Q&A
Why do we use real leather?
What is sustainability? There are many definitions of sustainability. The term is very subjective. Not measurable, and open to many different interpretations.
What do you need to know when deciding whether to buy a leather bag or a ‘vegan-leather’ bag if you consider it important to buy sustainably? The first question you need to ask yourself is: Do I want to be animal-proof or planet-proof?
Sustainability can be based on both. But which is better? There is no better or worse, but below we explain how we decided to go for real leather.
Animal-proof. This means developing products without using materials derived from animals. Such as products made from ‘vegan-leather’. This is an imitation leather made from synthetic materials. The fibres are synthetic and one of the biggest sources of microplastic pollution in the ocean. This material is based on petroleum, a fossil fuel, which can also be harmful to human health. Moreover, it is not biodegradable. Products made of plastic can pose a threat during and after their life cycle because it eventually ends up in a landfill. It is a non-recyclable product with a shorter lifespan because it is less strong than real leather.
Planet-proof developed products are made from natural materials that are biodegradable and recyclable after use. This gives the material a circular life cycle. In this case, we are talking about leather. However, in the manufacturing of leather, we have to deal with the tanning process. Many chemicals are used to tan leather. The most common method of tanning is chromium tanning, where the skin is placed in a bath of chromium salt, which is very toxic. It is important that the remaining toxic water is not simply drained off and dumped in a river. This can wreak tremendous havoc in nature. Vegetation can no longer grow, drinking water can be damaged, ecosystems are disrupted. This can have a huge impact on human health in the countries of production. It is very important that this disposal process runs smoothly, with good filters and special disposal of the toxic substances. All Ikigai leather bags are made of leather from special leather tanneries that are members of the CLE, Council for Leather exports, which monitors that the leather tanneries comply with the regulations.
The best option would be for the meat consumption and leather industry to be in proportion. No meat should be left over and no animal skins should end up in landfills. Fortunately, in most cases this is the case. The meat is consumed and the skins are used for clothing, furniture and accessories.
“Leather is resistant to wear and tear and lasts for decades in your closet, becoming an heirloom to pass on to future generations.” This alone makes leather a sustainable material.
But when it comes to sustainability in the fashion industry, there is always a nuance. Even the most eco-conscious production processes have an impact on the environment. Decide for yourself what you want to spend your money on.
So, if products made from animals are a no-go, consider a vegan leather product that uses fossil fuels. But if you want to reduce them from the environment, choose real leather. A third option is of course also possible, a plant-based alternative, and these are bags made from cotton, linen or other plant-based materials.
Reorders are unfortunately not possible.
We keep our stocks as low as possible for several reasons.
Firstly, we are extremely careful when it comes to overstock, a plague that unfortunately affects today’s fashion industry. To avoid overproduction, we keep our stocks as low as possible.
Secondly, we want to keep our products exclusive. We do not produce large numbers and prefer to have more options to choose from, rather than large numbers in fewer products. This means you will always have an exclusive product.
Yes! Ikigai chooses to work only with natural materials. Materials that are durable and therefore have a long-lasting effect. Ikigai products are made of sustainable high-quality materials that will last a long time. And should the product no longer be used after all, all materials are recyclable. This makes the brand sustainable.
Yes! Ikigai selects its suppliers very carefully. In order to ensure that all the products we have manufactured are produced under good conditions, we have drawn up a ‘code of conduct’ that all suppliers must comply with before we start production with them. It is very important to us that there is no child labour, forced labour, hygiene, illegal employment, safety or underpayment of employees. We see the world as one entity and find it important that everyone is treated fairly. Our productions take place in different countries, both in Asia and Europe. We find it important to enter into a long-term partnership with the manufacturers. Reliability and quality are very important for our Ikigai brand. Therefore, we visit our suppliers very regularly.
All our jewellery is made of 925 sterling silver. The gold and rose gold jewellery are plated with a 1 micron 18K gold plating.
Silver jewellery is prone to oxidation and consequent tarnishing and should be stored in a dry place away from humidity, moisture and extreme temperatures. To enjoy your gold jewelry the longest please make sure you remove the jewellery before washing hands, swimming or taking a bath or shower. Do not contact them with make-up, perfume, or hairspray. We recommend to remove your jewellery during sleeping and sports.
Cleaning Instructions: Never use detergent, soap, toothpaste etc. to clean your jewellery. Instead, rub gently with a soft cloth to restore the original brilliance. Store your jewelry in its own pouch to prevent scratching, chipping and entanglement.
We hope you enjoy your Ikigai jewellery!.
Filled out a wrong or outdated address upon purchase? Please contact us as soon as possible after the transaction has been confirmed, this way we can change the address on the shipping label before your package ships out.
If the order is already shipped, no changes can be made to the address on the package.
In case we have to send your package directly to an other address as a gift, please let us know. We will pack it as a nice present.
Please send us a message including order number. Thanks.
We pack your precious purchase as good as possible to be sure it arrives undamaged at your place.
Jewellery is packed with an Ikigai cardboard, a cotton pouch and a rice paper packing envelop.
We ship out the jewellery in a bubble envelop to make sure the jewelry will not get damaged during transport.
All bags and wallets are packed in a cotton Ikigai bag, which actually is an extra bag which you can use to store your bag, but also to use it for tremendous other purposes.
We ship your bag in a strong shipping bag or a carton box.
Important information
We will do our best to ship out your order same day, but latest your order will be shipped within 2 business days from our Netherlands warehouse.
Shipping costs:
- Netherlands: Free (€4,- if order is below € 50,-)
- Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Estland, Italy, Kroatia, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Austria) €7,99
- Balance Europe: € 12,-
- Worldwide €19,-
You can pay in our webshop in the following ways:
- IDEAL
- Credit card
- Apple Pay
- Sofort
- Bancontact
- KLARNA after pay
When you return an item, we will refund the money to the account that was used to pay for it.
Have you received your order and do you wish to return and/or exchange a product? No problem. You have the right to cancel your order up to 14 days after receipt without giving any reason. After cancelling, you have another 14 days to return your product. You will then be credited with the full order amount including shipping costs. To be able to keep our selling prices as low as possible, only the costs for the return from your home to the shop are for your own account. These costs are approximately 7.25 per package. Consult the website of your carrier for the exact rates. If you use your right of withdrawal, the product will be returned with all delivered accessories and – if reasonably possible – in the original condition and packaging to the entrepreneur. To make use of this right, please contact us at shop@ikigai-accessories.com.
We will then refund the order amount due within 14 days of notification of your return, provided that the product has already been received in good order.
Please send a message to shop@ikigai-accessories.com and mention:
* Order number
* Article to be returned.
* Whether you want to exchange it for another product.
You can download here the returnform. please fill in the return form and put it in the return box
We suggest to send the return with a Track&Trace number so you can always see when the package has been received by us.
As soon as we receive the item we will refund your payment. Please allow 7-14 days for our warehouse to process your return.
Warranty
We care about our products and naturally do our best to deliver them to you in top condition. Nevertheless, it sometimes happens that an order breaks down during transport or that something else happens which entitles you to make a claim under the guarantee. Legally, you are obliged to report the defect to us within two months of discovering it. If the defect is covered by the guarantee, we will repair or replace it free of charge.
Complaints
It can always happen that something does not go quite as planned. We advise you to first report complaints to us by sending an e-mail to shop@ikigai-accessories.com. If this does not lead to a solution, it is possible to register your dispute for mediation through Stichting WebwinkelKeur via https://www.webwinkelkeur.nl/kennisbank/consumenten/geschil/. From 15 February 2016, it will also be possible for consumers in the EU to register complaints via the ODR platform of the European Commission. This ODR platform can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/odr. If your complaint is not yet being handled elsewhere then you are free to file your complaint via the platform of the European Union.
If you would like to give someone a gift card, please send us an e-mail (shop@ikigai-accessories.com) with the value of the gift card. We then send you an email with the giftcard which contains the code that can be used in the webshop.