FAQ
Q: Do you take commissions/custom orders?
A: At the moment it's not possible to accomodate custom orders unfortunately. However, it may be possible to offer customised lengths for belts and straps, and we also offer personalisation on certain items. Please contact us on info@karenlouiseleather.co.uk to enquire.
Q: How do I find my belt size?
A: Please refer to the belt size chart in the belt product listing. Please don't hesitate to get in touch should you need any help with finding your size.
Q: Where are your products made?
A: All of our products are proudly made in a small studio in London, United Kingdom.
Q: Can I visit your store?
A: The studio isn't open to the public, if you would like to get a better idea if the leather before making a purchase, please contact us karen@karenlouiseleather.co.uk to request a sample of the leather.
You might also like to sign up to the newsletter to receive notifications of markets and events where you will be able to see the products in person.
Q: What materials do you use in your products?
A: We use full grain, vegetable tanned leather and solid brass hardware, many of our leathers are sourced from Consorzio Vera Pella certified tanneries in Tuscany. Advocating the use of traditional tanning methods, the consortium regulates, preserves, and guarantees the production of vegetable-tanned leather through its quality trademark.
Some of our pieces are unlined, to show off the quality of the leather. When we do use lining, it's always leather as we want the internal lining to age as gracefully as the exterior of your bag and synthetic lining options just won't do.
Please note that pieces in the 'Last Chance' section are samples and end of range and may not have solid brass hardware.
Q: What makes your belts different?
All of our belts have been beveled and burnished or edge painted. Burnishing involves polishing the edges of the leather to a smooth, glossy finish, enhancing the belt's durability and aesthetic appeal. Beveling trims the edges at an angle, creating a refined, professional look and reducing edge wear. We use the best quality Italian edge paint. These processes take extra time but they not only look better but also ensure a longer-lasting, more comfortable belt. We also follow this process for the vegetable tanned leather bags.
Q: What is full grain leather?
A: Full grain leather is the highest quality leather available and comes from the top layer of the hide.
Q: What is vegetable-tanned leather?
A: Vegetable-tanned leather is tanned using natural tannins derived from plant materials such as tree bark, leaves, and fruits. The process is more environmentally friendly compared to chrome tanning, which uses chemicals. Like full grain leather, vegetable-tanned leather also develops a beautiful patina over time. Vegetable tanned leather tends to be stiffer initially but softens and becomes more pliable with use.
Q: Why do you use brass hardware?
A: Quality is really important to us, so after sourcing the best leather it only made sense to pair it with hardware that would age beautifully with the leather. Brass has natural corrosion-resistant properties, making it less likely to rust compared to other metals. Over time (as with leather), brass develops a natural patina. It's relitively easy to maintain and a timeless choice. So they're a match made in heaven.
If the golden hue is not to your taste, we also offer solid brass with either a Matte Black (PVD) or Nickel plated finish, both colours offer good corrosion and wear resistance.
PVD is an extremely durable, long lasting, scratch resistant plating process. Many high value items such as golf clubs and watch hardware are plated in PVD.
Please note that pieces in the 'Last Chance' section are samples and end of range and may not have solid brass hardware.
Q: Do you offer personalisation?
A: Yes, we offer personalisation including color choices and monogramming on many of the products.
Item can be personalised with gold, silver or plain embossing.
- Letters and numbers, Max 7, uppercase only
- Punctuation available includes ' . &
- Other options we offer are: a cat, dog and flower emoji
Please note that there may be limitations on the number of characters if spacing is required, we may also be able to accomodate more letters if the letters are narrow (such as 'i', 'j' etc.)
Please email us on info@karenlouiseleather.co.uk to enquire about this service.
Q: Do you offer international shipping?
A: Please contact karen@karenlouiseleather.co.uk if you would like your order shipped internationally.
Q: What are the postage costs for online orders?
A: Please find shipping costs here.
Q: What is your return policy?
A: Returns are accepted within 30 days of purchase for unused and undamaged items. Personalised items are non-refundable unless the item is defective.
Q: How long does it take to receive my order?
A: If the item is in stock we aim to dispatch your order the day after receiving it with Royal Mail. Since each item is handcrafted, please allow 2-3 weeks for production for orders that are not in stock. Shipping times will vary based on your location.