Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know before you order, answered by the person who makes your clothes. Can't find it here? Ask me.
Ordering and made to order
What does made to order mean?
Your piece is cut and sewn after you order it, by me, in my West Melbourne studio. Nothing sits in a warehouse waiting for a body to fit it. It means less waste, and it means your size is never "sold out".
How long will my order take?
Ready to ship pieces leave the studio in 1 to 2 days. Made to order pieces take 5 to 10 business days. If your fabric needs ordering in, allow 20 to 30 business days; the product page will say so. Delivery time after that depends on where you live. Worth the wait? We think so. (Very biased.)
Can I customise my piece?
Yes. Most clothing can be customised on request, like sleeves or no sleeves on the Juno Dress, or a custom size. Choose Custom when you order, or message me through the contact page before you buy and we'll sort it out together.
Who actually makes the clothes?
Me, Silika. Every Ebony Bolts piece is designed and sewn in my West Melbourne studio (fine, it's the spare bedroom). If that ever changes, I'll tell you exactly who's helping and where.
Can I shop in person?
Yes, at Melbourne markets throughout the year. Follow @ebonybolts on Instagram for upcoming market dates. Online orders are open all the time.
Sizing and fit
What sizes do you make?
Our clothing comes in XS (4-6), S (8-10), M (12-14), L (16-18), XL (20-22), 2XL (24-26) and 3XL (28-30). Every clothing piece can also be made to your own measurements. Every body gets the fun clothes. That's the whole point.
What if I'm between sizes, or the chart doesn't fit me?
Choose Custom when you order and send your bust, waist and hip measurements. I'll get in touch to confirm before I cut anything. The sizing chart shows how to measure.
How do I measure myself?
Use a soft tape measure (or string and a ruler). Bust: around the fullest part, tape resting, not tight. Waist: your natural waist, the narrowest part of your torso. Hips: around the fullest part of your seat. Keep the tape parallel to the floor.
How do your pieces fit?
All our styles are true to size, but the measurement chart is your best friend. Being a size 18 in one store doesn't make you a size 18 everywhere, so check your bust, waist and hip measurements against the sizing chart before you order. Between sizes, or not sure? Choose Custom and we'll make it to your measurements.
What is the Masc cut?
The Masc cut is a longer, boxier, oversized fit of the Flumper, in its own colourways. Same fuzzy feels, more room.
Do you have pockets?
Yes. Juno, Ika and Vere dresses, Power Cords and Skiirt skirts all have pockets, and they're deep. Deep enough for snacks, secrets or a small dog (we're not judging).
Shipping and delivery
How much is shipping?
Shipping within Australia is a flat $10, and free on orders over $199. International orders ship free over $299. Any freight offers show up automatically in your cart.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we ship worldwide. We choose the quickest, most cost effective option (carbon neutral where we can). Australia Post currently estimates around 25 business days for international delivery.
Can I pick up my order in Melbourne?
We don't offer pickup, but if you live within 5km of our West Melbourne studio, delivery is just $5. The local delivery option shows at checkout when your address qualifies.
How will I know when my order ships?
You'll get an email when your order is ready to go. Once Sendle or Australia Post collects it, they'll send tracking and an estimated delivery time. Questions? Email hello@ebonybolts.com.
What happens if I'm not home?
The driver will leave your parcel somewhere safe. If there's nowhere safe, they'll leave a card and either redeliver or take it to your local post office.
Is your packaging plastic free?
Yes. Online orders ship plastic free, and every part of the packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable. The occasional bit of sticky tape sneaks in, but only when it really has to.
Returns, exchanges and faulty items
Can I return something?
Yes, for ready made and standard size pieces. Full priced items can be returned within 30 days and sale items within 7 days, unused, with tags and in their original packaging. Custom pieces made to your measurements can't be returned for change of mind, because they're made just for you. Earrings and masks can't be returned for hygiene reasons. Faulty items are always covered (see below). Email hello@ebonybolts.com with your order number to start a return.
Do you do exchanges?
Yes. If you'd like a different size or piece, email hello@ebonybolts.com with your order number and what you'd like instead. Exchanges follow the same time frames as returns: 30 days for full priced items and 7 days for sale items, unused and with tags on. Custom pieces can't be exchanged for change of mind.
Who pays for return postage?
You do for change-of-mind returns. If your item is faulty, we cover the return postage. We recommend a tracked, insured postage option, and keep your receipt until the return arrives.
How long do refunds take?
We aim to process refunds within 5 working days of receiving your return. Refunds go to your original payment method or an Ebony Bolts gift voucher.
What if my item is faulty?
Email hello@ebonybolts.com with your order number and a photo of the problem. We'll repair, replace or refund, depending on the fault. Repairing comes first where it makes sense, because keeping clothes in use is kind of our whole thing.
I bought at a market. Can I still return it?
Yes. Market and pop up purchases follow the same returns policy as online orders. Just bring or send proof of purchase.
Ethics, sustainability and Pass on the Profit
What does ECA accredited mean?
Ebony Bolts is accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA), which checks that everyone making clothes in a brand's Australian supply chain is paid and treated fairly. Right now that's just me, but the accreditation keeps me honest as I grow. See our ECA listing.
Where do your fabrics come from?
Most of our printed fabric is printed in Melbourne by Next State Print. Plain cottons and linens currently come from mainstream suppliers so a dress doesn't cost a small fortune, and I'm looking for better options. Some fabric comes from Upparel's textile recycling rescues. Full details are on the Ethics and Sustainability page.
What happens to your fabric offcuts?
They become smaller things, like bucket hats and eye pillows. Making to order also means I only cut what's been bought, so there's no pile of unsold stock.
What is Pass on the Profit?
For every dress, skirt, Flumper, FAPA and skivvy sold, part of the money goes to a charity matched to that product type, like ActionAid's She Wears the Cost for dresses and the Malala Fund for skirts. We tally it up every quarter and share the results. It started on 1 April 2025. See where the money goes.
Is Ebony Bolts zero waste?
Not yet, and we won't pretend otherwise. We're working towards zero waste in the studio by making to order, using offcuts and shipping in plastic free packaging.
Products, care and paying
What is a Flumper?
A Flumper is our cropped polar fleece jumper. It sits at your waist and has extra long sleeves, so you can do the pull-your-sleeves-over-your-hands thing. Soft, warm, anti-pill, and very, very bright.
What is a FAPA?
FAPA is short for fanny pack (yes, a bum bag). It's not a bum bag, it's a FAPA: bright, printed and handmade, in sizes that fit up to size 40.
How do I care for my Ebony Bolts pieces?
Each product page has care instructions. Most pieces like a cold wash with similar colours and a line dry in the shade. No bleach, no soaking, and turn corduroy inside out.
Do you sell gift cards?
Yes. Ebony Bolts gift cards can be used on anything in the store, from Flumpers to made to measure dresses.
How can I pay?
We accept credit and debit cards (through Shop Pay), Amex, PayPal and Afterpay.
How do I contact you?
Email hello@ebonybolts.com, call 1300 582 705, or use the contact form. There's a real human at the other end (hi, it's me).