POLICIES + FAQ | The Base Project
 

POLICIES + FAQ

EXCHANGE POLICY 

We gladly accept returns within 30 days of purchase for merchandise exchange. Return shipping is not covered at this time. Along with your return, please let us know the specific reason for your return (sizing, color, etc) so we can better serve our customers. 

SHIPPING  

We ship all web site orders from New York once a week via the US Postal System First Class or Priority Mail. Domestic USPS shipments typically take 1-3 business days dependent on the location. International shipments typically take 10-14 business days dependent on the country. Once your order is shipped you will receive an email notifying you of the shipped status. If you require expedited shipping please notate on your order. Please also feel free to email us at info@thebaseproject.com to expedite shipping or check the status of a shipment. 

 

FAQ ON THE BASE PROJECT 

ARE THESE PRODUCTS FAIR TRADE? Yes. We are also members of the Fair Trade Federation.

WHAT DO THE ARTISANS USE THEIR INCOME FOR? Additional income from making the bracelets is often used for food, school costs, clothing, basic home supplies, and health care.

WHERE DO THE BRACELET DESIGNS COME FROM? The designs come from artists in Namibia, Africa. The artist’s inspiration for the designs come from the animals, landscape, and rich history of Namibia; and reflect the traditional art of the region alongside the artists’ own unique vision.

WHAT DO THE BRACELET NAMES MEAN? The bracelets are named after the people, culture, wildlife, & landscape of Namibia.

WHAT SKILLS ARE THE ARTISANS LEARNING? Through this work artisans learn invaluable communication, business and product development, basic finance, and marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their environment, while maintaining their cultural heritage through traditional forms of art.

WHAT IS THE BASE PROJECT'S TAG LINE? Wear Your Impact!

WHAT ARE TBP'S SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES? @thebaseproject #thebaseproject #wearyourimpact

 

FAQ ON UP-CYCLED BRACELETS 

WHERE ARE THE BRACELETS MADE? Namibia (Southern Africa).

ARE THESE BRACELETS HAND MADE? Yes. Each bracelet is a one-of-a-kind, hand-carved piece of art. Because of this, bracelets may vary slightly in color and size. If you’d like to exchange your bracelet, please let us know via email.

HOW ARE THEY MADE? The artisans hand cut, smooth, and polish the pipe before carving. The designs are then hand carved into the plastic, and finally lightly heated to form the bracelets shape.

WHAT ARE THE BRACELETS MADE OF? Discarded plastic water pipe. The aesthetic is comparable to bone or horn, but no animals have been harmed in the process.

HOW DO THE BRACELETS GET THEIR COLOR? The unique coloring of the brown bracelets comes from a combination of exposure to the sun and red-ochre soil of the region. Over time the sun can cause bleaching and yellowing of the plastic. Likewise, pipes buried in the ground over many years will become dyed by the rich red ochre soil and take on hues of deep red, purple, and brown.

The unique coloring of the black bracelets comes from the original manufacturing process. A layer of black plastic is formed on top of the white substrate. When the artisans carve the bracelets they are carving out black or white layers of plastic to create the unique patterns. Older plastics will often produce bracelets with an egg shell white tone to them, while newer plastics will produce bracelets with a more bleached white look.

ARE THE BRACELETS FRAGILE? Your bracelet is water proof and durable. We are confident that you will not break your bracelet when placing on around your wrist. Though, should your bracelet break in the normal course of putting it on...just mail it back to us and we will happily exchange it. 

 

 

 

FAQ ON BRASS BRACELETS 

HOW DOES THIS BRACELET LINE GIVE BACK? First, the artisans in Namibia earn income from a royalty payment on every bracelet. This royalty similar to the royalty a musician or artist receives when their song is played on the radio or print used on a product like a T‐shirt. Second, proceeds from each bracelet fund a scholarship program for secon‐ dary school students in the artisan’s community of Opuwo. These secondary school students are in need of finan‐ cial assistance to pay their annual school fees.

HOW MUCH OF MY PURCHASE  IS GIVING TO SCHOLARSHIPS? 6 bracelets will pay for a child’s school fees for an entire year!

WHERE ARE THE BRACELETS MADE? Designed in Namibia (Southern Africa), handmade in the USA.

WHY ARE THESE BRACELETS MADE IN THE USA? Too date we have not identified the expertise for such intricate pro‐ duction on a commercial scale in Namibia. So, we looked in our backyard and found the expertise in a family owned business in New York. This partnership of design in Namibia & production in the USA results in a sharing of culture between two distant countries. It also evolves the traditional Fair Trade model of producers as crafters to designers & collaborators. In a few years we hope that we are also producing metal bracelets in Namibia.

HOW CAN I REDUCE TARNISHING OF BRASS? Keep dry, frequently polish, wear often.

 

WEAR YOUR IMPACT!