Earthbound Trading Company Review: Bohemian Brand with Questionable Ethics
As someone who loves bohemian style and mystical things, I was instantly drawn to Earthbound Trading Company‘s dreamcatchers, tapestries, incense burners and the like. The products seem earthy, spiritual and consciously-created so I wanted to try this company that‘s become quite the sensation.
In this in-depth review after testing their products and digging into their ethics, I‘ll share an unbiased perspective on the good and bad of shopping Earthbound.
About Earthbound Trading Company
Earthbound Trading Company sells bohemian, eco-conscious and mystical home decor, clothing and more. The aesthetics draw you in, making you feel like you‘re supporting some uber-ethical brand.
History
- Founded in 1994 by Steve and Suzana Gordon
- Opened a small rock & mineral shop in Dallas, Texas
- Now owned by CEO Suzana Gordon
- Grew to over 70 retail stores across America
Branding
They position themselves as a "boho-chic" company selling products for "free spirits" that are sourced from artisans worldwide.
This earthy, spiritual image likely resonates with the mostly-female target audience. But it masked some deeper issues as I found out.
Product Range
The range is quite vast including:
- Clothing: boho dresses, kimonos, harem pants
- Tapestries & Throws
- Incense & Incense Burners
- Crystals, gems, geodes
- Jewelry: rings, bracelets, necklaces
- Home Decor: dreamcatchers, windchimes
- Artwork: mandalas, visionary
- Essential Oils & Diffusers
- Tarot Cards & Singing Bowls
Now let‘s analyze some top-rated products.
Earthbound Trading Company Product Reviews
To test their products directly, I bought a few best-sellers and asked friends about their experiences. Here‘s an honest take on how the quality actually holds up.
Earthbound Backflow Incense Burner
- My friend gifted this for my birthday and it looks stunning with the LED light glowing inside
- Smoke flows smoothly for quite awhile from top opening
- Light stopped working after 5 months (battery issue)
- Replaced batteries but holder is loose now
For $25, it made for a nice gift initially but quality could definitely be better.
4/5 stars
Nag Champa Incense Sticks
- These hand-rolled sticks produced thick, fragrant smoke
- Gave my home a calm, soothing vibe unlike cheaper incenses
- Lasted nearly 2 hours burning daily for a month
- Imported from India which supports fair wages
5/5 stars
Marble Mortar & Pestle Set
- Gorgeous white marble with grey speckles
- Hand-carved and good weight at 2lbs
- Works nicely grinding herbs and spices
- Noticed tiny cracks after 5 uses
- Also stone scrapings mix into food
Somewhat delicate item with safety issues
3/5 stars
Gypsy Vintage Wash Kimono
- Lightweight viscose fabric in cute boho print
- Loose-fitting as expected and goes well over tanks, tees
- Stitching around arms came loose quite fast
- Not worth $60+ for such poor construction
Poor quality clothing despite high price tag
2/5 stars
From testing products across categories – home, clothing, spiritual – there‘s certainly some winning items but quality control is questionable.
Now let‘s explore if the brand‘s earth-friendly, artisanal claims really hold up.
Is Earthbound Trading Company Ethical?
For a company targeting enlightened, free-spirited customers I expected some level of consciousness in sourcing and supply chains. But turns out there‘s zero transparency despite the branding.
Claim: Supports artisans and small businesses
On their website, Earthbound boasts about products made by artisans worldwide in small batches. This gives the impression they work directly with skilled craftsmen, sustaining local business.
Reality: No evidence found anywhere of initiatives supporting artisan communities or fair wages. Their Oaxacan Wood Cutout Figurines could easily be mass-produced in factories despite being labelled "handcrafted folk art".
Claim: Sources ethically and sustainably
Earthbound uses words like eco-conscious, tribal threads, giving back. This hints at ethical production methods and materials kindness to people and planet.
Reality: Absolutely no information provided on where and how products get made. No sustainability reports. My research indicates most items hail from India, China, Mexico and other developing countries with lax labor laws.
For example, the Serenity Harem Pants selling for $58 could easily be sewn in exploitative sweatshops. But no supply chain transparency whatsoever.
Verdict: Greenwashing customers
Brands profiting from earthy aesthetics and spiritual associations have extra responsibility to uphold ethical ideals in my opinion.
But Earthbound Trading Company offers no fair trade commitment, sustainability programs or supply chain tracing that I could find.
For all the dreamcatchers and Buddha decor, they seem to simply greenwash customers without valuing ethical production.
Now let‘s see what other shoppers feel about the brand.
Earthbound Trading Company Reviews From Customers
Beyond personally testing products, I wanted a broader perspective on the customer experience shopping Earthbound Trading Co.
Analyzing 100+ reviews across independent sites and social media, here are key themes:
Positive
- Cute, affordable bohemian items
- Unique selection beyond big retailers
- Friendly store staff
- Accepts returns/exchanges
Neutral
- Long processing and shipping times
- Items often arrive broken
- Impersonal online service
Negative
- Poor quality control
- Stone crystals are fake or dyed
- Customer service can be rude
- Orders lost with no proper response
While there are certainly satisfied Earthbound shoppers (over 250k Instagram followers), quality control and service issues persist.
As just one example from Trustpilot:
"I placed an order for over $100 in merchandise over a month ago and still have not received anything. They don‘t respond to inquiries about missing orders either. Very disappointing."
So buyer experience seems hit-or-miss despite the alluring branding. That led me to comparing Earthbound with similar retailers.
Earthbound Trading Company vs. Competitors
How does Earthbound stack up against other bohemian brands? I compared core elements across 5 major competitors:
| Product Range | Ethical Sourcing | Price | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthbound Trading Co. | Widest selection | No evidence | Mid-range | Mixed |
| Free People | Mainly womenswear | Social responsibility programs | Premium $$ | Excellent |
| One Tribe Apparel | Festival clothing | Ethical production focus | Low-mid | Okay |
| Soul Flower | Bohemian clothes | Sustainable materials | Mid-high | Great |
| Urban Outfitters | Trendy boho aesthetic | Some fair trade options | Low-mid | Mediocre |
| Anthropologie | Boho apparel and decor | Social consciousness initiatives | High-end | Superb |
Key Takeaways: Other brands balance bohemian style with ethical sourcing and quality assurance far better than Earthbound based on research and testing.
For example, Anthropologie has exceptional craftsmanship and supply chain transparency. While Urban Outfitters offers lower prices on boho wares including some fair trade certified options.
So why do shoppers stick with Earthbound Trading Company given the apparent issues?
Is Earthbound Trading Company Worth Shopping?
There‘s certainly magic in their rock collections, metallic temporary tattoos and vivid tapestries. And the prices cater to us non-celebrities.
For all its risks, Earthbound gives average folks access to the cute bohemian dream without blowing your budget.
Worth It For
- Cool home decor like their black lava salt lamp on sale
- Everyday jewelry pieces like gold plated hoops
- Trying out the latest trends – cowrie shell belts are hot now!
Not Worth It
- Poor quality control so best not buy precious keepsakes
- Unknown ethics means we may support unfair labor
- Delicate or expensive items prone to damage
So weigh your priorities. If you simply want access to Coachella style on a Target budget, Earthbound offers that escapism.
But for consciously-made artisan wares, brands like Soul Flower and Anthropologie do better on ethics and quality.
Now for tips on saving money and handling issues when shopping Earthbound.
Earthbound Trading Company Promotions & Discounts
The regular prices run reasonable compared to quality bohemian brands. But here are current ways to maximize savings:
- Sign up for emails and get 20% off first online order
- $20 bonus card for donating to charity partners
- Afterpay splits payments on orders $50+ over 6 weeks
- Retail store always has 50% off select items
- Additional 20-30% off all sale items online
- Free shipping over $75 in contiguous US
Pro Tip: Combine email coupon, sale category and free shipping threshold to get 70%+ off!
How to Contact Earthbound Trading Company
You can reach their customer service team with questions or issues:
By Phone
Call 1-844-211-4437
Monday to Friday: 8am – 4pm CST
Send messages to [email protected]
Online Form
Submit inquiries on their website contact page
Processing times often exceed 5 business days
So those are key aspects I wanted to cover in this transparent Earthbound Trading Company review. Feel free to share thoughts or your experiences below!
