It’s rare to discover businesses with the sort of focus on ethics and sustainability that local homewares store Jasper & Eve holds. Its creator Leslyn Parker says that the online haven for home decor isn’t filled with “dirt cheap homewares of dubious origin”, but with pieces that’ll jazz up your home all while making a difference – and with an aim to reduce waste.
“We want to encourage a change in people’s attitudes, to stop and think about the origins of their next purchase,” Leslyn tells me. “Who made it? Where was it made? How was it made? Then think about what happens to this product when I no longer need or want it. Can it be repurposed or recycled in some way?”.
It’s a welcome approach in a market that’s been flooded with mass-produced wares on high rotation for some time, and one that Leslyn says is an important part of the Jasper & Eve ethos. The business also supports charities by donating money from each sale to initiatives that really need it and strongly believes in supporting local.
“My parents immigrated here from overseas with next to nothing. Mum’s first dining set was a set of disposable plates and cutlery! Both my parents worked extremely hard for our family, which would have been impossible if there weren’t enough Aussie jobs going on… so that’s also part of why we’re very passionate to support Australian made”.
With that in mind, how does Leslyn curate the pieces she stocks on Jasper & Eve? Australian-made is obviously a given, but what else comes into play?
“The main categories are eco, Aussie, ethical and of course, stylish,” she explains. “If the products do not fall into one or more of these categories, then we do not stock them. We have a strict criteria for our products and try to track it back as far as we can in the supply chain”.
I’ve focused on some divine monochromatic decor pieces in this post because they’re some of my faves from Jasper & Eve, but it’s important to note that the homewares in this online store are also full of colour and charm (just get a look at the flamingo cushions below!).
I also love that these homewares feel a little but undiscovered. Many of them I’ve not laid eyes on before and it does give you the sense that once you’ve purchased something, it’s set to become the “where did you get that from?” moment in your space.
“We want our customer to feel special when they have one of our items in their home,” Leslyn tells me when I ask her what makes Jasper & Eve so special. “It’s most likely a piece that their friends and family don’t have”.
Connect with Jasper & Eve: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Which pieces are you loving here? I’d love to get your thoughts in the comments below!
