They dedicated themselves to teaching about the manifold benefits that trees bring to our planet and our communities, and our lives individually and collectively.”

Hearth & Hammer is owned by husband & wife team Ariane Scholl and Andy Kenney. The goods they carry are products you’ll feel happy about purchasing—made by other small businesses and artisans. What’s more: they create their own candle line to “illuminate literature through aromatic storytelling.” The scents they create bring classics like Walden Woods and The Great Gatsby to life.

In such uncertain times, with the war in Ukraine raging on and Covid surpassing year two, it was a relief and an honor to get to chat with Ben Moore, founder of sustainable snack business The Ugly Company. His get-to-work, positive attitude wore off on us as we chatted. It was impossible to leave without a smile.

The Ugly Company preaches to never judge a fruit by its cover, stating “we prevent food waste by upcycling ugly fruit and transforming it into healthy dried fruit snacks.” Their snacks are all-natural, non-GMO, and have absolutely nothing added.

When we started Willinglee under the name Little Boxes, Alex and I were initially only looking for local-to-Austin artisans. Jae Benjamin was one of our first connections, and she and her products have been a constant customer favorite since day 1.

Butter + Lye’s skincare products are some of the best sellers in our store—and for good reason! Monique is a biochemist who took her knowledge of chemistry and fused it with her desire to make all-natural products that promote healthy skin.

Abby and I found her entrepreneurial spirit especially contagious, and that combined with her focus on producing incredible products makes us especially excited for the future of Butter + Lye.

Rarely are we so moved by a company’s mission, and commitment to that mission, as we were by Finley’s. They’re nothing short of a model company, and their story is one of the best we’ve ever heard.

Their baked goods make wonderful gifts for your doggos, and as a bonus, you can feel darn good about where your money is going.

We were immediately drawn to Kind Lips when we first came across them. Their product is high-quality and all-natural, and their brand commitment to end bullying really moved us.

Founded in 2017 by Josh Neumann, Kind Lips has grown steadily, having produced over 500,000 tubes of lip balm since August 2021 and counting!

We were so excited to speak with Josh and learn more about Kind Lips and what’s in store for the future!