The nature of today’s home goods industry makes it easy to forget that many home decor items, from stuffed animals to holiday decorations, are made by people, and those people are often exploited for their labor. But Blossom Inspirations CEO Rosa Chang Claro wants to give Chicagoans a more ethical choice for their homes. Her company offers home products that she says respect not only the people who make them, but also the Peruvian and Mexican cultures that inspire them.

Blossom Inspiration is a member of the nonprofit Chicago Fair Trade and shares its mission “to reduce poverty around the world, promoting diversity, inclusion, an eco-friendly planet, empowering women, and offering fair wage for the artisans,” Chang Claro said.

Chang Claro is also the author of a bilingual children’s book, “Cuyita Wants to Know the World.” She drew inspiration for the book from her own Peruvian heritage and time living in Mexico, as well as efforts to raise her children in a bilingual household.

“The idea was to help our kids continue in the languages of Spanish and English,” said Chang Claro. “Every night we read to our kids in English and Spanish.”

The book, which tells the story of a guinea pig who wants to learn about different cultures, comes with a handmade fur guinea pig toy made by Peruvian artisans. Chang Claro says the proceeds from book sales will support the artisans whose sales are suffering due to the pandemic.