What is Etsy?

A Unique Shopping Website for Handmade Gifts, Apparel & Accessories

© Rosalie Ferguson

Apr 12, 2009
Call it an Ebay for artisans. Etsy.com is an online community of designers creating and selling everything from purses and pillowcases to shoes and children's clothes.

There are some running themes in the fashion trends for this spring: unique, retro-inspired, and one-of-a-kind. Online marketplace Etsy.com is the perfect destination for shoppers looking for pieces that inject some originality into their wardrobe or home decor. With its motto of "Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade" the Etsy website is dedicated to connecting artists and designers who create fabulous things with the people who want to buy them.

Clothing & Accessories on Etsy

Find all the spring trends on Etsy, like '60s-style summer shift dresses, Grecian-goddess headbands or distressed denim skirts and jackets. There are endless options including several sellers featuring vintage pieces like '70s sunglasses and '80s slouchy totes. One of the advantages of buying handmade is that several of the designers will custom make to measurements.

Gifts & Home Decor on Etsy

Shopping for a gift and dead bored of the usual mall offerings? Or looking to add a splash of colour to your home without spending a fortune? Etsy is a great place to look for a special gift or a piece to freshen your home decor. From pillows that resemble works of art to customized vinyl wall decals, there are handmade and original choices to suit every taste.

Wedding Accessories on Etsy

Busy brides-to-be looking for something different will love all the options in Etsy's Wedding section. This section is bursting with gorgeous pieces like garters trimmed with Venice wedding lace, beach wedding flip-flops adorned with white silk and organza ribbon, and monogrammed peacock feather wedding invites. There are dozens of handmade and vintage wedding dresses and even eco-friendly designs.

How Do I Shop on Etsy?

The alphabetized category list on the left side of the Etsy home page is an easy way to navigate the more than 100,000 sellers on the site. Feeling adventurous? Scroll down a little further and under the listed categories are the Explore tools, which offer shoppers fun and creative browsing options such as the following:

  • Colour: Click on the Colours tool to shop by colour, and the screen bubbles up with a beautiful range of hues. Pick the one you fancy and items for sale on the site that match will pop up.
  • Pounce: This feature lists the "discovered" finds- the hottest items that have just sold and are still available from the same shop.
  • Time Machine 2: Sorts by items that have just been listed, or are about to expire.
  • Shop Local: Looking to support a local vendor? This feature searches by shops in your area.

Check out Etsy.com for a fun and organic way to shop that supports artisans creating beautiful things from scratch!


The copyright of the article What is Etsy? in Women’s Fashion is owned by Rosalie Ferguson. Permission to republish What is Etsy? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.




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