Frequently Asked Questions

ORDER PROCESS

Why do you sell made to measure and custom clothing?

We sell made to measure clothing because if it fits you perfectly you are more likely to wear it for a longer period of time, which is more sustainable. We only cut our fabrics to order, which reduces waste and believe that our customers should have a say in designing their dream garment!

How do I place my made to measure order?

Choose your preferred made to measure garment from the main menu, select the main body fabric and then you can start to customise the design and enter your measurements by following our ‘how to measure’ guides.

What measurements will you need to take my custom order? How will I know how to measure?

View our ‘made to measure guides’ from the ‘enter your measurements’ section on each MTM product page. Our guides will give you clear and simple instructions on how to measure your own shirt, pair of shorts or trousers that fit you well at home or your body measurements if ordering a pencil skirt

Why can’t I send you my body measurements for my MTM shirt, trousers or shorts?

It will be much easier for you to measure a shirt, pair of trousers or shorts that fit you well at home instead of your body measurements as you can do this by yourself without any help from somebody else. It is also easier to measure accurately and therefore, you will be happier with the fit of your garment. If you do not have a shirt, pair of trousers or shorts that you like the fit of at home then please email us at info@kitengestore.com before placing your order. 

How does your free MTM African print shirt offer work?

When you order your first Kitenge made to measure shirt you qualify for our special offer! Simply design two shirts with the same sleeve length, for example, two long sleeve shirts, two short sleeve shirts or two 3/4 sleeve shirts (for women only) and add them to your basket. Please note the measurements must be the same for both shirts but the custom features (collar, pocket style etc) can be different.

You can design two shirts in different fabrics or two of the exact same shirt if you prefer. To do this, just increase the quantity to 2 at the bottom of the product page before adding the garment to your basket. You can also increase the quantity on the basket page.

Then use the coupon code MTMFIRST on the basket page to redeem this amazing offer!

If you prefer to purchase a made to measure short sleeve shirt (or 3/4 sleeve shirt) and long sleeve shirt together then you can use the coupon MTMFIRSTSPECIAL to get the lowest priced shirt for free.

Please note this offer only applies to customers who have not purchased a MTM shirt from us before. If you have previously purchased a ready-to-wear shirt from our website in the past then you still qualify for this great offer.

To be the first to know about future offers and promotions please subscribe to our mailing list.

Is it possible to save my measurements to make future MTM clothing orders easier?

Simply create an account or log in (before placing an order) and your measurements for each MTM garment type will be saved automatically. When you return to order another shirt, for example, log in first and your previous measurements will automatically appear on the product pages.

If required, you can edit your previous measurements on the product page before adding the product to your basket. To save your amended measurements, tick the save these measurements?‘ box before adding the garment to your basket. You can also log in to your account at any time to view or update your measurements for each product type.

If the time is not convenient then you can create an account and return to place your order another time.

Can I save my MTM order and come back to purchase it later?

Any garment(s) added to your basket will stay there for around 14 days unless they are manually removed, the fabric you selected becomes out of stock or you clear your local browser cookies. Therefore, you can return to your basket to complete your purchase at a convenient time as long as it is within the time limit. Please note that you will not be able to edit a garment once it has been added to your basket.

What should I do if I have placed a MTM order but I need to make some changes?

If you have ordered a made to measure garment please let us know the changes you would like us to make as soon as possible before we cut the fabric.

Please send an email to info@kitengestore.com and we will confirm if the changes are possible or not.

We recommend that you try to be as accurate as possible with your measurements and design before placing your order to avoid disappointment.

Will my 100% cotton garment shrink after washing?

We pre-wash all our fabrics before our tailors begin the cutting process so your garment(s) should not shrink as long as you follow our wash care instructions on the care label. 

How can I order a gift for a friend or relative?

For made to measure garments, you can measure a shirt, pair of pants/trousers or shorts that fit your friend or relative well. If you would like us to deliver directly to them please put their address as the delivery address. To do this, tick the box that says deliver to a different address?‘ on the checkout page. Please also add a note at the bottom of the checkout page to tell us that the order is a gift.

Alternatively, you could purchase a gift card which can be sent by email to your friend or relative. To check the balance of your gift card please visit https://kitengestore.com/balance/.

What payment methods do you accept?

You can either pay securely by debit or credit card (Visa, American Express, Mastercard or Maestro) via Stripe directly on the checkout page or by Paypal.

How can I use a coupon to receive a discount?

If you have a coupon you can use it to redeem the offer by entering the code on the basket page before checkout. Please note you can only use one coupon at a time.

 

RETURNS

How does your ‘Perfect Fit Guarantee’ service work for made to measure garments?

If you are not happy with the fit of your first made to measure garment type (such as a shirt, pair of trousers/shorts or a pencil skirt) then please email us at info@kitengestore.com. We will either pay for a local tailor or seamstress to alter the garment or re-make the garment and send it to you free of charge.

To avoid this from happening, please carefully read our ‘how to measure’ guides before entering your measurements on the product page and if you have any questions please email us at info@kitengestore.com before placing your order. It is very important to us that you are happy with the fit of your made to measure garments so they last and you can wear them for many years to come!

Learn more about our Perfect Fit Guarantee.

Can I return a MTM garment?

As our custom garments are made to fit your individual measurements and may also be personalised they are non-refundable. However, if there is a problem with your order please contact us at info@kitengestore.com. Learn about our Perfect Fit Guarantee above for first-time garments.

What happens if the MTM garments I receive do not fit? 

If the garment does not measure the same as the measurements you provided us in your order then please email us at info@kitengestore.com. If it is your first order of a particular garment type (for example, a long sleeve shirt or pencil skirt) then you will qualify for our Perfect Fit Guarantee (see above for further details).

If it is not your first order of a particular garment type, and it does measure the same measurements that you provided in your order, then the garment will be non-refundable. This is because it has been made to fit your individual measurements and the design may have been personalised. To avoid this from happening, please read our ‘how to measure’ guides carefully before entering your measurements on the product page.

Can I return ready-to-wear garments, women’s and men’s accessories for an exchange or refund?

You may return ready-to-wear garments, and women’s and men’s accessories (bow ties, neckties, jewelery and headwraps) even if on sale for an exchange or refund as long as they are unworn with all tags still attached.

Please email us at info@kitengestore.com, within 14 days from the day after you receive your order. We will then send you our returns address in the UK. Then please return any item(s) to us within 14 days from the date of contacting us. We will let you know once your parcel has been received and an exchange/refund processed.

Please note buyers are responsible for return shipping costs and obtaining a proof of purchase receipt. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value. If you have any problems with your order please contact us at info@kitengestore.com and we will be happy to help.

Can I return my African print fabric?

We cut our fabrics to your desired length (1 to 6 yards) so they are customised items and therefore, are non-returnable. If you have any problems with your fabric order please contact us within 14 days of receipt.

 

SHIPPING

What does your ‘Fast Track’ shipping upgrade for made to measure garments mean?

The ‘Fast Track’ shipping upgrade means that you will receive your made to measure order faster by jumping to the front of the production queue. We will treat your order as a priority and guarantee that it ships from Tanzania within 5 working days (instead of 1-2 weeks) of receiving your order.

In the unlikely event that we are unable to dispatch your order within 5 working days, we will refund you the additional amount that you paid for the shipping upgrade (GBP £10) and keep you updated with an estimated dispatch date from Tanzania.

When you add a made to measure garment to your basket simply select the fast track shipping option on the basket or checkout pages so we can prioritise your order. For further shipping information please visit our delivery page.

Can you deliver to any country worldwide?

We ship our made to measure garments, men’s accessories, women’s headwraps and African wax print fabrics to most countries worldwide from Tanzania. All ready-to-wear clothing and women’s jewelry items are shipped from the UK to the majority of countries.

We regularly ship orders to countries in Europe and North America from the UK and Tanzania. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding shipping before placing your order.

How quickly will my made to measure clothing, men’s accessories and/or women’s headwraps be dispatched?

We aim to dispatch all made to measure clothing orders (excluding those that are ‘Fast Tracked’) from Tanzania within 1-2 weeks of receiving your order. If this changes then we will send you an email to confirm the new estimated dispatch date. We aim to dispatch all orders as quickly as possible depending on production demand.

All made to measure clothing orders that have been upgraded to fast track shipping will be dispatched within 5 working days of receiving your order. Please see above for further information.

If you have ordered men’s accessories (bow ties, neckties and pocket squares) and/or women’s headwraps only then they will be made and shipped from Tanzania within 5 working days of receiving your order. Our men’s accessories and women’s headwraps are also cut to order like our made to measure garments.

If you order made to measure garments with men’s accessories and/or women’s headwraps then they will be shipped together within 1-2 weeks if you choose standard shipping or within 5 working days if you upgrade to fast track shipping.

How quickly will my ready-to-wear clothing and/or women’s jewellery order be dispatched?

Ready-to-wear clothing and women’s jewelry are shipped from the UK within 1-2 working days of receiving your order.

How quickly will my fabric order be dispatched?

We aim to ship all fabric orders from Tanzania within 1-2 working days after receiving your order. Please upgrade shipping to courier (by DHL) on the basket page if your order is urgent or you require guaranteed faster delivery.

Which country will my order be shipped from?

All made to measure garments, men’s accessories, women’s headwraps and fabric orders are shipped worldwide by air freight from Tanzania, East Africa, via the Post Office or by courier (DHL).

Ready-to-wear clothing and women’s jewelry is shipped worldwide from the UK by Royal Mail.

You will qualify for free standard worldwide shipping if you spend over £150.

How long will shipping take?

All made to measure clothing orders are shipped worldwide from Tanzania by courier (DHL) and are estimated to take 2-5 working days to deliver depending on the destination country.

Men’s accessories, women’s headwraps and fabrics are shipped worldwide from Tanzania, which usually takes up to 10-14 working days by standard shipping (via the Post Office) or 2-5 working days by courier (DHL).

All ready-to-wear clothing and women’s jewelry items are shipped by Royal Mail from the UK and the estimated delivery times are as follows:

UK –  2nd class                                                     1-3 working days

UK –  1st class                                                      1 day delivery aim

Europe – standard & tracked                                 3-5 working days

North America – standard & tracked                      5-7 working days

Rest of the world – standard & tracked                  5-7 working days

Does shipping include online tracking?

All made to measure clothing orders are shipped by DHL in Tanzania and include full online tracking. A signature will be required upon delivery.

Men’s accessories, women’s headwraps and fabric orders that are shipped from Tanzania by standard shipping (via the Post Office) include online tracking within Tanzania. There may also be tracking updates available on the delivery partner’s website once an order arrives at the destination country such as USPS in America and Royal Mail in the UK. Orders upgraded to courier shipping (by DHL) includes full online tracking and will require a signature upon delivery.

Ready-to-wear clothing and women’s jewellery are shipped from the UK and do not include online tracking unless you upgrade to tracked shipping (for international orders only).

For UK customers who are ordering ready-to-wear clothing and/or women’s jewelry, please contact us if you would like to upgrade to next day delivery (guaranteed), which includes online tracking. We will confirm asap if your request will be possible and how much extra it will cost.

 

ETHICAL & SUSTAINABLE FASHION

Where are your products made?

All our products are lovingly handmade by highly skilled tailors in Tanzania, East Africa.

Is your African wax print fabric authentic?

We are very proud of the fact that all our wax print fabrics are authentic and made in Africa. Your order, therefore, helps to support the African textile industry which struggles to compete with cheap, poor-quality imitation fabrics imported from countries like India and China.

The cotton is also locally grown so your order helps to support African farmers too. Our high quality, 100% cotton African wax print fabric is durable (due to its thickness), comfortable (as it becomes softer after each wash) and has excellent colourfastness. Therefore, your MTM garment or fabric will look the same in years to come!

Where do you source your fabrics?

We source all our authentic, African wax print fabrics from small female-owned enterprises at the market in Tanzania. We like to ‘shop local’ and support many small businesses so that our raw material purchases help Tanzanian communities and the economy.

Are your products ethically and sustainably made?

Kitenge is a social enterprise so ethics and sustainability are extremely important to us. Our social mission is to empower Tanzanian tailors to improve their livelihoods one colourful garment at a time.

We have excellent working relationships with all our tailors and suppliers and personally oversee the production of your MTM order so we know exactly who makes your garment and where it comes from.

Our tailors work in clean and safe working environments with no forced labour. It’s very much a partnership that is built upon mutual trust and respect. Our founder, Sian, built our supply chain from scratch when we started trading in 2014, so she knows every single person involved in making your garment.

Our tailors have been able to open and build new premises, buy new sewing machines and equipment and hire and train new staff using the profits made from our orders. Thus, increasing their productivity, quality of life and helping to reduce local unemployment.

All made to measure garments, men’s and women’s fabric accessories are cut to order, which reduces unnecessary waste and unsold stock at the end of each season. Furthermore, we collect all fabric offcuts from the cutting room floor and donate them to female artisans, schools and charity projects so that nothing is wasted.

As we are a social enterprise, more than 50% of profits are re-invested back into the business to further our social mission, to empower as many Tanzanian tailors as possible to improve their livelihoods.

Our ultimate goal is to open a new sewing school and business hub for Tanzanian women. Profits from Kitenge will help to build and run the school offering scholarships, tools, equipment and start-up grants to our students.

Learn more about our ethical and sustainable clothing.

How do your tailors benefit from working with Kitenge?

Please visit our blog where you will find the latest behind the scenes news, success stories and interviews about our tailors’ businesses from building and opening new larger premises, to purchasing new equipment and hiring and training new staff.

 

GENERAL

Do you sell African print fabric (also known as kitenge or ankara fabric) worldwide?

We do sell our much loved African print fabric on our website as well as our made to measure and ready-to-wear clothing. You can choose how many yards you would like to purchase (1 to 6). We also have fat quarters available, leftover from our clothing production, for quilting, patchwork, sewing, arts and crafts projects. We ship to most countries worldwide from Tanzania.

Do you offer wholesale purchasing?

Please email us at info@kitengestore.com if you are interested in selling our African print clothing. We do not currently offer wholesale purchasing for our Nigerian fabrics however, we may be able to offer a discount for very large orders. We now offer wholesale purchasing for Tanzanian made fabrics. Please get in touch to find out more.

Why do you not have a contact telephone number?

Our team is based on the ground in Tanzania managing the production of your unique made to measure garment(s). Please email us at info@kitengestore.com and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Do you have a retail store?

We are an online business however, you may have spotted our colourful stall at a UK music festival previously.

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