On Being Ethical Consumers: Uline and Beyond

At Handmade Palestine, we receive messages every week—emails and WhatsApps—from you, our thoughtful community, asking things like: “Who made this?” “Where does my money go?” “Where are you located?”

We LOVE these questions.

Why? Because they tell us something beautiful and rare: you're here not just to shop, but to connect. You're here because you care. You’re ethical consumers. And we celebrate you for that.

The Real Cost of Convenience

Over the last decade, Amazon has revolutionized how we shop. It’s made things faster, cheaper, more automated. But in that shift, we’ve lost something very human. The expectation now is for instant delivery, free returns, and anonymous transactions. There’s no pause to ask, “Who made this?” or “Was this person paid fairly?”—because the machine doesn’t answer back.

But we’re not a machine. We’re a small team in the West Bank, with one incredible person managing all our fulfilment. Our artisans work slowly and skillfully, crafting each piece by hand. Our production times can be long—especially when raw materials are delayed or shipping is held up by the brutal logistics of illegal military occupation.

We know that’s not convenient. But we also know that’s real.

You came to Handmade Palestine because you wanted something more than convenience. You wanted connection. You wanted fairness. You wanted to support people, not algorithms.

Ethics Are a Two-Way Street

Just as you, our customers, work hard to make ethical choices, we hold ourselves to that same standard. And sometimes, we fall short—but when we do, we listen and we grow.

Recently, a customer contacted us to let us know that the shipping supply company we had been using—Uline—has deeply problematic ties. Their owners have made significant donations to causes and politicians that are in direct opposition to the values we hold dear.

We’re so grateful that this customer reached out. It sparked an important internal conversation, and we’ve since started phasing out all Uline products. We’ve switched to a local supplier whose values align more closely with our own.

This is what ethical community looks like: conversation, accountability, and action.

Boycott Is a Tool for Justice

Being an ethical consumer isn’t always easy, but it is powerful. The most important tool we have to shape a better, more just world is where we spend our money—or choose not to spend it.

At Handmade Palestine, we believe deeply in the power of boycott. We live under horrific Occupation, and many of our artisans are women whose lives are directly impacted by the economic policies and political powers we, together, resist. Every purchase here is part of a broader movement. You’re not just buying a product—you’re backing a principle.

A Small Note on Shipping Delays

Our fulfilment manager is currently on a well-deserved annual leave. That means any new orders placed on handmadepalestine.com will ship after July 1st. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Thank you for standing with us—for asking the hard questions, for making intentional choices, and for building a more ethical world one thoughtful purchase at a time.

With love and solidarity,
The Handmade Palestine Team