PoLYHYMNIA CoNCEPTS, LLC
364 Addison Road Bonnerdale, AR 71933
polyhymnia@aristotle.net
www.polyhymniaconcepts.com
ORDERING INFORMATION
We work one-on-one with our clients in designing their garment. This takes more time, but the reward for having a hand in your gown design and creation is well worth it. You are unique and original, why shouldn't your clothing be?! The clothing shown in our brochure and web pages were original designs by custom order, and the photos presented here are just a tiny sampling of clothing we have designed for lords, ladies, and peasants to wear for theatrical events, celtic festivals, medieval feasts, re-enactments, renaissance faires and weddings.
The pricing on this site indicates the price of the actual item in the photograph. Because the style, fabric, and trim you choose will affect the cost of both labor and materials, all quotes are custom based on your specifications. Pricing shown includes labor and all materials, but you can request a quote for labor only if you want to supply the fabric and trim yourself.
To request a quote, please send us an e-mail or mail us sketches or photographs a full-length photograph and. Please provide as detailed a description of your requirements as possible, such as character, social status and occupation, in the message. We will respond with a quote as soon as possible. Our garments are all custom made, so each order must be priced individually. Some of the simpler designs cost as little as $250 (USD). Depending upon fabrics, difficulty of design and details such as extensive hand beading and furs, the finest gowns may range up to $5,000 (USD).
To order a gown or costume similar to one (or several) on the site, send us your design ideas and requests as well as fabrics and detail work and we will send a preliminary sketch with a quote. We also require information about your choice of fabrics, tartans or colors when you contact us. As always, if you have an original design in mind, just ask us! All the garments on this site are from the imagination of the designer.
Sizing and Measurements Note...
When Sizing Your Renaissance Garment Please take a moment to read the sizing recommendation and our return policy. The sizes we offer are designed for specific body types, if you try to fit into a size that is too small and the item is damaged, we will not accept it for return. Our bodices are made to fit the individual for whom they were designed and with proper undergarments. These bodices are not a corset. Most of our bodices are designed to be worn with a corset for proper period body shape and to reduce strain on the expensive fabrics and extend the life of the gown. These gowns are made to last, but will not last when abused such as with overcinching. They will give some support to the bust, but are not intended to be used as a corset to reduce the waist size.
Please refer to the measurement chart and instructions to correctly take your measurements. Remember, they do not have to be laced completely shut as there is a modesty panel to allow for our "overindulgences."
Velvet and tapestry items should never be washed, dry cleaning is recommended. However, we have found that some dry cleaners tumble garments which can damage the item. Dry cleaners also refuse responsibility for damage to buttons and beading. One alternative if you can't find a dry cleaner is to brush off any loose dirt and spray your garments with Febreze™ and hang it out to air. Another option is to remove buttons and pearls, turn the bodice inside out and place it inside an old pillow case with a home dry cleaning sheet such as Dryel™ and follow manufacturer's instructions with the dryer set on low. Items removed will have to be resewn securely, but it is an effective and safe cleaning method if done properly.
Cotton skirts, blouses, chemises and cotton blend skirts are machine washable and hang to dry. You may place them in the dryer on low to get much of the water out, but complete the drying process by hanging to dry. Dryers are a wonderful thing for convenience, but do damage the fiber strength and void our warranty. Colors should be washed in cold water. We recommend hand dyed items to be washed separately or hand washed in cold.
Our only other suggestion is....have fun.
If there is any problem with your custom order, you must notify Polyhymnia Concepts, LLC order department at 501.282.0456 within seven days of receipt. Any fit or workmanship issues are subject to the guarantees listed in the guarantees section. The original 50% deposit will not be refunded.
Please inspect your order IMMEDIATELY upon receipt. If your merchandise is damaged in shipment, we must be notified immediately. We ship with insurance and insurance forms must be filed by the recipient. We will provide value documentation and support. If merchandise is damaged after shipment, this is the responsibility of the purchaser.
All returns must be authorized. UNAUTHORIZED RETURNS WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.
Items must be returned within 30 days of receipt in original condition for exchange/refund. Returns must include original invoice and authorization number.
Original 50% deposit will not be refunded unless garment was not constructed to measurements provided. In which case, we reserve the right to, at our discretion, alter the garment or accept the garment for return with full labor and fabric payment refund.
Shipping and handling charges will not be refunded.
Please allow 4 weeks for refund processing.
Damaged items will not be accepted for return.
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT UNAUTHORIZED RETURNS OR ITEMS RETURNED AFTER 30 DAYS FROM RECEIPT BY CUSTOMER.
Orders are subject to a $250.00 minimum, require a 50% deposit, and take from 4-6 weeks of actual construction time, depending on your design and our current bookings. The balance is due within 2 weeks of notification of the completion of your custom order, or item will be sold to recover expenditures and deposit forfeited..
You may send your design ideas in jpeg, pdf or gif format via e-mail or send your design anytime via FAX to 413.751.8791, or snail mail to:
Polyhymnia Concepts, LLC
364 Addison Road
Bonnerdale, AR 71933We can usually get a preliminary quote back to you within 48 hours, Mon-Thurs.
Placing the order is simple. You tell us what you want, and we give you a preliminary quote. From that point, we work with you to determine the exact specifications and design of your order. Depending on the complexity of your design, there may be sketches exchanged and swatches sent prior to design completion. At that point, you will be provided with a firm quote and a start date and a delivery date for your order. We will send a quote, contract and design sketch.
Upon contract agreement and receipt of deposit, we will send you a measurement guide and chart. Please use this to determine your measurements, as indicated on the drawing which we will provide. We can accomplish most orders with just your measurements, but sometimes a fitting is necessary. The fitting can be in person or a muslin (fabric pattern of your garment) will sent through the mail, which is our most common method.
We use authentically styled fabrics and colors whenever possible. As synthetics are often more durable, available and much less expensive, we will use synthetics upon client approval. For all reinactors, we use authentic fabrics such as wool, linen, cotton and silks appropriate to the period and class in style and color. We take great care to choose fabrics and colors which are also appropriate for both the wearer and for each garment we make.
All garments are created as long lasting and durable clothing, not flimsy costumes. As such, our clothing will wear much more durably than costumes and we guarantee our workmanship under normal wear and appropriate care and conditions for a full year after purchase.
We ourselves definitely do not want to see the same fabric and color of our personal gowns and ensembles on 50 other people. When you order an original garment, we can offer a swatch selection for you to choose from in the colors you prefer, or we can use fabric of your choosing.We will give amounts needed for your ensemble and will buy back any remaining fabric of ˝ yard or more with receipt.
We guarantee your order will be made to the specifications agreed to by you and by Polyhymnia Concepts, LLC. We guarantee our workmanship 100%. We also guarantee garments will be made accurately according to the measurements with which we were provided, or we will alter or replace those garments. If a garment requires alteration or replacement because we were provided with inaccurate measurements, there will be an additional fee. Payment: Custom orders may require up to a 50% deposit before work is begun, with the balance on all orders due in full prior to delivery. No work will begin before the agreed upon start date, so any deposit is fully refundable if the order is canceled prior to scissors touching fabric. Once work has begun, however, any deposit is non-refundable. Any completed order which has not been paid in full 30 days after the agreed upon completion date becomes the property of Polyhymnia Concepts, LLC.
The measurements required for each garment will be sent to you upon contract agreement and receipt of deposit. You will only need to provide the measurements needed for the garments you are ordering.
We will provide a numbered diagram that should help you determine how to take the requested measurements. Please provide actual body measurement without adding or subtracting for fit. We'll do that for you. Having trouble measuring? It's always best to have a friend or relative measure you so that you will have an accurate accounting. We don't know many people who can measure their own back, shoulder to shoulder accurately! When you measure, always wear any foundation garments you may already own that you will wear with your gown, and any shoes as these items will affect the final outcome. If we are making your foundation garments for you, don't worry; we will set up our body forms to match your measurements and then add the underpinnings.
For points of reference (areas you will measure from and to more than once), we suggest tying a string around your natural waistline, your neck, and under your bustline. This is because other measurements will need an accurate point of reference. For example, you will be measuring from your underarm to your natural waistline. You will get a more accurate measurement if your natural waist and under-bust is marked. We may need to confer with you personally, to assure that your order is understood properly
. Measure over the undergarments you usually wear. Hold tape snugly, but not tightly. Record measurements and check them periodically.
We guarantee that the garments we make for you will fit the measurements with which we were provided, or we will alter or replace them free of charge. If, however, alterations or replacements are necessary because we were given inaccurate measurements, there will be an additional charge for replacement or alteration.
Website design and images, unless otherwise noted (c) 1998,1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Polyhymnia Concepts, LLC, Graphic Design Division
