FAQ

Why should I buy from you?

You can feel smug knowing that looking stylish doesn't mean sacrificing your values!

Why is it so expensive compared with high street clothing?

Sadly, all high street clothing is mass-produced, some items being sold in tens of thousands up and down the shopping centres of Britain. While some people want to look fashionable - who wants to look like a clone? The high street stores are now slavishly following the same trends and dictating what the consumer can buy. Our garments are handcrafted and made in small quantities - less than a hundred of each style is produced, in different colours, so you won't have the embarrassment of turning up at a party and seeing another woman in your frock.

Price wars have killed British clothing manufacturing and driven most mass production to the Far East. While this hasn't been great for the British economy, the consumer has reaped the benefits of having cheaper clothes. Many retail companies have no idea what conditions their clothes are manufactured in and have little loyalty regarding continuous employment. Orders are often subcontracted out by factories in the Far East as they are unable to cope with the deadlines British stores have placed on them, so, even if the retail company is satisfied the factory operates in an ethical manner, their order may be made up in a sweatshop elsewhere. Alternatively, staff are forced to work longer hours to complete orders in working conditions that were outlawed in Victorian Britain.

These clothes may be cheap but they are costing the earth - effluvia from the dyes used are polluting third world water supplies, and huge amounts of precious water are used in the manufacture of machine woven fabrics. They are then flown to the UK creating further aviation pollution.

You can rest assured that think! garments are made in ethical conditions without exploitation. We have personally visited all factories used for manufacture and we will continue to visit them at least once a year to ensure that our standards are upheld. (And to stock up on our supplies of Indian sweeties). They are also IFAT accredited. IFAT (International Fair Trade Association) work tirelessly to ensure that their members adhere to the guidelines laid down by on their website. See www.ifat.org for further information.

We also have full BAFTS membership (British Association of Fair Trade Shops) - go to www.bafts.org.uk, giving you peace of mind in our business practices.

Why can't I order a catalogue?

We have taken the decision not to print catalogues as they invariably wind up in a landfill site somewhere. Even though all our business stationery and literature is printed on recycled fibres in vegetable inks, we still don't want to be part of the problem. Instead, we have made our website as informative as possible but if you still have some nagging questions please drop us an email.

What are the fabrics like?

You can order swatches of each colourway free of charge by emailing orders@thinkfairtrade.com

How do I order?

• By email to orders@thinkfairtrade.com. Please do not include your credit card details, we will call you to confirm.
• By website - use the shopping cart facility
• By post to think!clothing, 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London, EC1V 4PY, download our order form here
• By fax on 0870 762 7186, download our order form here

I live outside the UK; can I still order from you?

Certainly! Just drop us an email instead of ordering online. You get the added bonus of your gorgeous item being VAT free, so it's 17.5% cheaper, but you'll probably have to pay your own country's import tax instead, as well as a delivery charge.

How do I pay?

• By Paypal online (credit/debit card)
• By cheque (this must be cleared before despatch of goods), please make payable to think!clothing
• By postal order
• By bank transfer, please email us for the details
• Please do not send any cash by post

How is the order delivered?

By Royal Mail signed for.

How much does delivery cost?

There is no extra charge for delivery. It's FREE!

How long does delivery take?

We understand woman's deep, biological need for retail therapy, so we aim to dispatch your order within 48 hours of receipt (with the exception of those paid by cheque - banks like to hold onto your money as long as possible - if only we were so thrifty we'd be millionaires by now). If there will be a delay we will email you as soon as possible.

What measurements do your sizes come in?

	10	12	14	16
Bust	87cm	92cm	97cm	102cm
Waist	66cm	71cm	76cm	81cm
Hips	94cm	99cm	104cm	109cm

Length (from centre back to hem)

	10	12	14	16
Top	51.5cm	52cm	53cm	53.5cm
Trousers	105.5cm	106cm	107cm	107cm
Skirt	94cm	95cm	96cm	96cm
Dress	105cm	105cm	106cm	106cm

Please note all garments have a 7.5cm/3" hem that can be let down.

What if I need to return it?

Not happy with your choice? We will happily exchange or refund unworn garments provided they are returned in their original packaging within 14 days of purchase. To help us improve our service, please fill in the form on the reverse of your invoice and email us for the FREEPOST return address. Don't forget to ask for a certificate of posting, as we cannot accept responsibility for any lost parcels.

Why can't I contact you by telephone?

Unfortunately Jane's profound hearing loss means that she relies on hearing aids, thus she is unable to hear clearly on the phone. If you ring her you'll probably get the kind of stilted exchange a cold calling double glazing salesperson would give you if you deviate from their pre-written script. As this is her company, she's doing it her way, so please email instead. If you are desperate to talk to someone, call your mother. She's always glad to hear from you. If you believe that this eco-chic, non-mung bean munching, deaf style guru exists merely as a shallow marketing ploy and are happy to have a parrot style phone conversation, email your evening phone number so that she can call you back on her special phone. Don't say you weren't warned.

Do I need to live in yurt to be able to wear think!clothing?

Thankfully not.

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