Client services
Everything about getting your piece to you, caring for it, and what to do if something is not quite right.
Shipping
- Shipping rates
- Shipping is $15 per order, and complimentary on orders over $250.
- Dispatch
- Orders ship within 3–5 business days. We make in small batches, so if a piece will take longer to leave the atelier we will tell you straight away.
- Delivery
- We ship worldwide from Addis Ababa. Delivery times depend on your destination and are confirmed with your tracking details once your order leaves the atelier.
- Duties and taxes
- Import duties and taxes, where they apply, are determined by your country and are the responsibility of the recipient.
Returns & exchanges
- Returns
- Unworn pieces in their original condition may be returned within 30 days of delivery. Write to us first and we will send you the return details.
- Made to order
- Corporate, personalised and made-to-order pieces are made for you alone and cannot be returned, except where a piece arrives faulty.
- Faults
- Leather is a natural material and will carry natural marks — they are part of its character. If a piece arrives with a flaw in construction, contact us within 14 days and we will make it right.
To start a return or ask a question about your order, write to us at hello@chiban.shop.
Caring for your leather
- Keep it dry
- Water can stain and stiffen leather. If your bag gets wet, blot it with a soft cloth and let it dry naturally, away from radiators and sunlight.
- Let it rest
- Stuff your bag lightly with paper when it is not in use so it holds its shape, and store it in a cool, dry place.
- Wipe, then nourish
- Brush off dust with a soft dry cloth. Once or twice a year, work a little leather balm into the surface in small circles and buff it dry.
- Welcome the patina
- Scuffs on pull-up leather can often be softened with the warmth of your hand. Marks and darkening are the leather telling the story of how you live.
Questions
After we confirm your order, you’ll receive an invoice from Chiban Leather by PayPal. You can pay by card or PayPal account directly from the invoice. Bank transfer is available for larger orders. All invoices come from Chiban Leather — if you receive a payment request from anyone else, please contact us before paying.
Every piece is handcrafted by our artisans in our workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from full-grain Ethiopian cowhide sourced through a network of local tanneries.
Yes, and that is the point. Smooth and pull-up leathers soften and darken with use, taking on a patina that is unique to how you carry them. Pebbled and embossed leathers wear more slowly and keep their texture.
We do. We make custom designs, branded pieces and corporate gifts, and can work from your own design. Write to us from the Corporate Gifting page.
We make in small batches, and a colour may have only one or two pieces. If something you love is sold out, write to us — we may be able to make it again.
If your order has not yet left the atelier we can usually amend it. Please write to us as soon as possible with your order number.
Keep it away from prolonged water and direct heat, wipe with a soft dry cloth and condition once or twice a year with a leather balm. Our Leathers page has the full guide.
Still wondering? Write to the atelier.