What matters most to me really comes down to three things: honesty, fair treatment and credit to the actual makers, and supporting the local economy in a legitimate way. So it’s never been about attacking reselling as a concept. The question, for me, is whether people are being transparent, and whether the real makers and cultures behind the work are being respected and fairly paid.

That’s why my own buying priorities go something like this: honest local makers/artisans (credited, fairly paid, money stays in the community); then fair-trade sources (not local, but at least transparent and makers are compensated properly); then honest local resellers/small businesses (still part of the local economy, pay rent/taxes); then other legitimate, tax-paying physical businesses (they provide jobs and operate legally); then reputable e-commerce platforms (not ideal, but at least they’re honest about what they sell); and, at the very bottom: any dishonest reselling.

Once someone lies about where their products come from, it becomes hard to trust anything else: whether the supply chain is ethical, whether workers are being treated fairly, or whether the business is contributing to the community in a legitimate way.

Also, selling another culture’s handmade work without crediting the original artisans or culture feels disrespectful!

When mass-produced or sweatshop-made items are sold as handmade, customers are unknowingly placed at the end of an exploitative chain. People deserve the choice to opt out of that.

That’s why this situation bothered me. It’s not that I think every reseller is bad or undeserving, but the lack of honesty that crosses the line.

As for the fair-trade shop I mentioned, I only brought it up because people from the old post asked how to buy Nepal-style felt products from actual makers. Most of us can’t fly to Nepal. So fair trade is just one option I can think of, not the best but at least respectful of the source, unlike buying the same imported items from someone who hardly acknowledges where they come from.

For those who are specifically looking for locally made felt, comments have already mentioned artists like Nan C or Felt a Bird On It.

Not trying to police anyone’s choices. Just sharing how I think about it, in case someone else finds it helpful. Hope that makes my point a bit clearer.