Frequently Asked Questions

Unsure about shipping? Questions about ordering? This is the place for you

Products

Are all your products hand made?

Hand made is a term we see bandied about everywhere these days and you may be forgiven for wondering what it actually means, given the often woolly descriptions. Here at Far Flung Threads we’re trying to re-establish the real meaning of hand made and champion this in our offering. To this end we juxtapose below how store fronts often operate with what we do, just to make things clear.

If you setup a factory on the other side of the world, staff it with diligent workers, provide them with tools and ship in the raw materials, you can claim to be producing hand made products. Naturally, as a customer, you’ll likely take issue with this – so do we.

Mass manufacture and globalisation has served to decimate traditional crafts and threatens their very survival. In order to secure the future of these skills and the products which result from them, it is essential that craftsmen have proper agency; a sizeable portion of the income from sales, a choice of what they make and ample opportunities to decide how to run their business affairs. Artisans in this position will value their craft, stick at it and most importantly, pass their skills onto the next generation.

Far Flung Threads believes in this form of hand made; small runs, family businesses and real pride in the work. You will note therefore that we don’t have dozens of a particular product for sale, in fact we often only have one of each. You will never see a “out of stock – more coming soon” notice either. By sourcing direct from craftsmen, we try to ensure that not only do you have a truly unique piece to cherish, but a fascinating story of how it came to be in your home and the reassurance that comes with the knowledge that talented people will be making a living from that craft for generations to come.

Do you always meet the artisans that make the products you sell?

We believe in direct sourcing wherever possible. When you read our product stories you will often note descriptions of the craftsmen we meet or even see photos of them. Where we have no choice but to deal with an intermediary (for example a workers collective), we always ensure that these individuals or organisations are acting in the best interests of the artisans we wish to support. We know how important a proper income is to ensure the future of unique skills in the places these products originate from. When you buy a product from us there is no better way of supporting the future of these art forms – short of making the journey yourself of course!

Are you directly involved in the creation of any of your offerings?

Yes! Sometimes we use the artisanal items we source to hand make derivative products ourselves. A good example would be paper or fabric sourced from one of our journeys being used by us to fabricate a lampshade that we then sell through our website. We will explain any involvement we have in the creation of an item in the product description.

 

Ordering

How do I order?

When you find a product you like, simply click the button “Add to Basket”. Once you have selected all the items you wish to buy, click the basket link to be taken through to the checkout page. Here you can check your shipping charges and use a discount code if you have one before proceeding to payment.

 

Payment

Which payment methods do you accept?

All our payments are securely processed via Stripe payment gateway. All major credit and debit cards are accepted. Once you leave our basket screen, please follow the Stripe instructions to make your payment and complete your order. You will receive an e-mail confirmation at the end of the process confirming both the payment and the order.

 

Delivery

How will my delivery be packaged?

To support circularity and help reduce waste, we endeavour to use recycled packaging as much as possible. Rest assured we will always take steps to ensure your order arrives in perfect condition.

How is delivery cost calculated?

We have a base shipping cost for every order which covers packaging, shipping and any administrative costs we incur in preparing your order for dispatch. Where small or light items are added to your order this base cost will cover the postage of these items to you. If larger or heavier items are added to your basket, these will each incur a small surcharge to reflect the additional attention that must be paid in getting these products to you undamaged. All shipping costs are clearly displayed in the basket before you check out so there are no surprises.

How does delivery work within the UK?

Your order will be processed within 1-3 working days. Depending on the size and weight of the parcel we use either Royal Mail second class signed for, Parcel Force or DPD Local. Once your order is dispatched you will receive an email notification containing a tracking number if appropriate.

Do you ship internationally?

While our website is setup for dispatch to the United Kingdom by default, we do facilitate shipping internationally too. If you wish to have your order posted overseas, please get in touch and make your request before you order. We will be able to advise you of the additional costs in relation to shipping to your chosen destination.

Please be aware that international shipments can attract customs and other taxes levied upon arrival by the destination country. Far Flung Threads is not responsible for meeting any of these charges and we will not issue refunds should the recipient decide not to settle these charges and the goods are consequently returned to us.