Frequently Asked Questions
When will my order arrive?
In most cases, In Stock items are dispatched within 3 working days, and Pre-Order items within 2 weeks. All items are shipped with Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Where do you ship to?
At the moment, I’m only able to ship within the UK, sorry if you’re further afield! I do plan on expanding to worldwide shipping, but right now it's not possible. Feel free to email me and I’ll let you know if and when I do expand to shipping outside the UK.
Do your bags come with a guarantee?
I stand by the quality of my work, so Bean & Bear Studio creations are backed by a limited one-year warranty, which covers damage NOT caused by normal wear and tear or negligence of the buyer. For full details, see Repairs & Refunds.
Why does this small purse cost more than this big bag?
The bulk of the cost for your friendly neighbourhood bag maker is generally not in the materials; its in our time. So, a bigger bag like a nice roomy Tote might have higher fabric costs than a dainty little purse, but the tote is a much quicker project for the sewist. It’ll likely have less structure within, no pockets, zips or hardware. The purse, however, might have a zip pocket, slip pockets, card slot pockets (which also use a good chunk of fabric), a firm structure within, not to mention be a pretty fiddly little creature to sew. So it takes much longer to create, and the price creeps up.
How can I best look after my bag?
The best way to take care of your bag is quite dull really - do not overstuff it, keep it in a dust bag whenever possible, spot clean any spills before they dry using warm soapy water and a clean white cloth. Your bag will look its best and last the longest time when looked after carefully – don’t toss it across the room at the end of the day, place it gently and it will thank you :)
Can my bag go in the washing machine?
This is a tricky one, as personally I avoid putting my own bags in the washing machine, I just don’t trust it. So, if you do decide to pop yours in the washer, be very cautious, and follow these tips:
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Wash only on cold (this is to try and reduce shrinking or bleeding)
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Wash only on a gentle spin cycle
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Only use gentle detergent (perfume/dye free)
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Add a colour catcher sheet to your washer just in case of any colour leaking
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Put your bag inside another before washing, e.g. a lingerie bag, dust bag, or even a pillowcase, just something to reduce the chance of damaging your bag while it bounces around the washer.
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Line dry only, do not tumble dry. Shape your bag once washed, smooth out wrinkles as best as you can by hand then hang to dry. If you are drying indoors and your bag has any vinyl or faux leather pieces, do not place these directly on a radiator.
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If your bag has cotton pieces, you can iron those bits carefully to remove any creases.
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If your bag has any vinyl, faux leather etc, do not iron these sections at all, they will melt.
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If your bag has waterproof canvas lining, iron gently and quickly to remove any creases, do not iron on high heat or the backing of the canvas will melt.
Why no leather?
Nobody can deny that leather is versatile, durable, and that high quality leathers truly last a lifetime, but I don’t use it in my bags because its use doesn't align with my personal morals. I'm a huge animal lover, so I have worked really hard to research and pick through every little ingredient of my materials to ensure they are 100% vegan. The fabric world has a whole lot of ethical issues in terms of welfare and conservation and sustainability etc, and I don’t claim to have fully wrestled with my conscience through all of those moral minefields, but my choice is just to avoid animal-derived fabrics. We each take a stand on different issues, and I’d never claim superiority of my choices over someone else’s, I just feel more comfortable avoiding leather in my own creations.
I make bags too, can we be friends?
Yes, yes and yessss! I’d love to hear from you. We can geek out over interfacing, and swoon over big industrial Juki’s :)
Can you make me a copy of a brand-name bag?
I’m sorry, I do not make replica bags of any brand or designer, and I am proud to create unique bags. All my bags are handmade by me using patterns by fantastically talented independent designers; check out some of my favourites here.
If you have a question I haven't covered here, please do get in touch and I'd be happy to help.