Recommend me stores known for quality goods

• Partner & I have decided to vote with our dollar by only purchasing quality long-lasting goods, or going without. We will pay more if the quality is clearly there. Rather than waste time driving from store to store, only to find junk, I'm looking for stores known for quality items. Difficulty Level: Sisyphean... Nothing made in China. That's a strict requirement. Also items ought to have a modicum of style. Partner & I went to http://www.crateandbarrel.ca/ for the first time the other day looking at dishes and were pleased with the design & quality of the goods. Prices were a little high but with some digging we could find a nice deal. What other stores would you recommend? Items can't be made in China (his strict requirement). We're looking for quality goods - quality of materials, construction and hopefully quality manufacturing practices (labour laws). We're ok with paying somewhat more for quality. We don't have money to burn, so the quality/price tradeoff has to be there. No $1500 Prada bags for me, sadly... We are looking for - kitchen items (plates, glasses, mugs, bowls, baking items, spatulas omg my kingdom for a not made in China spatula) - clothes (mostly men's) and shoes (mens & womens) - household furniture (end tables, book cases, chairs) - bathroom bits - anything else you think of (belts, wallets, bed sheets, you name it) Not looking for single items but entire stores where we could browse and have at least 50% not made in China hit rate. Example stores we've been to: - Crate & Barrel: high quality goods made in Portugal, France, Spain & Italy, Indonesia, Thailand. To get a good price you have to wait for a sale but it is possible. - Whole Foods: overpriced yuppie goods generally available elsewhere but every now & then there is something worth its price - Ikea: is our version of the 'dollar store'; quality is not there but at least there's a chance it's not made in China - H&M: quality not great but often has clothes not made in China - Pier 1: quality is NOT there however some of their goods are made in Thailand or Indonesia. - The Brick: shit quality; I will never go back. - Home Sense, Home Outfitters, Target: not a good hit rate for not made in China. <<10% Not worth the drive. I do buy some stuff locally (pottery by local artists). I'm wary of etsy because of quality construction. Plus I'd prefer to shop in person. We're in Toronto, but visit the US semi-regularly, and Europe around once a year (where we fill our boots so to speak). Help me turn "oh honey we don't have X" into a simple shopping experience! What stores have you come across that have a higher hit-rate for quality goods? Or non-China goods? Quality-loving Me-fites, where do you shop?

• Answer:

  I know you prefer brick-and-mortar, but I love browsing through http://kaufmann-mercantile.com/'s website and they occasionally do pop-up stores in NYC.