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[title]Although it’s hard to ignore the siren song of fast fashion, we’ve always been champions of indie designers and their artisan wares. So we were thrilled to discover Zady, an ethically minded e-commerce site that informs its customers exactly where their products come from, down to the raw materials. Cofounders Maxine Bédat and Soraya Darabi handpick the men’s and women’s clothing ($38–$625), accessories ($30–$330) and home decor ($5–$83) from around the globe, ensuring each item meets at least one of five criteria: It’s locally sourced, handmade, high-quality, environmentally conscious or domestically produced. The Chelsea company, which launched in August, largely highlights lesser-known talents—many of whom are based in NYC. Goods from hometown labels include Lower East Side jeweler Brandy Pham’s dainty gold, rose-gold and brass baubles ($75–$90); wax-nylon bracelets ($75–$98) from Williamsburg accessory brand Scosha; and Piet Houtenbos’s gilded oil lamps ($83), created in his Long Island City studio. Out of Soho, look for Etiquette Clothiers’ made-in-Italy cotton socks ($22–$30) and Mischa Lampert’s New Zealand–wool hats ($187–$287). Five percent of proceeds from every sale will benefit the Bootstrap Project (thebootstrapproject.com), Bédat’s nonprofit that provides artisans in developing countries with a platform to sell their creations. zady.com
Follow Cristina Velocci on Twitter: @cvelocci