5 top-selling sustainable products from The Homebodies, according to the founder
Jules Acree talks mindful swaps for a clean home
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Jules Acree
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When it comes to living more sustainably, “you take what sticks and slowly integrate it,” says Jules Acree. As a certified yoga and mindfulness teacher, wellness writer, and Asian-American owner of online sustainable shop The Homebodies, Acree should know.
A burgeoning entrepreneur, Acree founded The Homebodies right before the COVID-19 pandemic began in the U.S.
“I was craving something physical and grounding that I could hold,” she explains.
Her idea for building an e-commerce site stocked with sustainable goods made in small batches by mindful individuals and companies was actually deeply personal. Making a morning matcha is a staple in her routine, and she found inspiration for her first product when she was gifted her Korean grandmother’s tea bowl.
Acree explains, “I wanted to create a modern version of the matcha bowl that could be used every day, instead of my family heirloom.”
She partnered with Long Acre Ceramics from Austin, Texas—a local maker to Acree, who also lives in Austin—to create The Homebodies’ spouted matcha bowl and mug to launch the shop. It’s wildly popular and sells out often.
Her “simplify and thrive” mindset has helped consumers, myself included, clear out the clutter in the home. Acree’s message is that living sustainably “is a journey, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the information out there.”
Your kitchen and bathroom are good places to reduce single-use plastic.
With over seven years of experience, Acree puts sustainable living in perspective. “It’s a very slow process. You don’t have to replace everything immediately and throw out the things that you haven’t finished using.”
After all, that’s not what shopping consciously is all about, and replacing everything at once can be expensive and hard to commit to.
“I think people connect to The Homebodies because they connect to me and how I approach a sustainable lifestyle,” she says.
In honor of Earth Day, we sat down with Acree to talk about The Homebodies’ five top-selling products, and just why she thinks they’re so popular.
1. Spouted matcha bowl
Keep an eye out for the next matcha bowl restock.
The Homebodies focuses on a curated selection of sustainable swaps and small-batch goods from local makers, and with this grouping Acree says she likes to focus on “honing in on the small little rituals that can bring joy in everyday life that make you feel cozy.”
It’s no surprise, then, that the personal item that launched the shop remains the top seller. This handmade ceramic bowl grounds and simplifies the matcha ritual. The bowl itself is a beautiful homage to the ancient ritual of making matcha, and you can also shop the matching mug.
Plus, you will save money in the long run since you’re making your drink at home waste-free, instead of buying a matcha drink every day. Acree mentions that the bowl sells out in minutes each time it’s restocked, so keep an eye out if you want one!
Get the Spouted Matcha Bowl for $38
2. No Tox Life dish block
Give solid dish soap a chance.
The Homebodies has items for your kitchen, beauty routine, and even some for your plants. Acree says, “My platform is all about helping simplify things to feel good in their homes, in their space, and in their day-to-day life. These are the products I sell.”
In my own home, I recently tried a block of solid dish soap, and I loved how sudsy and residue-free it is. The No Tox Life large dish block is a plastic-free, phosphate-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, cruelty-free, biodegradable, zero-waste and vegan alternative to your usual plastic dish soap bottles.
A mother-daughter team also based in Austin makes the soap in small batches.
Try the Bamboo Soap Shelf for effective storage by your sink.
Get the Bamboo Soap Shelf for $10
3. Natural loofahs
Replace your synthetic loofah with a compostable version.
Acree exclaims, “Loofahs are the coolest things. I didn’t realize they are a gourd—something you can grow—until I visited a local farm.”
She ended up taking some seeds home and is hoping to home grow loofahs to stock in the shop once they’re ready, which sounds pretty awesome. As of now, the loofahs on her site are sourced from a single Mayan family farm in Guatemala.
A natural loofah can be used in place of a synthetic loofah or washcloth in the bath and shower. They’re a “great swap for anyone to make, and after 4-5 weeks you can just pop it in the compost bin” to break down.
**Get the Natural Loofah 3-pack for $10
4. Magic Linen tea towels
Linen is a great texture, especially in the kitchen.
Acree recommends shopping your own home before you go on a shopping spree to replace items. She says, “One of the easiest ways to reduce waste is just by uncovering what you have, rather than letting it pile up and letting it get lost in the back.”
“Linen is one of the most sustainable materials out there,” she says. Check your kitchen closet or drawers and see if you already have some on hand. If not, The Homebodies stocks Magic Linen linen tea towels that work really well to clean and dry dishes. Linen oven mitts and the linen crossback apron are also great swaps for a cohesive kitchen look.
And, says Acree, “when you throw linen in the washing machine it comes out perfect with a natural crinkle to it that looks so lovely.”
Get the Magic Linen Tea Towel for $11
Get the Magic Linen Oven Mitt for $20
Get the Magic Linen Crossback Apron for $52
5. Casa Agave bamboo dish brush
I love my bamboo dish brush.
One of the most easy-to-do kitchen swaps is a bamboo dish brush. It’s prettier and more sanitary than plastic alternatives, and it works better than a synthetic sponge. It’s a sensible switch to make without sacrificing efficacy.
Acree asks, “why not go with something that can be composted at the end of its life?”
You can buy replacement heads for the Casa Agave bamboo dish brush to make it last even longer.
The smaller No Tox Life hand brush is great to have in the kitchen for cleaning produce, scrubbing tougher dish stains, and even cleaning the sink itself.
Get the Casa Agave Bamboo Dish Brush for $9 Get the No Tox Life Bamboo Hand Brush for $7
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