Finding quality luggage at an in-between budget range isn't easy — but Away effortlessly knocks it out of the park. So often we find ourselves either splurging for the designer logo-embellished bag OR opting for the quick in-airport option that ultimately ends up as the aforementioned eyesore. Unlike designer brands, Away follows a direct-to-consumer model that cuts middle-man cost corners in order to offer minimalist yet still on-trend luggage at sensible price points. For long-term trips, shorter weekend jaunts, and everything in between, the travel-savvy site has your packing needs covered with its coveted styles like the Weekender and the Bigger Carry-On on major markdown mode.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
In previous normal times (whoever remembers what those looked like), come Labor Day Weekend we'd shift our focus to enviable swimsuits, oversized sun hats, and raffia tote bags worthy of a social media highlight. We'd spend time grilling, gathering, getting sunburnt, and maybe even (if lucky) taking boat rides. But with social distancing still underway for the foreseeable future, many of us are pivoting to sale hunting for home buys that will make our new virtual office spaces as comfy as possible for the stay-at-home season ahead.
LDW is days away and, like any shopping enthusiasts, our minds (along with our wallets) are revved and ready to cart the best deals. Since finding the most exciting virtual scores is our main objective here, we went ahead and dug up the cream-of-the-crop discounts on everything from top bedding to furniture, decor, and more. We found $200-off bestselling mattresses, price-cut Dysons, and hand-poured candles with nostalgia-infused scents, just to name a few. Spending copious amounts of time in our houses and apartments has reminded us how important it is to truly feel athome — so scroll on the nab the worthwhile essentials while they're on sale.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Bedding
Buffy
Dates: Now - September 8 Sale: $20 off orders worth $100+ Promo Code: SEEYASUMMER20
Buffy has a cult following for a reason; all their home goods elevate a living space without making the planet uncomfortable.
Dates: Now - September 6
Sale: 15% off sitewide Promo Code: None
We're sure you've already stocked up on some must-haves from Brooklinen, but the season is about to change and you'll need warmer bedding throughout fall and winter. Everything will be on sale, but one of the main items we'll be adding to cart is the classic fluffy down comforter.
urban habitat Urban Habitat Calum Comforter Set, $, available at Bed Bath and Beyond
Mattresses
Saatva
Dates: Now - September 7
Sale: $200 off purchases worth $1000+ Promo Code: None
Each mattress provides never-ending back support, lasting comfort from sustainably harvested latex, and is naturally hypoallergenic. Check out our in-depth coverage of this bestselling mattress score here.
AllModern Aliyah Task Chair, $, available at AllModern
Lulu & Georgia
Dates: Now - September 8
Sale: 25% off purchases $3000+; 20% off purchases $1500+; 15% off purchases $0-$1499
Promo Code: LABORDAY25; LABORDAY20; LABORDAY15
You'll have a plethora of options to chose from at Lulu and Georgia. Even the most expensive pieces garner some serious savings, like the Swivel Chair, for example.
Lulu and Georgia Akila Swivel Chair, $, available at Lulu and Georgia
Moonpod
Dates: September 4 - September 7
Sale: 25% off sitewide Promo Code: None
Comfort seekers, rejoice. Your work-from-home space is about to get 10x more functional, and 1000x time cozier. These zero-gravity luxe beanbag chairs mimic the sensation of Floatation Therapy, helping to reduce anxiety and stress.
Dates: Now - September 13
Sale: 10% off orders up to $1,799; $200 off orders worth $1,800+; $250 off orders worth $2,200+; $300 off orders worth $2,600+; $400 off orders worth $3,000+; $500 off orders worth $4,000+
Promo Code: LDW
Staple furniture is meant to last a lifetime (or two) and Burrow has you covered with their sectionals, loveseats, and chaise sectionals.
Sur La Table 10-Piece Nonstick Cookware, $, available at Sur La Table
Dyson
Dates: Now - Limited Time
Sale: Up to $220 off select Dyson technology; Up to 55% off select Dyson Technology Promo Code: None
We won't lie, Dyson costs a pretty penny — but if and when you can snag the top-rated and continual vacuum favorite on discount, then we highly recommend pulling that purchase trigger.
Dyson Dyson V8 Absolute vacuum cleaner, $, available at Dyson
Macy's
Dates: Now - September 7 Sale: Up to 60% off Promo Code: WKND
All hail Macy's! The mega-retailer is offering up some major discounts on a variety of homeware essentials, like this KitchenAid mixer, revamped in a pretty mint hue.
Dates: Now - September 7
Sale: 30% off sitewide Promo Code: None
From unique wall art and throw pillows, to custom phone cases and laptop covers, Society6 has got the millennial sector covered. Plus, every purchase supports an independent designer. You can't go wrong.
societ, Society6 Blue Nude Art Print, $, available at Society6
Etsy
Dates: September 4 - September 7 Sale: Starting at 20% off the comfiest, coziest, and most creative items for fall Promo Code: None
Etsy is known for its artisan-made, crafty pieces that please home decor all over the world, and that's exactly what they're providing us with this Labor Day. Stock up on plant hangers, linen napkin sets, pet portraits, and more.
Larksandleo Double Macrame Plant Hanger, $, available at Etsy
Urbanstems
Dates: Now - September 8
Sale: 20% off double bouquets Promo Code: None
There's never a wrong time to gift someone, or yourself, a fresh bouquet of flowers. But these aren't your typical flowers; Urban Stems provides plant lovers with unique blooms like delphinium, free spirit roses, and snapdragons.
First came the black squares — dark marks amidst the otherwise-colorful flow of Instagram. What was supposed to be a gesture of solidarity for Black Lives Matter became an awkward blip in the movement; more than just an aesthetic anomaly, all that emptiness flooded a hashtag normally filled by activists, making it unusable as an actual resource, taking up space from those looking to have their voices heard, replacing action steps with an empty promise, and an easy way to perform solidarity without actually doing anything much at all.
It’s not surprising, then, that within Fashion Instagram, the black square was ubiquitous. Brands, influencers, and editors aren’t necessarily known for their ability to wrestle with tough topics — and when they do so, it’s often on a superficial level. But after countless protests sparked by the unjust killings of Black men and women, an industry best known for its smoke and mirrors began to realize that real change was being demanded of them, and that it was time to participate in the revolution, or risk getting left behind. After some performative fumbles — those black squares, multiple people using that same Desmond Tutu quote, and other desperate ally missteps that stood in harsh contrast to the painful stories that Black men and women who worked within fashion shared about their experiences — the fashion industry at-large finally took stock and did something tangible, by focusing on how best to support Black-owned businesses.
According to Google Trends data, there was a 300% spike in searches for “How to find Black-owned businesses in your area” from June 1 to June 2 in the United States; searches for “Black-owned restaurants near me” also increased by 300%. Black Wallet, a Black-owned business directory, saw a 115% increase in app downloads from May 28 to June 4.
The industry responded by pointing toward e-commerce sites, shops, and pop-ups that facilitate finding and purchasing Black-owned products and pieces. In June, the 15% Pledge, created by Brother Vellies’ Aurora James, called on major retailers and publishers to pledge 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses, to align with the fact that Black people make up about 15% of the U.S. population. Sites and initiatives that launched before this year have also gotten renewed attention, like Tulsa’s Official Black Wall Street, that offers a mass directory of local Black-owned brands; Black-Owned Brooklyn, run by Cynthia Gordy Giwa and Tayo, that documents “Black Brooklyn’s people, places and products;” BLK + GRN, a site showcasing high-quality wellness brands like Golde and Hunny Bunny; and We Buy Black, an Amazon-like marketplace that curates everyday products exclusively from Black-owned brands, replacing our “default” buys from white brands.
But how can we be sure that people continue to buy from Black-owned brands in the future?
While Black businesses and brands are booming right now, sustaining this pattern in the years to come requires a massive change in habit from everyone. Though Black consumers’ buying power has reached $1.2 trillion annually, and Black people have long known to buy within our communities, sometimes whether or not we do so comes down to accessibility, affordability, and ease. Even I find myself heading to Google in search of a particular product, and thoughtlessly purchase things I need, without thinking about who and what I am supporting.
Beyond that, it’s essential to remember that it’s not up to Black people to secure the place of these brands. To effect real change, all consumers must do their part. For some non-Black shoppers, their changes in consumption came from a place of guilt. But guilt fades. What we need from non-Black shoppers is the same energy during all seasons, for long after 2020 becomes history. We need everyone committed to buying from these businesses if we’re ever to normalize Black-owned brands’ visibility, spread, promotion, and shoppability at a global scale. We need everyone to do it without someone having to die as a reason to change our spending habits.
We also need it to happen with humanity. Angry customers attacked Telfar when the brand couldn’t ship as quickly as people were suddenly spending. With that, the brand released a new slogan: “Not for you, for everybody.” To fully appreciate Black-owned brands, we must accept that they don’t have the institutional power behind them that many comparable non-Black-owned brands do. Relatedly, we must remember Black-owned brands don’t yet have the infrastructure to make mistakes, but they should be allowed them.
For real change to happen, we need the fashion community to commit to their declarations of inclusivity, and to make sure we put in just as much effort into supporting emerging labels as we do established heritage brands. For the influencers who posted one black square and then continued to fill their feeds with lattes, lavish ensembles, and vacations abroad — they, too, need to keep their foot on the gas and dedicate their platforms to highlighting Black-owned products.
This said, having been a fashion writer for years, this is the first time I’ve felt real hope that consumers are making their decisions because they support a designer and their mission. I’ve been heartened to see that Black-owned brands are finally receiving the recognition they’ve always deserved. Those I reached out to, like Carly Cushnie and Pyer Moss, have been flooded with press requests, interviews, and features across a variety of publications. Months after the first protests, they are still booked and busy.
On July 7, a one-day initiative to only purchase from Black-owned brands was launched to great effect, making it clear that such action has real impact in the industry, and shouldn’t be limited to one day. Instead, in tandem with the collective action in the streets and the understanding that activism happens outside of our pocketbooks, it’s our job as lovers and creators of fashion to ensure that Black creatives have a marketplace. In order to move forward with any respect, we must immerse ourselves in Black-owned brands with the same fervor, reverence, and intentionality we give any other collection.
Those black squares were a great starting point. But we still have a long way to go.
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