Just a simple mug.

What Ethical Travel Taught Me About Slowing Down (and Why It Still Shapes My Work Today)

Last September, I traveled to Ethiopia to visit our artisan partners, an experience that continues to shape how I think about ethical manufacturing, leadership, and sustainability.

One of the most impactful parts of the trip wasn’t found inside a workshop or supply chain conversation, it was found in the quiet, intentional coffee rituals woven into everyday life.

In Ethiopia, coffee is not rushed. It’s connective. It’s a shared pause that invites presence, conversation, and alignment before the day begins.

When I returned home, I brought that rhythm with me.

For a season, I woke up early & recreated my own version of that ritual of sitting quietly, savoring my coffee, was a way to start the day grounded rather than reactive. It felt like an anchor in a fast-moving world.

Then life changed.

I’m a parent to a daughter with Down syndrome & during this season we’ve been navigating disrupted sleep as she continues working on impulse control. Anyone parenting through additional support needs knows how quickly personal rhythms can disappear.

Slow mornings were no longer possible.

Recently, a small moment helped me reclaim something I thought I had lost. I bought a handmade mug from one of my favorite ethical boutiques, Mango + Main.  Now I make coffee in my studio & drink it slowly from start to finish, staring out the window before the day begins.

It’s a small practice, but it has become a lifeline.

Why This Matters for Ethical Manufacturing

This experience has reminded me that sustainability is about far more than ethical sourcing or fair wages (though those matter deeply). True sustainability also includes pace, care, and human-centered design both in business and in life.

When we talk about ethical manufacturing, we’re really talking about systems that honor people:

• Artisans
• Business owners
• Families
• Communities

Travel plays a powerful role in this understanding.

Visiting Ethiopia didn’t just educate me, it reshaped my internal rhythms. It reminded me that thoughtful, sustainable work is built slowly, intentionally & in relationship.

Bringing These Rhythms Forward

As I prepare to return to Ethiopia February 2027 & invite others to experience this culture firsthand, I’m struck by how rare it is to give ourselves something meaningful to look forward to. Something that expands us rather than exhausts us!

Ethical travel has a way of doing that. It doesn’t just change how we see the world it, changes how we come home.

And sometimes, it starts with something as simple as a cup of coffee.

If you're interested in learning more about next Spring's trip, you can find details here.