Frequently Asked Questions

As a small independent brand, we have had to understand very quickly how duties and taxes truly impact both our customers and our business. We cannot accurately predict duties and taxes for every country, and absorbing unpredictable charges or miscalculating them is simply not sustainable at our stage. We are also still learning our market. As a new brand, we do not yet know where our strongest demand will be, and we prefer to grow intentionally rather than overextend too early. For now, we ship to selected countries across Southeast Asia, Europe and other regions where we have clearer courier frameworks and better visibility on landed costs. If your country is not listed, we are happy to explore manual orders on a DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) basis where possible. We are building properly, not quickly.

It is a fair question. “For the woman who already knows” is not just a tagline to us, it reflects a philosophy that stems from our founder herself. She made a conscious decision to curate her wardrobe differently, choosing independent brands across the world as keepsakes rather than defaulting to convenience. Independent brands operate on smaller production volumes, smaller courier networks and higher cost per unit because there are no mass economies of scale. Yes, you can absolutely find beautiful pieces at high street and large global retailers, and we do not deny that. Ultimately, wardrobe curation is a choice. Some women choose accessibility and scale, others choose story, limitation and intention. Neither is wrong. It depends on what you value and how you wish to build your wardrobe over time.

Free shipping is rarely free. Duties and taxes are never created by brands; they are imposed by governments. When a company absorbs shipping and international duties at scale, it is because they have large production volumes and global courier contracts that allow them to dilute those costs across thousands of units.

We are an independent brand operating in smaller quantities. Every cost impacts us significantly. Fabric sourcing, sampling, tailoring, packaging, logistics and international courier fees all add up in a very real way.

Could we offer free shipping and absorb duties for every country? Yes. But we would have to dramatically increase product prices across the board, or operate at a loss. Neither is sustainable. And we have no intention of building a brand that cannot last.

We understand that customers do not always see the full cost structure behind a product, and we wish there were more transparency in the industry about this. We prefer clarity over illusion. Our pricing reflects the real cost of doing business responsibly as a small brand. Someday, we hope we may be able to offer free shipping. Until then, we appreciate each and every one of your purchase.

We currently ship to selected countries across Southeast Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and parts of the Middle East. These locations are listed in more detail on our Shipping page along with estimated delivery times.

As a growing independent brand, we expand regions carefully based on courier reliability and cost transparency. If your country is not listed, you may email us to explore a manual order where possible.

For full country listings, delivery timelines and duty explanations, please refer to our Shipping page.

Estimated delivery times vary by country and are stated clearly on our Shipping page. Once your order is dispatched, you will receive a tracking number via email.

International shipments typically take between 5 to 14 working days, sometimes up to 28 days depending on customs clearance and destination. Please note that customs inspections are outside of our control and may occasionally cause delays.

If you require your piece by a specific date, we strongly recommend ordering well in advance.

Orders are processed quickly. If you notice an error in your shipping address, please contact us immediately. We cannot guarantee changes once an order has been dispatched.

Silk & Plum is not responsible for delays or losses caused by incorrect address details entered at checkout.

We offer complimentary international shipping on orders of USD 500 and above (merchandise subtotal only).

The USD 500 threshold applies to the value of Silk & Plum pieces in your cart, excluding shipping fees, duties, and taxes.

Please note: Complimentary shipping does not include import duties or local taxes. You will still be contacted by customs or the delivery agent to settle these charges directly before delivery.

We believe in clear pricing and responsible purchasing. Full country details can be found on our Shipping page.

Due to certain limitations, we can only offer billing in one currency on our Checkout Page. Here, you can pay using Credit Card, Debit Card, or Apple Pay & Google Pay. If you would like to pay using your local currency, please click on ‘Other Payment Methods’ and you will be directed to a page where you’ll be able to view your total in your local currency, and pay via other local payment methods.

We accept major credit and debit cards by Visa and Mastercard, Apple Pay along with selected regional payment methods depending on your country. Available options will appear at checkout.

All payments are securely processed through our payment gateway providers.

Orders may only be cancelled only before they are processed. Once shipped, the order falls under our standard Returns & Exchanges policy.

If you need urgent assistance, please contact us immediately.

Rest assured we do plan on restocking most pieces, however it would depend on popularity. We do want to strike a balance between popular pieces being brought back in different colours and prints, our returning silhouettes in different prints or fabrics. They will return, only it may be in a different form. Others may be restocked as it is.

However, We recommend purchasing intentionally rather than waiting for uncertain restocks.

We are proud of our affiliations with China and India in our first collection, and wish to expand our manufacturing operations into other asian and southeast asian countries soon. China has one of the most mature and sophisticated ecosystems for clothing production in the world, and many global luxury brands manufacture there, and India is known for their handcrafted and artisanal products . Because we work with silk, our journey naturally began along the historical Silk Road, connecting China and India, regions deeply rooted in textile history and craftsmanship. Quality is determined by fabric sourcing, factory capability, construction standards and finishing, not by stereotypes. At Silk & Plum, we do not tolerate outdated assumptions about where something is made. We believe in empowering the East while building a global brand that serves women everywhere.

Silk & Plum is a name rooted in symbolism. Silk represents refinement, while plum represents vibrancy, depth and playfulness. We have never positioned ourselves as a silk-only brand, and from our first collection we made it clear that balance is one of our guiding values. We maintain a commitment that at least fifty percent of each collection will feature natural fibres, including silk. As for the polyester debate, we do not believe in extremes. There are environmental trade-offs to using only natural fibres, including heavy water consumption and livestock impact, just as polyester has its own criticisms. In our jacquard collection, polyester was used intentionally because it holds structure beautifully, resists wrinkling and supports sculptural silhouettes. When lined correctly, it can remain comfortable and cooling. Clothing is not just about fibre content, it is about design, proportion, lining, colour and construction. Sometimes we choose silk, sometimes we choose polyester, and sometimes we choose blends. We choose what serves the garment best.

International shipping is not gentle. When you ship across multiple countries, packages pass through many hands, warehouses, customs inspections and varying climates, and transit can take up to two weeks. While many brands ship locally with only a box and tissue paper, we ship globally and have added additional protection for that reason. Each garment is placed in its own poly bag, and our box is wrapped with a protective layer to guard against moisture and impact. We sell jacquards with metallic threads, pieces with textured trims and buttons, as well as fine knits, silk and cashmere. If these garments are packed together without separation over a long journey, metallic threads can catch, buttons can rub and delicate fabrics can snag. The poly bags protect against water damage and friction during transit. We use plastic selectively and ensure that what we use is durable, recyclable and designed with a zipper so it can be reused. Our founder personally reuses them when travelling to protect finer garments or toiletries in her suitcase. Protection is intentional. We would rather your piece arrive perfectly than beautifully wrapped but compromised.

Luxury has many layers. It is not only about price or labels, and it certainly does not begin with branding. It begins with how a woman carries herself and how she chooses to dress.

We position ourselves as low-to-mid-luxury. We work with premium fabrics where possible, and where fabric choices are balanced for structure or design, we compensate through creative weaving, thoughtful construction and timeless silhouettes. Luxury is subjective. What feels expensive to one woman may feel reasonable or well-priced to another.

Our founder learned this through travel and meeting women from different cities, cultures and economic backgrounds. True luxury depends on the woman herself. It is about discernment.

We believe our products are valuable, whether one chooses to call them luxury or not. We add value through design, proportion, fabric selection and intention. That much we know.

When we say “for the woman who already knows,” we mean it. A woman who understands her own standards does not need a label to validate them, whether than means choosing SILK&plum or not, we always love a woman who knows.

They are not meant to.

We design for women, not for trend cycles. Trends are fleeting by nature. We are more interested in self-expression than seasonal noise.

That does not mean you cannot style our pieces in a youthful or trend-forward way. Mixing and matching with other brands can absolutely create that effect. We are not asking you to build your entire wardrobe around us.

One of Our guiding values, Intention, supports this. We believe we come in when you need us. For some women, that may be event wear. For others, special dinners, travel or daily pieces that feel elevated. You decide how we fit into your wardrobe.

You make the rules for yourself. We simply provide the options.

Polyester in itself is not what determines price. Construction does.

Our current polyester pieces are jacquards that require complex machine weaving before they even reach our tailors. These fabrics are not basic yardage; they are textured, structured and technically demanding.

From there, the fabric moves into the hands of our tailors for cutting, lining, construction and finishing. We invest significant time into sampling, revising proportions, refining sizing and adjusting details before a piece is finalised.

Operating in small quantities means raw materials are not purchased at massive discounts. We also make a conscious decision to pay our suppliers and makers fairly. Small-scale production does not automatically mean cheap production. That is our commitment in ensuring ethical manufacturing.

We price based on total value: fabric development, labour, construction, fit refinement and longevity. Fibre content alone does not define worth.

Silk & Plum pieces are ready-to-wear garments crafted in structured silks, jacquards, brocades and textured fabrics. These materials are beautiful — and at times temperamental.

While every piece goes through quality checks before reaching you, ready-to-wear garments are not couture. Minor variations in stitching, weave tension, thread positioning or finishing may occur, particularly in textured or metallic fabrics. These do not affect structure or wearability.

We do not promise perfection. We promise intention, continual refinement, and accountability. If something is genuinely faulty, our Returns & Exchanges policy exists for that reason.

Silk & Plum is a founder-led, independent label in its early chapters. Our founder personally visits and evaluates manufacturing partners, reviewing workmanship and finishing standards before production begins.

That said, scaling from approved samples to full bulk production can reveal areas that require adjustment — from stitch density to reinforcement techniques and fabric handling. Each production round strengthens our technical specifications and raises our internal quality control standards.

We are building carefully and deliberately. Improvement is part of that process.

Our garments are ready-to-wear, not bespoke.

Bespoke pieces are individually hand-measured and hand-constructed for one client. Ready-to-wear garments are produced in standardised sizing using industrial methods.

This means you may notice subtle stitching variations, internal seam finishes that differ from couture handwork, or minor irregularities that do not affect fit or durability. Such variations are normal in ready-to-wear construction.

If you prefer glove-like precision inside and out, bespoke tailoring is always recommended. For personalised fit, we also encourage alterations.

While we do offer refunds and take full responsibility when the fault is ours, we do not offer refunds for change of mind.

As a small independent brand producing in limited quantities, we operate with careful inventory planning. Refunds are only offered in cases of confirmed manufacturing defects.

Please review our Returns & Exchanges page before purchasing to ensure you are comfortable with our policy.

Exchanges may be accepted subject to stock availability and in accordance with our Returns & Exchanges policy. Items must be unworn, unwashed and returned in original condition.

Because many of our pieces are produced in limited quantities, we cannot guarantee size availability at the time of exchange.

Full conditions and timelines are outlined on our Returns & Exchanges page.

In the rare case that you receive a defective item, please email us on our Return Portal within the timeframe stated on our Returns & Exchanges page, including clear photographs and your order number.

We encourage customers to review size charts, fabric details and policies carefully before purchasing.

Unlike large retailers, we do not operate on high-volume return cycles. Excessive returns create waste, increase costs and affect long-term sustainability for independent brands.

We design thoughtfully and expect purchasing to be thoughtful as well.

We strongly encourage contacting us directly first. Most issues can be resolved quickly and professionally through proper communication.

Public complaints without prior contact limit our ability to assist efficiently. We are reasonable and responsive. We expect mutual respect in return.