Lauren Conrad's collaboration leads in fashion ethical standards

The Little Market, a concept shop with an inventory of ethnically-made materials, has become a leader in sustainability as an online retailer based in Los Angeles. Its founders, Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla, worked together to create a slow and steady project which will create long-lasting growth for various countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Guatemala, Nepal, India, and Bolivia.

The e-marketplace, established in 2014, sells handmade goods from 23 different artisan groups internationally. Conrad and Skvarla personally traveled to this countries, worked with the entrepreneurs themselves, and spent time to bring this project to life. “Shortly after we met, we began traveling, and every time we took a trip we would find beautiful items we wanted to take back to our friends,” Skvarla told the L.A. times. The duo visited local markets throughout the countries to find various rural women who work on these crafts and bring a personal story to each of their items.

Lauren Conrad’s latest project promotes social responsibility

The Little Market employs over 10,000 artisans globally. Picking one-of-a-kind pieces for the company that are cost efficient and ethnically made allow the company to maintain its unique ambience. The duo ensures that the women who makes these items are benefiting from the project through sourcing all of their products ethnically. “I don’t even know who many women have invited us into their homes; it’s amazing to see, and it’s different every time…” Lauren Conrad told the L.A. times.

Their passion project led to this socially responsible retailer accessing artisan groups span across 16 countries. Through the last year, growth in the company has allowed the groups to hire more artisans which has resulted in all aspects of the business moving forward.