Hanging Sponge

A father-daughter trip across Spain in 2012, meant to be an 800km walk to Santiago de Compostela, was cut short by illness and turned into a wider journey through unexpected places. That trip sparked the idea of connecting with artisans abroad and building ethically made products that help others while creating something meaningful. This led to partnerships with artisans in Morocco, Peru, and China, and eventually eight more countries, plus an online store launched in 2013 to bring the mission to life.

Over the next decade, the business grew from an online shop into a full retail and manufacturing presence in Ontario, opening a Niagara-on-the-Lake boutique in 2017, expanding into argan oil products, workshops, and a zero-waste refill centre, and earning Living Wage Champion certification in 2019. Continued growth brought a larger Niagara-on-the-Lake storefront in 2021, a second location and manufacturing studio in Thorold in 2023, and a third store in Crystal Beach in 2024, with more expansion still ahead.