How is Malai different from leather materials?
Malai isn’t identical to leather nor does it intend to be so. This material is made from natural fibres and Bacterial Cellulose. In comparison with animal leather it has stiffer temper (little more similar to veg tan leather), it has less tensile strength and less resistant to abrasion.
Where will the products for this campaign be made?
All our materials are made in South India - Kerala. The braided bracelets will be made by ladies who live nearby our production unit in Kerala. Bags, backpacks and wallets will be made in Chennai by our trusted partner Leatherhunte pvt. Ltd. - a certified leather goods manufacturer.. The products made in collaboration with Czech designers Lucie and Mrs. Libena will be made at their ateliers in Czech Republic.
How do I take care of my Malai products ?
That’s a wonderful question! We firmly believe that the right kind of material care can prolong the life of your product and keep it in good condition for years to come. Apply beeswax / carnauba wax on your Malai products regularly Do not wash in washing machine. If your product gets dirty wipe it with a damp cloth and let dry. Do not expose products extreme weather conditions ( extreme heat, extreme humidity).
How can I dispose of the product when I no longer need it ?
We will enclose instructions on how to dispose of your products to every Malai product sent. The malai material and cotton parts are fully compostable, metal zippers and trimmings are recyclable. No plastics are used.
How about the durability of the material? Will it fall apart while I wear it?
No, it will not fall apart :-)
Provided you take proper care of your material it will last you in a good condition for years. It is difficult to predict how many years exactly because malai is new here and we’re just testing it.
What is the return policy with your products?
We sincerely hope there won’t be a reason to do that. However shall that occur we will accept products from you back and will refund you full price only in case you receive them already with a physical damage and you have a photo proof of it. We do not accept products back if they have : slightly different shade than shown in our color palette photo ( we use natural dyes and that’s why it is necessary to take possible 10% color difference in shade into account) or if they are different than you imagined.
Are your products water resistant?
Yes, they are water resistant but not waterproof. If your product gets wet no panic. Simple dry it with a cloth, let dry on air. You can apply beeswax / carnauba wax afterwards to moisturise it.
How much water does malai making consume ?
For making 1 m sq. of malai you need on average 25-30 l of water. We reuse 90% of this water in the process ( starting the production with light colors continuing to dark shades and then filtering the remaining dye out). Whatever is not reused get used for watering the plants in our lawn :-) We do not pollute the water with any chemicals, we are integrating Malai making in the water cycle.
What’s your take on sustainability?
Our idea of sustainability is that the product - once no longer used, should go back to where it originated from. It should be easily broken down back to its constituent elements in least possible time, continue being food for microorganisms and eventually reach the state where it can be assimilated by plants and trees ( compost). This is how Malai doesn’t take a toll on the environment. As our CTO Susmith explain : “If you are to model sustainability - reuse and recycling equals accumulation. The best way of doing things is to close the loop. So when you are done using malai, don’t throw it, place it in a compost.”
Can you prepare a Christmas voucher for the rewards?
Yes, absolutely! We are sorry about not being able to deliver most of the rewards any sooner. However we can prepare a beautiful Christmas voucher for you! Please let us know in a note if you are interested in one.
Where can I see the photos of rewards in HD?
Please click on this link which will direct you to our Google drive folder with photos :
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ee94YJzmj9Pe8Y7h7ggyDTtM7dbRUgLz