The Power of Boycotts: Collective Action Against Harmful Practices

Boycotts have long been powerful tools in our communities’ struggles for justice—from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to anti-apartheid movements. Today, we continue this tradition by withholding our spending from companies that harm our people and our planet.

When we boycott brands that pollute waterways in the Global South, exploit workers in our ancestral countries, or fund military actions against our communities, we’re exercising one of our most effective forms of power. Recent movements have called out fast fashion brands using exploitative labour in Bangladesh and Pakistan, companies complicit in occupation in Palestine, or businesses destroying Indigenous lands for resource extraction. These collective actions show how our purchasing power can demand accountability.

Boycotts, paired with “buycotts”—intentionally supporting ethical alternatives—create a powerful shift. Redirecting our money towards businesses that reflect our values is not just economic—it’s revolutionary. Through social media and community organising, our boycott movements are gaining momentum and visibility, reminding the world that every purchase is a political act.

The Rise of Conscious Consumers: Reclaiming Our Power Through Ethical Shopping

In a world where environmental crises disproportionately impact our communities, we’re witnessing a powerful shift—the rise of conscious consumerism led by Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Global South communities.

Though sustainability is often portrayed as a white-led movement, the truth is our communities have always been at the forefront of environmental justice. We've lived it—because we’ve had to. And today, we’re reclaiming that legacy, using our collective power to put sustainability, equity, and cultural responsibility at the heart of what we buy.

Here are four transformative trends reshaping how we shop ethically:

1. Prioritising Sustainability and Health

For many of us, sustainability isn’t a trend—it’s rooted in ancestral wisdom. From traditional herbal remedies to textile practices that honour the land, we’ve long had systems that work in harmony with nature.

We’re now rediscovering and uplifting brands that carry this wisdom forward. Beldiya offers skincare inspired by family traditions and natural healing. Yendy Skin combines Africa’s nutrient-rich botanicals with ethical sourcing, supporting women-led cooperatives across sub-Saharan Africa. Vivid By Maryam brings cultural heritage to life through vibrant prints, gifts, and stationery—celebrating identity, nostalgia, and belonging through bold, whimsical designs rooted in her Bangladeshi heritage.

By supporting these brands, we’re not just caring for our skin or homes—we’re preserving cultural practices, uplifting communities, and protecting our planet.

2. Supporting Social Justice and Anti-Colonial Movements

For communities that have endured colonisation, exploitation, and marginalisation, ethical shopping becomes a form of resistance.

We’re choosing to support Black-owned, Indigenous-led, Palestinian, and South Asian businesses that give back to our people. Movements like “Buy Black, Owned” and “#BuyPalestinian” are not just hashtags—they’re lifelines of economic solidarity.

Brands like VELA Scarves, which offers sustainable hijabs crafted by women-led teams, and Nominal, a Palestinian jewellery brand celebrating identity and resistance, represent the kinds of businesses we want to amplify. These aren’t just purchases—they’re investments in a better world.

3. Valuing Cultural Craft and Small-Batch Production

Fast fashion and mass production have long erased cultural artisanship. But now, there’s a renaissance happening. Shoppers are actively supporting brands that protect craft, storytelling, and sustainable methods of making.

In the Ardh Shop directory, you’ll find brands like Kuvrd, offering ethical keffiyehs made in Palestine, and Spindle By Sisters, a UK-based homeware brand creating handcrafted, eco-friendly goods. They collaborate with artisans across the Global South and refugee communities—championing fair wages, preserving traditional techniques, and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

These makers remind us that ethical fashion and cultural heritage can—and must—coexist.

4. Reducing Overconsumption and Embracing Product Life Cycles

For many in our communities, reducing waste isn’t a new concept—it’s deeply embedded in cultural practices passed down through generations. From South Asian traditions of repurposing fabric to Indigenous approaches to using every part of a harvest, we’ve long understood the value of extending a product’s life.

Today, we’re bringing these ancestral practices into modern consumption patterns. We’re turning away from fast fashion and throwaway culture, instead embracing durable, high-quality items that can be repaired, reused, and shared. Many of us are revitalising traditional techniques like mending, upcycling, and community-based reuse.

We also expect brands to do their part—offering take-back schemes, repair programmes, and recycling initiatives. While companies like Patagonia have adopted these models, our communities have led the way with informal systems rooted in care and sustainability.

Reclaiming Sustainability: Environmental Justice Through Consumer Power

The environmental movement has long sidelined communities of colour, despite the fact that we often face the harshest effects of pollution, climate change, and resource extraction. But we’re reclaiming sustainability as ours—not because it’s trendy, but because it’s essential to our survival and our stories.

When we shop ethically, support community-rooted brands, boycott harmful corporations, and honour our cultural practices, we’re exercising a deeper form of sustainability—one built on justice, reciprocity, and interdependence.

True sustainability isn’t about premium “green” labels—it’s about redistributing power, preserving knowledge, and creating systems that honour people and planet alike. Our ancestors showed us how. Now we’re carrying that forward—with purpose.

Join the Movement: Ardh Shop

This is why we created Ardh Shop—a vibrant directory celebrating ethical brands from culturally diverse community makers. These voices are often left out of sustainability conversations, and we’re here to change that.

We’re not just showcasing beautifully made, responsible products—we’re uplifting a movement that centres our communities and protects the planet.

Know a brand that deserves more visibility? Tag us on social media—we’d love to hear from you!

Ready to shop with purpose? Explore our directory and join the Ardh community in building a fairer, more sustainable world—one conscious purchase at a time.