About Us

ABOUT US

Tuft the World began in 2018, not long after fiber artist Tim Eads purchased his first cut-pile machine and discovered the wildly satisfying pastime of at-home rug making. Since then, Tuft the World has grown from a home-based  side-hustle into a full fledged West Philadelphia business with more than a dozen employees. Our mission is simple: to provide our customers with the high-quality tools, materials, and instruction they need to make their own incredible tufted projects while staying true to our values. 

We believe in people, community, and the health of our planet over profit. We’re committed to building a workplace ecosystem where our team can thrive, and in supporting and connecting a larger community of makers. We believe that creative thinking is the seed of growth, and that everyone is innately creative. It’s our hope that tufting might awaken that spirit in both the most confident artist, and the person who never thought they could make anything. 

SUSTAINABILITY and GIVING BACK 

While we’re all too aware of the damage that manufacturing, and specifically fiber production, has historically done to our planet, we strive to make environmentally conscious choices whenever possible. Some of these are obvious: our Reflect yarn lines, for example, are made with sustainable and recycled materials, and dyed here in the U.S. to lessen our fossil fuel footprint. Behind the scenes, we do everything we can to avoid plastic consumption in our warehouse. Last year we invested in a cardboard perforator in order to recycle our own waste into packing fill for our products. And from materials to office supplies to the food we eat at meetings, we do our best to support small businesses that align with our ethos. 

Tuft the World’s latest initiative in sustainability and giving back is a stronger commitment to charitable giving. As of February 2021, 1% of every web shop sale is donated to a non-profit organization, beginning with several here in West Philadelphia. A new feature on our website allows customers to participate in a “round up” at check-out, in support of an organization of their choice from a rotating list. And our team is working toward greater direct engagement with local charitable organizations in and around Philadelphia by taking on a new, staff-led giving project every six weeks. These have included donations to a local arts organization for persons with intellectual differences, fundraising for a local LGBTQIA advocacy organization, and a book drive for incarcerated persons. Learn more about this initiative, and these important organizations, here.