The Story We Tell Through the Things We Buy | EP 194: LaToya Tucciarone, Founder + CEO, SustainAble Home Goods

Have you ever thought about the story you are telling with the things you bring into your home? Have you ever thought about what your décor style says about you? I love seeing how different people’s home décor or personal style says so much about their personality, culture, history, where they’ve traveled, and what they hold near and dear to them. My guest today has combined her passion for travel, culture, and fair trade into a thriving business that is helping others tell their stories in a beautiful way. Latoya Tucciarone is the founder and owner of Sustainable Home Goods. Latoya started Sustainable Home Goods in 2017 because she truly believes that one of the best ways to end world poverty is through trade, not aid. Prior to starting Sustainable, she worked for fair-trade jewelry company, Noonday Collection (which is no stranger to this podcast)! During her time with Noonday, Latoya noticed a rise in ethical shopping for jewelry and clothing, but very few fair-trade options for the home. She saw a niche and she wanted to fill it. Sustainable Home Goods can be found online and at Ponce City Market in Atlanta, GA. Latoya graduated from Elon University (just down the road from me!), started a successful photography business, and has traveled all over the world. She’s also raising four amazing kids with her husband Andrew. I loved this conversation with Latoya. We could have talked all day. Sit back, relax, and join me for this great conversation!

3:52 - The Latoya 101

• Latoya and her husband are beautifully busy in Atlanta, GA with their four children, ages 4, 7, 10, and 11. Latoya grew up in southern California, which fostered her love of being connected to people from all different cultures.
• In college Latoya had a chance to study abroad and live in South Africa for a month. That’s when she first fell in love with people groups and really realized her love for the world and for traveling. Between Latoya’s travel and her husband Andrew’s travel for his production company, the two have seen more than 50 countries!
• Her experiences traveling also grew her heart for recognizing the need to engage vulnerable communities through fair trade in a sustainable way. That means collaborating with them through trade, not just charity.
• Latoya’s family facilitated cultural experiences without leaving the house, whether through music available for the kids to listen to, or art prominently displayed throughout the house. 

8:30 – Trade Not Aid

• Populations that are already vulnerable are even more so during a crisis like the one we’re in now with the global Coronavirus pandemic. There are so many systemic issues that still have to change to protect vulnerable communities when things are good!   
• Latoya and Andrew took their kids to Guatemala last July so that they could meet the artisans and understand the process, love, and tradition that goes into handmade items. The kids don’t think of the artisans as receiving charity, they see them as talented partners. 

Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. -Leila Janah

• Latoya’s focus is to find talented people and partner with them so that there is an opportunity for their unique, handcrafted work to be seen, celebrated, and purchased! Sustainable Home Goods works hard to create a story-driven experience to show people how each piece was made.
• Pieces can be even more treasured knowing that people have the honor of bringing a unique, special item into their home.

21:56 - Between Two Tensions

• Latoya credits her experience with Noonday Collection as the first time she really understood how business can be used for good.
• She loved working with jewelry and Noonday Collection, but she was drawn to home décor and creating a warm and inviting space and filling homes for stories. When she surveyed