FAQ’s

At Jewelled Buddha, we know you want more than just an item of clothing or pretty necklace. You want something meaningful — a story, a connection, a piece that feels as unique.

Here are the questions we hear most often from customers when they’re looking for handmade clothing, ethical gifts or handmade accessories.

What is Jewelled Buddha?

Jewelled Buddha is an online ethical brand that sells ethically made, handcrafted fashion and accessories We partner exclusively with social enterprises and brands and work with NGO’s who respect people and the planet.

What is Ethical Fashion?

Ethical fashion is focussed on producing in a way that is socially and environmentally responsible. Our focus is also on artisan made fashion which means all our collections are handcrafted by artisans who benefit from a fair, sustainable income that empowers families and craft communities. Artisan fashion uses traditional heritage techniques and has a deep connection to cultural heritage. The opposite to mass-produced fashion, artisan fashion centres on slower, more sustainable processes such as hand dyeing, handloomed or woven methods and embroidery. Click here to meet our artisans.

How do you ensure your products are ethically made?

We only partner with select and reputable social businesses known for their ethics and quality products. Where possible, we visit the businesses and artisans directly to see for ourselves the conditions the artisans work in. We are also transparent about who our partners are and work collaboratively with them to show you who makes our clothes and how. You can read our Ethical Policy here and our Sustainable Policy here

What is Ethical and why should I care?

As a general term, Ethical or Fair Trade is there to protect the rights of workers all over the world. It's a set of standards. Of course, not all businesses are fair trade. Most of the big brands who make our clothes use cheap labour from developing countries. Unfortunately, our insatiable demand for cheap clothing means millions of garment workers are exploited. Working long hours in terrible conditions for little money - many suffer human rights violations. We believe this is unjust and therefore only sell ethically produced products. You can read more about fast fashion and its impact on the lives of garment workers here.

Fair trade is a set of social, economic and environmental standards set for businesses and their workers. For us this means that the artisans who produce our products, work in an environment that is clean, healthy and encouraging. They enjoy flexible working hours that enable them to look after their households and families. The same rights we expect here in developed nations. Our partners ensure the artisans are paid a fair and sustainable income, are trained regularly and empowered to live a progressive life. What this means for you is that every time you purchase a product, you make a difference to the lives of those artisans. They can continue earning a sustainable wage, enabling them to save money for their future and the health and education of their families.

Where do you ship to?

We ship worldwide. However due to new regulations which we are navigating, we are not shipping to the USA or EU. We ship everywhere else as far as New Zealand. If you can't locate your country when you purchase, please contact us on hello@jewelledbuddha.com and we'll do all we can to help. Shipping is currently free for UK. All prices for shipping are shown in the checkout when you make a purchase.

I haven't received my products, what shall I do?

Don't worry. Just send us an email at hello@jewelledbuddha.com and we'll get in touch.

Do you provide tracking numbers for packages?

UK free shipping is by second class, signed delivery for your peace of mind. International shipping is always tracked.

I'd like to return a product, what shall I do?

Please contact us within 48 hours and we will do all we can to help. You can read more about returns, exchanges and faulty goods here.

Do you have sales like other brands?

Yes, we offer seasonal promotions and special offers. They are great way of enabling you to treat yourself or a loved one and are important in enabling us to generate resources to re-invest in new products, grow the business and support artisans.

How do I know your pieces are really handmade?

Each piece you see here has been crafted by skilled artisans in India using traditional techniques. We work directly with ethical partners so there’s no mass production line here, just real hands creating wearable art.

Meet Sujata, one of our artisans here or visit our sustainability and giving back section to see who our artisans are and where they’re based.

Are your products ethically made and fair-trade?

Yes — that’s the heart of what we do. We partner with women-led artisan collectives and fair-trade organisations who pay fair wages, provide safe working conditions, and empower women in rural communities. Every purchase helps sustain these traditional crafts and supports women to achieve financial independence. However, for the sake of transparency, although we do not carry a fair trade certification, we can assure you that our artisans earn a sustainable income and benefit from good working conditions. In fact many of our artisans based in traditional rural villages in India, work from home. This enables them to tend to their families needs and work in an environment that is safe and nurturing.

What materials do you use? Are they safe for sensitive skin?

We choose natural, sustainable, and upcycled materials. Our clothing uses skin-friendly, breathable fabrics like cotton, silk, Himalayan wool and linen. The dyes used in our clothing is AZO free and some of our scarves such as the Ahimsa scarves are dyed using natural plants and handwoven from cruelty-free silk, where no silk worms are harmed.

How can I tell the quality of your handmade products?

You’ll notice the difference the moment you hold them. Our pieces are carefully finished, with high quality thread and secure stitching. Small variations are part of the beauty of handmade. This may be apparent in our upcycled sari collections of sari kimonos or sari scarves. Made from handpicked preloved vintage sari silk, there may be tiny imperfections due to previous life of the sari fabric. However this is part of the upcycling process and is sometimes an inherent and unavoidable part of upcycling. We inspect every item before shipping to make sure it meets our high standards and any tiny imperfections will always be stated in the product description.

How do you help the environment?

We partner with Greenspark - a climate action platform. This enables us as a business and you as consumers, to make a positive difference to the planet by introducing environmental impact to every order placed.

Feel free to visit our sustainability page for details on how you make a difference to the environment, every time you shop with us.

Why do handmade and ethical gifts cost more?

Because you’re not just buying a necklace — you’re supporting a woman’s livelihood, preserving a traditional craft, and reducing waste. Each piece takes time, care, and skill to create. Your purchase keeps that craft alive and ensures fair pay for artisans, which is why it may cost more than mass-produced alternatives.

Can I personalise or customise my order?

Unfortunatley we do not offer personalisation of our products at this time.

Will my order arrive in time for Christmas (or a special occasion)?

We know gifting deadlines can be stressful! We can ship next day delivery in the UK. Just choose this option at the checkout. International orders are 5-7 days but may be longer due to the Christmas rush. Keep an out for last-order dates for Christmas on our social media, newsletters and social media. You can sign up to our newsletter here.

Is your packaging eco-friendly?

Yes! Your every order arrives beautifully wrapped in eco-friendly, recyclable packaging. Our white gift boxes are reusable and can be used at home to store your keep sakes. Even our ribbon is made from recycled plastic bottles.

What makes your products unique?

All our handmade clothing and accessories, including our homeware accents are handmade from beginning to end. Using traditional artisan techniques such as hand weaving, hand dyed Shibori or hand stitched Kantha, our colourful clothing is a personal expression of who you are. Our tag line, Style Made To Empower, perfectly sums up our vision of wearing your values and empowering your style whilst helping people and the planet. Many of our products are also one-of-a-kind and make the most coveted gifts. By shopping with us, you are buying more than just a scarf or necklace. Your buying a handmade story, a meaningful connection to cultural heritage and a statement of your values and style.