Frequently Asked

The Crooked City is the fictional world in which Fae Skin exists.

It is an old, slightly crooked city of forgotten elegance: faded façades, grand rooms gone quiet, overgrown balconies, theatres, libraries, workshops and private interiors where beautiful things have a habit of being kept long after their original purpose has been forgotten.

Fae Skin's garments are treated as objects recovered from this city.

Some are found as finished pieces. Others begin as textiles, references or fragments and are developed into new garments in the atelier.

The Crooked City gives each piece a place within the wider Fae Skin archive. It is not a historical place, and the stories attached to individual garments are part of the world of Fae Skin.

The Archivist is the person responsible for recovering, making and documenting the garments of Fae Skin.

That is me.

I work alone from my atelier, where reclaimed textiles are assessed, patterns are developed, corsets are constructed and finished pieces are catalogued.

Within the world of Fae Skin, I am the Archivist: the person who records what can be established about each specimen, distinguishes documented history from observation and interpretation, and gives each recovered piece its place within the Crooked City.

The title is part of the fiction. The work behind it is very real.

A Recovered is a finished, one-of-a-kind corset made from reclaimed or vintage textile and catalogued as part of the Fae Skin archive.

Each one already exists in its final form. The textile determines much of the character of the finished piece, and once a specimen is sold, it's gone.

Its sizing listed on its product page.

The Reconstructed is a semi-custom corset.

You begin with one of my established silhouettes, then choose the fabric, colour and selected details. The corset is subsequently built to your measurements.

The result follows an existing Fae Skin form, but the particular combination of textile and details is made for you.

The Unwritten is fully bespoke.

There is no predetermined silhouette. We develop the garment together, beginning with your ideas, the intended use, and the materials available to us.

Unwritten commissions are reserved for pieces requiring a higher degree of design development, unusual structure, rare textiles or extensive detailing.

Commissions begin at €650 and are accepted selectively.

Most Fae Skin corsets use lacing or another adjustable fastening, but the amount of adjustment varies from piece to piece.

A Recovered is made to the measurements stated on its product page and is not altered after purchase.

Reconstructed and Unwritten corsets are constructed to your measurements from the beginning.

If you are unsure about the fit of a particular piece, contact me before ordering. I would rather help you choose correctly than have you guess.

For a Recovered, the construction and measurements of the individual piece determine the fit. Because these are one-of-a-kind garments, I cannot assume that a standard size will tell the whole story.

For Reconstructed and Unwritten pieces, I work from your measurements rather than a standard ready-to-wear size.

You can find the general Fae Skin size guide here.

Yes.

Made-to-measure Reconstructed and Unwritten pieces can be adapted to the body they are being made for. Certain designs may require additional pattern adjustments or measurements, particularly where there is a high collar, shoulder structure or a longer torso.

For ready-to-wear Recovered pieces, please use the measurements listed for the individual specimen rather than relying on the size label alone.

That depends on the piece.

For simpler designs, only a small number of measurements may be required. More structurally complex garments can require additional measurements so that the pattern can follow your body accurately.

I will tell you exactly what is needed and guide you through the process.

You will not be expected to work it out alone.

Because the material matters.

I work primarily with reclaimed and vintage textiles, particularly silks from garments such as vintage kimono and cheongsam. These fabrics already have a history before they reach the atelier.

Fading, softened fibres, changes in colour, small irregularities and signs of previous use are not automatically defects. Where appropriate, they are part of the textile's character and history.

I document what I can establish about each material rather than pretending every piece has a perfectly traceable past.

For a Recovered: yes, the photographed garment is the garment you will receive.

For a Reconstructed: the finished corset will follow the selected silhouette, but reclaimed textiles naturally vary. The exact placement of motifs, weave, fading and other characteristics cannot always be reproduced.

For an Unwritten: the final garment is developed specifically for you, so the process is inherently more individual.

Yes. 

For Reconstructed and Unwritten pieces, material selection is part of the design process.

Recovered pieces are finished garments and are normally dispatched within 1–2 business days.

Reconstructed and Unwritten pieces are made to order. The exact timeline depends on the design, textile preparation, current atelier schedule and complexity of the garment.

I will give you an estimated timeframe before work begins and keep you informed if anything changes.

You can always ask.

If the original textile or a sufficiently similar material is still available, I may be able to create another piece inspired by it.

It will not be an identical reproduction. Reclaimed textiles are finite, and each garment is treated as its own specimen.

Sometimes.

For Reconstructed pieces, an existing Fae Skin design can often be used as a starting point for a new version.

For more complex or entirely bespoke pieces, I may recommend an Unwritten commission instead.

The availability of the original textile, construction and materials will determine what can realistically be reproduced.

Yes.

Reconstructed is the place to begin if you already know which Fae Skin silhouette you want.

Unwritten is intended for a garment that needs to be designed from the ground up.

Yes. Fae Skin ships internationally.

Available shipping methods and costs are shown at checkout and vary according to destination. Tracked shipping is recommended for valuable garments.

International orders may be subject to customs duties, import taxes or other charges imposed by the destination country.

These costs are outside my control and, where applicable, are the responsibility of the recipient.

Payment arrangements may be available for selected higher-value Reconstructed pieces and Unwritten commissions.

If you are interested in a particular piece but would prefer to divide the payment, contact me before ordering and I can explain the options available for that commission.

Ready-to-wear Recovered pieces may be returned or exchanged provided you contact me within 7 days of delivery.

The garment must be unworn, returned within 14 days of delivery, with its original tag attached and in its original condition.

Custom pieces are final sale because they have been made specifically for you.

You can read the full returns policy here.

Please contact me as soon as you notice the problem, ideally with photographs and your order details.

I will review the issue and, where a fault is confirmed, arrange an appropriate resolution.

Because custom garments involve material selection, pattern development and dedicated making time, cancellations are not generally possible once production has begun.

The exact terms will be discussed before work starts.