Get to know these stellar sellers, and add their art, fashions, and furnishings to your regular shopping rotation.
Around here, there’s no rush quite like the excitement of discovering a brand-new-to-you, drop-what-you’re-doing and tell-all-your-friends type of Etsy shop to add to your list of go-tos. Golden sunburst bolo ties, crocheted rainbow triangle tops, beaded berry necklaces: Whatever it is that sets your eyes a-sparkle, there’s only one thing that makes the thrill of finding good sources for all your special somethings more satisfying: knowing the backstories of the real people who created them, and proudly supporting them with every purchase.
That’s why today, in celebration of Pride Month, we’re honored to not only share the highly desirable designs of 11 immeasurably talented LGBTQIA+ sellers, but to hear in their own words what their work means to them—whether it's a powerful declaration of self or an expression of joy and passion. Whether you’re looking for luminous lighting, vibrant visual art, vintage fashions, or Pride-themed jewelry, read on to discover the artistic inspiration behind these standout shops and their one-of-a-kind wares. Then, be sure to add these shops to your favorites, so you can follow along with their creative journeys and come back often to take home more prized pieces from their collections.
1. Vivid paper quilts and collage kits from Marcos Román Art
Shop art and collage kits from Marcos Román Art
From vibrant holographic stickers to neon-flecked, quilt-inspired prints and original paintings on paper, each eye-catching artwork in Marcos Román’s prismatic paperie is a reflection of the artist’s lived experience, all pieced together into something singular. “My work explores joy, queerness, imaginary worlds, and my Puerto Rican heritage,” the multidisciplinary maker explains. Through an exploratory pastiche of mediums and techniques, Marcos produces a highly expressive line of paper products, perfect for decorating everything from walls to water bottles. But the current star of this Kansas City-based shop is hands-down his line of creativity-sparking collage kits. “They’re filled with a fun variety of pre-cut papers to help you create an original work of art,” Marcos says. Available in three sizes, each package includes a mix of colorful cutouts, unusual ephemera, and other miscellaneous snippets just awaiting your personal vision.
2. Delightful DIYs from Junebug & Darlin
Shop cross-stitch patterns and kits from Junebug & Darlin
Mission-oriented maker Zoë Frost is putting a modern twist on traditional cross stitch with her subversively playful line of patterns and kits in her shop Junebug & Darlin, which aim to make the craft more inclusive for a broader audience. “I knew from the start that staying true to myself was key,” says Zoë. “As a queer femme, I wanted my work to reflect my identity and the diverse communities I’m a part of.” By providing all the necessary supplies to make their own heirloom-quality projects from floss to frame, Zoë’s kits empower her customers to express themselves through needle and thread. Featuring a range of themes, including seasonal birds and botanicals, Zodiac constellations, and a mix of sassy sayings, each kit encourages crafters of all backgrounds create something uniquely their own and put it proudly on display, whether they’re stitching for fun, self-care, or to make a statement.
3. Luminous lighting from Matt Alford Studio
Shop light fixtures and hardware from Matt Alford Studio
Years ago, after a tough breakup, Matt Alford’s best friend taught him how properly lighting his home could flood him with some much-needed good vibes—a life-changing feeling that he immediately knew he wanted to pay forward. Inspired, Matt developed a line of ambiance-altering aged brass sconces, flush mounts, ceiling pendants, and table lamps full of warm, handcrafted character. “In a mass-produced world, that's the stuff that I'm personally hungry for,” he explains. In this spirit, Matt gives each fixture hand-finished touches, like unlacquered patinas. The result is a heirloom-quality lighting collection designed to not only brighten a room, but to recharge the soul. “I just want to spend my days building beautiful things for nice people,” Matt explains. “I hope my lights might help lift their spirits, and help them fall in love with their homes. It is a simple idea, but a powerful one.”
4. Eye-popping art prints from Kate Segal Shop
Shop art prints from Kate Segal Shop
With her signature color-saturated style, digital illustrator Kate Segal makes mood-boosting art that highlights the vibrancy of natural forms, be it a swarm of elegant, iridescent jellyfish, blobs of glowing blue and green sea urchins, piles of neon pink mushrooms, or the figures of freely dancing women. “As a curvy, female, queer, small business owner, I strive to create pieces depicting the beauty in all types of bodies, plants, and shapes,” Kate explains. By combining bright hues and emphasizing a female point-of-view, Kate hopes her art prints spread joy, happiness, and peace to all who view them. Her bold aesthetic pays homage to the abstract artists she grew up admiring in Manhattan’s museums. And, to this day, the born-and-raised New Yorker takes her creative practice to all her favorite places about the city, from the quiet of her living room to Central Park to queer-friendly cafes.
5. Boundary-pushing brass jewelry from Lord Violet
Shop brass jewelry and bolo tie necklaces from Lord Violet
Frustrated by the challenge of finding high-quality handmade jewelry that reflected her point-of-view as an alternative femme, Canadian jeweler Nicola Dawn set to work designing subversive statement pieces with a glamorous edge for her shop, Lord Violet. “I created my line to empower those seeking visibility,” Nicola says. “My designs explore the expression of femininity within a queer identity.” Crafted from an eclectic assemblage of brass and upcycled leather, velvet, and mesh, each bolo tie necklace, choker collar, drop earring, and spiked lariat communicates a darkly provocative aesthetic with distinct counter-cultural influences, from nods to body modification to the DIY ethics of punk movements. “Fashion is important for the visibility of LGBTQ2s+ orientations,” Nicola explains. “It offers self-confidence and helps us find our community.”
6. Retro razzle dazzle from Mantis Lady Vintage
Shop vintage fashions from Mantis Lady Vintage
“I believe that garments have no gender, and I think that’s especially true for vintage clothing,” says Ohio-based vintage retailer Edward Cantwell, owner of Mantis Lady Vintage. His curated line of fashions from the past transcends decades and sartorial traditions, and focuses instead on character and flair. Highlights of the collection include psychedelic patterns and silhouettes from the 60s and 70s* (think balloon sleeves, flower power prints, and paisley galore), with dramatic sets, coats, and dresses often stealing the show. “There’s something so charming in knowing these garments have lived an entire life before me,” Edward says of his storied selection. “Our relationship with clothing is so personal.” To make sure his shop is a welcoming space for all, Edward models each kaftan, romper, and flared palazzo pant himself—a reminder to customers that vintage is for every body, and always looks fabulous paired with confidence.
7. Radiant crocheted fashions from Indie Child
Shop crocheted clothing and accessories from Indie Child
Brimming with bright hues and fun shapes, Sarah Wakeham’s UK-based knitwear label Indie Child is a dreamy destination for anyone searching for quirky handmade clothing and accessories full of youthful energy and Y2K styles. Inspired by kidcore, fairycore, and Japanese street fashions, Sarah has put her own fresh take on the quintessentially cozy art form, slow-crafting a popular line of bold and size-inclusive crochet wearables that includes everything from plush mushroom earrings and supersized flower scrunchies to cherry vests and heart-shaped backpacks. “I wanted to make a brand that has explosions of color and kitsch, but something that people would actually want to wear that couldn’t be found on the high-street,” Sarah explains. “My work is also influenced by queer fashion,” she adds, noting the pride flags crocheted throughout her designs. “I take part in craftivism and love to make items that make a statement about topics that are important to me.”
8. Joyful beaded jewelry from Starflower Stitches
Shop beaded jewelry from Starflower Stitches
Each intricately hand-beaded berry, blossom, and butterfly in jeweler Jenn Congdon’s Starflower Stitches collection is like a dainty dose of dopamine. Just throw on a set of dangly 3D cherry earrings and you’ll see what we mean. Inspired by the inherent charm of nature and its delicious bounty, Jenn’s line of handcrafted necklaces and earrings adds a juicy drop of playfulness to your everyday outfit. “With my jewelry, I want to promote self-expression and encourage people to incorporate fun and whimsy into their style,” the New York-based maker says. Whether your aesthetic skews more tropical vacation (try the kiwi earrings) or farm-fresh (pick the corn cobs), Jenn’s shop offers a piece of wearable flair for every taste and occasion. Our current favorite? Her peppy paperclip charm necklace adorned with peach pearls, pink florals, and itsy-bitsy bees.
9. Feel-good furnishings from Object Lover
Shop planters, tables, and trinkets from Object Lover Studio photography by Marshall Tidrick.
Creating a home is all about carving out a space where you’re free to be your fullest self—and that’s exactly the goal if you ask Asher Ford, owner of Object Lover, about her imaginative line of 3D-printed home decor. “I want to make pieces people buy for themselves, to feel small sparks of comfort or joy, that remind them of their own style and their own happiness,” the Texas-based trans artist says. Filled with curvy, two-toned side tables, radiant rippled planters, and handy catchall trays, her eclectic collection of homewares encourages us all to embrace our vibrant side, whatever shape that may take. Even better? Asher’s endeavor to offer elevated pieces within an attainable price range. “I think great design should be accessible to everybody,” she explains. “I spend a lot of time thinking about the everyday objects that people use and own, and I ask myself, what do people need? How can I make it for them? And how can I make it affordable?”
For more about Object Lover, read Colorful Home Accents to Brighten Your Everyday.
10. Pride-ready earrings from YesSquare
Shop crocheted earrings from YesSquare
Self-taught crocheter Nicole Hayes first learned the craft in August 2020 by watching online videos. Now, her love of crochet melds with her drive to embrace intersectionality in her Connecticut-based crocheted jewelry shop, YesQuare, as well as at New England craft fairs throughout the year. “As someone who identifies as a Black lesbian,” Nicole says, “I believe representation is important and that’s why many of my pieces are inspired by colors from the LGBTQIA+ and Black diasporic flags.” Whether you’re prepping for a parade or looking to add a pop of flair to your everyday get-ups, check out Nicole’s Pride collection for true-to-you earrings. “The YesQuare shop is a space that embraces intersectional identities,” she says, “and most of my jewelry can be personalized.” For a tropical vacation-ready accessory, opt for the dangly pineapple earrings or the sunny yellow boho hoops (which, as a bonus, also transition seamlessly into autumn styles). Or, to show your sweetheart how much you care, pick up the adorable heart-shaped stud earrings.
11. Cheerful greeting cards and gifts from Badger & Burke
Shop gifts and home goods from Badger & Burke. Portrait by by Shannon Elmitt.
For designing duo Jamie Armstrong and Holton Brock, it is all about sunshine and rainbows, thank you very much—and puppies and cowboy cats, too! Since launching Badger & Burke’s line of greeting cards and giftables in 2017, the Vancouver-based partners in papercraft (and life!) have made it their goal to spread joy through pops of color, striking cutout patterns, and a through line of witty humor. “We love dumb jokes and irreverence and a healthy dose of camp,” Jamie says. Whether it’s a snitty kitty tea towel, “gay agenda” notepad, or “no idea what I’m doing” notebook, Jamie and Holton’s hand-illustrated creations infuse personality and whimsy into otherwise ordinary everyday home goods. Their number one rule to design by? Make people feel good. “We love our rainbow motif,” Holton says, “not only because it’s classic queer iconography, but because rainbows are truly full of so much joy—queer or otherwise!”
For more about Badger & Burke, read Enliven Every Day With Colorful Homewares and Accessories.
Photos courtesy of the sellers, unless otherwise noted.
*Etsy does not evaluate vintage items’ condition and authenticity. Descriptions of the environmental attributes of any items on Etsy are based solely on seller’s listing information.
