At Styled by Nerissa, every garment is individually created for the client. Our custom pieces involve dedicated design work, materials, labour, fittings, and production time.

We believe in being transparent and fair throughout the process. The following terms apply to all custom orders placed with us.

1. Payment & Order Confirmation

• A 70% deposit is required to confirm and schedule a custom order.
• The remaining 30% balance is due before the completed garment is released to the client.
• An order is not considered confirmed until the required deposit has been received.
• By paying the deposit, the client confirms their acceptance of these terms.
• The agreed price, design, materials, measurements, specifications, and estimated completion date will be communicated and confirmed before production where applicable.

2. Design Approval

Before production begins, the client will be provided with or asked to approve the agreed design and specifications. This may include:

• The approved sketch or reference
• Silhouette and overall style
• Fabric
• Colour
• Length
• Embellishment and beading
• Sleeves and neckline
• Accessories or additional details
• Other significant design elements discussed with the client

Once the design has been approved, production may begin.

3. Design Changes

Changes requested by the client after approval may:

• Incur additional material and labour costs
• Affect the original completion date
• Not be possible if production has progressed beyond the stage at which the change can reasonably be made

A change of mind regarding an approved design does not constitute a manufacturing defect and does not qualify the client for a refund.

4. Cancellation & Refunds

Cancellation Before Materials Are Purchased

A client may request cancellation before materials have been purchased and before production has commenced. Where no materials have been purchased and no production work has begun, the deposit may be refunded.

Cancellation After Materials Are Purchased or Production Begins

Once materials have been purchased, prepared, cut, embellished, or production has otherwise commenced:

• The 70% deposit becomes non-refundable
• A cancellation based on a change of mind, change of event, change of preference, or decision not to proceed does not qualify for a refund
• Any exceptional circumstances may be considered individually at our discretion

Because each garment is made specifically for the client, we cannot generally resell or repurpose a completed or partially completed custom order.

5. Fittings

Each custom order includes one scheduled fitting. The fitting is intended to assess the garment’s fit and identify reasonable adjustments before completion.

Additional fittings may be subject to an additional fee where they are required because of:

• Client-requested design changes
• Changes in the client’s measurements
• Missed or repeatedly postponed appointments
• Incorrect measurements supplied by the client
• Circumstances unrelated to an error on our part

6. Measurements & Changes in Body Measurements

• Where measurements are supplied by the client, the client is responsible for ensuring that the measurements provided are accurate.
• Where measurements are taken by Styled by Nerissa, we will take reasonable care to record and apply them correctly.
• Clients are advised to maintain reasonably stable measurements throughout the production period.
• If the client’s body measurements change after the original measurements have been taken, additional alterations may be necessary.
• For garments that are heavily beaded, embellished, structured, or otherwise labour-intensive, additional alteration charges may apply because adjustments can require substantial additional work, including removing and reapplying embellishments.

7. If We Make an Error

We take responsibility for genuine production errors attributable to us.

If the garment has a significant fitting, construction, or design error caused by Styled by Nerissa, our first priority will be to correct the garment at no additional garment-making cost to the client. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Altering the garment
• Correcting the affected area
• Reworking embellishment
• Reconstructing part of the garment
• Remaking the affected portion

If a significant issue cannot reasonably be corrected, a partial or full refund may be considered based on the circumstances.

8. Garment Does Not Match the Approved Design

If the completed garment materially differs from the client’s approved original design or sketch because of an error on our part, we will make reasonable efforts to correct it so that it reflects the approved design.

However, minor variations that naturally occur due to fabric, construction techniques, handwork, bead placement, or the handmade nature of a garment will not automatically constitute a defect.

9. Situations That Do Not Qualify for a Refund

A refund will generally not be provided where dissatisfaction results from:

• A change of mind
• A change in personal preference
• A change of event or occasion
• A design that the client previously approved
• Measurements incorrectly supplied by the client
• Significant changes in the client’s body measurements
• Client-requested design changes
• Failure to communicate a preference before design approval
• Normal characteristics or minor variations of fabrics, lace, beads, crystals, trims, or other materials
• Damage caused after the garment has been received by the client
• Alterations or modifications carried out by another tailor, designer, or third party

Where appropriate, we may offer alterations or corrections at an additional cost.

10. Materials & Substitutions

• We make every reasonable effort to source the materials agreed upon with the client.
• If a specific material becomes unavailable, discontinued, or otherwise impossible to obtain, we will communicate this to the client and, where necessary, propose a suitable alternative for approval.
• We will not knowingly substitute a significant material or design element without informing the client.

11. Fabric, Colour & Handmade Variations

• Colours may appear slightly different depending on lighting, photography, screens, fabric batches, and other factors.
• Handmade garments may contain minor variations in bead placement, embroidery, lace patterns, texture, or other handcrafted details.
• Such reasonable variations do not automatically constitute a defect where the garment remains substantially consistent with the approved design.

12. Client-Caused Delays

The agreed completion date is based on the information, approvals, fittings, and cooperation required from the client. If the client:

• Delays design approval
• Fails to provide required information
• Misses a scheduled fitting
• Repeatedly postpones appointments
• Requests significant changes
• Causes another production-related delay

the completion date may be adjusted accordingly. We will communicate significant changes to the expected timeline where reasonably possible.

13. Rush Orders

• Rush orders may be accepted depending on our production schedule and availability.
• A rush fee may apply to orders requiring production within a significantly shorter timeframe than our standard schedule.
• Rush fees are non-refundable once production has commenced.
• Acceptance of a rush order does not guarantee that client-requested changes made after production begins can be accommodated.

14. Final Payment & Release of Garment

• The remaining 30% balance must be paid before the garment is released to the client.
• The client may inspect and try on the completed garment during the final stage of production.
• Where reasonable adjustments are required, these will be addressed before the garment is released.
• The final payment is not a waiver of the client’s right to raise a genuine manufacturing defect that could not reasonably have been identified during the fitting or inspection.

15. Problems Discovered After Collection

• If a client discovers a genuine manufacturing defect after receiving the garment, they should contact us as soon as reasonably possible and provide clear details and photographs where applicable.
• We will assess the issue fairly.
• Where the issue is attributable to our workmanship or failure to follow the approved specifications, we may offer a correction, alteration, remake, partial refund, or full refund depending on the nature and severity of the issue.
• This does not cover damage caused by the client, improper care, normal wear and tear, or alterations carried out by another person.

16. Alterations by Third Parties

• Clients should contact Styled by Nerissa before having a garment altered or repaired by another tailor or third party.
• Once a third party has altered, reconstructed, repaired, or otherwise modified the garment, we may no longer be able to determine the original cause of an issue and therefore cannot guarantee responsibility for the resulting fit or construction.

17. Garment Care & Post-Collection Damage

Once the garment has been collected or delivered, the client is responsible for following the appropriate care instructions. We are not responsible for damage caused by:

• Incorrect washing or cleaning
• Improper ironing or steaming
• Incorrect storage
• Stains
• Snagging or tearing caused by wear
• Mishandling
• Accidental damage
• Other damage occurring after the garment has been received

18. Photography & Social Media

• Where appropriate, Styled by Nerissa may request permission to photograph completed garments for our portfolio, website, social media, advertising, or other promotional purposes.
• Client privacy will be respected. Where consent is required, we will obtain the client’s permission before using identifiable images of the client for promotional purposes.
• A client may communicate any reasonable privacy preference to us.

19. Exceptional Circumstances

We understand that genuine emergencies and unexpected circumstances may occur. If a client experiences an exceptional circumstance that affects their order, they should contact us as soon as possible.

We will consider such situations individually, taking into account:

• The stage of production
• Materials already purchased
• Labour already completed
• Costs already incurred
• The circumstances surrounding the request

An exceptional circumstance does not automatically guarantee a refund, but we will endeavour to reach a reasonable solution where possible.

20. Our Commitment

• Our responsibility is to create the garment according to the design and specifications agreed with the client.
• If we make a genuine error, we will make reasonable efforts to correct it.
• Our refund policy is not intended to prevent clients from raising legitimate concerns. It is intended to establish clear and fair expectations for both the client and the business.

21. Acceptance of Terms

By paying the 70% deposit, the client confirms that they:

• Have reviewed and approved the applicable design and specifications
• Understand the 70% deposit and 30% final payment structure
• Understand the cancellation and refund conditions
• Understand the fitting and alteration policy
• Understand the conditions relating to client-requested changes and measurement changes
• Agree to these Custom Order Terms, Refund & Alteration Policy

Styled by Nerissa reserves the right to review exceptional circumstances individually while applying these terms fairly and consistently.