Let’s Talk Tariffs: What They Are and Why They Matter

If you've been shopping with us for a while, you may have noticed some changes lately—like missing collections or rising prices on certain items. These shifts aren’t random; they're a result of recent changes to U.S. tariff policies. Since the details on how tariffs are calculated can be murky, we wanted to offer a simple explanation.

What Are Duties and Tariffs, Anyway?

Duties are taxes charged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on imported goods. Every product imported into the U.S. is assigned a Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code, which determines the duty rate. Tariffs are a type of duty imposed on specific countries or categories. So, the government collects a fee based on what kind of item it is and where the item was made. That fee is paid by the importer, either once the goods enter the U.S. or in advance to the seller.

What Is Happening Now?

Recently, the current U.S. administration announced new tariff increases. Now, many of the products we carry are facing tariffs as high as 50%. That’s a massive shift, especially for businesses like ours that prioritize fair trade, sustainable brands, and small-batch manufacturing.

Why It Impacts This Shop (and You!)

We import the majority of our products from Europe, but many of those products are made in India—a country known for high-quality organic cotton and ethical production. With the new tariffs, it has become extremely expensive to import these goods. In some cases, it’s no longer possible for us to offer them at a price that’s fair to you or profitable for us.

Example: Baby Romper from India

Let’s assume we are importing one box of 20 organic cotton baby rompers, with a wholesale cost of $20 per piece (total invoice value: $400). Here’s how the costs might break down.

$832.40 / 20 units = $41.62 per romper. That’s more than double the original $20 wholesale cost. Let’s say we need a 2X markup to cover business costs and stay profitable: $41.62 x 2 = $83.24 retail price. This makes the item unreasonably expensive for most customers.

Why We’re Sharing This

We believe in being transparent about why some items aren’t available right now, or why we may need to scale back certain collections this season. We’re continuing to work closely with our suppliers, review pre-orders, and explore alternatives so we can keep offering beautiful, ethical clothing that fits your family and your values. If you have any questions or want to learn more about a specific brand or product, don’t hesitate to reach out. As always, we’re so grateful for your support—especially during unpredictable times like this.