Shop ethical: How to choose authentic wind chimes and sound healing instruments
Do you want to make more conscious choices about the products you buy? Shopping ethically means supporting fair wages, sustainable materials, and skilled artisans.
When it comes to wind chimes and sound healing instruments, it’s also about preserving long-held traditions by investing in beautifully made products that stand the test of time. Unfortunately, we’ve noticed more and more online marketplaces selling copies of the authentic wind chimes and sound healing instruments we support at Wind Chimes Australia.
While knockoff wind chimes and sound healing instruments may seem like a bargain, they’re often poorly made, which means they lack the melodic tones and quality of genuine, handcrafted instruments. Worse, many are made using unethical labour practices and unsustainable materials.
In this guide, we’ll explore the risks of buying knockoff wind chimes and sound healing instruments, the impact of supporting artisans, and how to tell genuine products from copies.
The risks of buying imitation products
Copies don’t just undermine the work of the artisans and workshops making genuine products, they also leave you with inferior instruments that lack the beauty, sound, and longevity of the real thing.Why? Knockoffs often use low-quality materials, resulting in dull, lifeless tones instead of the mesmerising harmonies we associate with authentic wind chimes or the rich, resonant tones of genuine sound healing instruments.
Take Koshi chimes, for example. Made in an artisan workshop at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains of France, these bamboo chimes are meticulously crafted in accordance with the golden ratio. Their aesthetically-pleasing proportions are responsible for their signature, balanced sound.
Authentic Tibetan singing bowls, meanwhile, are carefully hand-hammered from bell-metal brass to produce the deep, long-lasting resonance, which mass-produced singing bowls simply can’t replicate. The subpar sound that results from the low-quality metals used in machine-made bowls also makes them less effective for sound healing. Buying genuine Tibetan singing bowls also supports Tibetan communities.
Beyond poor sound, imitation and mass made products are often made from unsustainable, cheap materials, which mean they break easily, unlike authentic products which are built to last a lifetime. Worse still, many are produced in poor working conditions and harm the environment by contributing to pollution and waste.
Moreover, purchasing mass-produced products comes at the expense of small, independent makers. Once small-scale producers are pushed out, our range of options dwindles and prices will increase. It’s a cycle that ultimately doesn’t serve anyone.
Why supporting artisan workshops matters
Many of our wind chimes and sound healing instruments are crafted using time-honoured techniques passed down for generations. Here are just a few examples:- Cast iron Japanese wind bells (Furin) – Handmade in Iwate, Japan, where skilled artisans uphold centuries-old traditions. Using the Nambu tekki technique, they pour molten iron into intricate moulds and fire them over charcoal to create their rich, resonant sound.
- Capiz shell wind chimes – Their translucent shells are sustainably harvested, shaped, and coloured by fishers-turned-artisans in Java, before being assembled in a fair-trade workshop in Bali.
- Paiste gongs – Handcrafted Germany since 1906, each gong is meticulously shaped and tuned to perfection. Today, they remain among the highest-quality gongs in the world.
When you choose to shop ethically, you’re directly funding the craftsmanship of skilled artisans, rather than the poor labour and environmental practices of mass-production factories.
7 ways to spot authentic wind chimes & sound healing instruments
If you want to ensure you’re buying a genuine, ethically-made product, here’s what to look for:- Research the brand’s origins: Authentic products have a clear, transparent supply chain.
- Check for handcrafted details: Handmade pieces feature subtle variations that set them apart from mass-produced items.
- Assess the materials: Look for sustainably sourced, high-quality materials.
- Listen to the sound: Genuine wind chimes and sound healing instruments are precision-tuned to create their signature sounds.
- Look for ethical sourcing: Reputable brands support fair wages and sustainable practices.
- Compare the price: If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Buy from trusted sources: Only purchase products from authorised suppliers.
Choose genuine wind chimes and sound healing instruments
Genuine wind chimes and sound healing instruments are made with care, using quality materials and traditional techniques that mass-produced knockoffs can’t replicate.At Wind Chimes Australia, we urge you not to settle for copies made from unsustainable materials and unethical labour practices. Make a conscious choice to buy authentic products and invest in wind chimes and sound healing instruments that are made to last.