FAQs
How is Yala jewellery made?
All of our jewellery is handmade by Kenyan artisans in low-tech, traditional workshops.
What is Yala jewellery made out of?
Our jewellery is made from a variety of ethically-sourced, often recycled materials from Kenya.
How is the brass sourced?
All of our brass is recycled, poured and hammered by hand.
How is the leather obtained?
We use surplus dead-stock leather in our pendants and trinket trays.
What standard gold do you use?
For intricate elements such as fastenings and chains, we use 14kt and 18kt gold fill. Some of our earrings also feature 9ct gold or sterling silver fastenings. Our gold plated items are made with 24k gold plated onto brass.
How is horn obtained?
Our reclaimed cow horn is sourced from local farms, where it would otherwise be thrown away.
Where is Yala jewellery made?
All of our jewellery is made in Kenya. Our brass jewellery is made in workshops in and around Nairobi, while our leather trinket trays and beaded items are made in a Fairtrade certified workshop near the Maasai Mara.
What is your packaging made out of?
Yala’s packaging is 100% plastic-free and designed to reduce any unnecessary material. We've included items that our customers can re-use and we've ensured that all the packaging elements can either be recycled or composted.
How do I look after my Yala jewellery?
With proper care, your piece should last you a lifetime.
Do you ship overseas?
We do indeed! Items are shipped either via courier or by international standard mail with tracking, unless otherwise specified.
Please note that we cannot ship to a PO Box.
How are my items shipped?
We use a selection of couriers and Royal Mail (International Standard Tracked) to deliver our orders, unless otherwise specified.
All our orders are shipped within 2 business days and should be delivered within 2-3 business days for UK domestic customers and 3-20 business days for international customers.
As a result of Brexit, all orders to the EU will be shipped via DHL as "Delivery Duty Paid" (DDP). This means that the price you see at check out is the final price for all shipping, customs and import fees. You will not have to pay any extra fees prior to delivery of your order.
International customers in non-EU countries can choose between DHL and Royal Mail (International Standard Tracked) shipping. Please note that for customers who choose Royal Mail, there may be customs and import fees, and each country has different customs controls.
Import duties and fees are the responsibility of the buyer, these are shown at checkout.
For customers who choose DHL, the shipping cost shown at checkout is the total cost for shipping, customs and import fees.
For customers who choose Royal Mail (International Standard Tracked), the cost shown at checkout is for shipping only and additional customs or import fees (if applicable) are payable prior to delivery.
Delivery times by Country (Courier)
- UK : 1-2 working days
- Mainland Europe : 2-3 working days
- USA & Canada : 3-5 working days
- Rest of World : 5-10 working days
Delivery times by Country (Standard Mail)
- UK : 2-3 working days
- Mainland Europe : 5-15 working days
- USA & Canada : 5-20 working days
- Rest of World : 10-20 working days
Please note that we cannot ship to a PO Box.
When will my item be shipped?
All our orders are shipped within 2 business days and should be delivered within 2-3 business days for UK domestic customers and 3-20 business days for international customers.
These shipping times do not apply to products that are made to order. Shipping estimates for made to order items will be communicated separately to the customer.
Why do you need my phone number?
The courier services we use require a customer phone number so that you can receive updates about the progress of your shipment, and also so they can contact you if there are any problems with delivery.
My payment didn't go through at checkout but my card has still been charged?
Some of our customers using Revolut and Monzo cards have experienced payment errors when placing orders, particularly on a weekend.
You may find that your payment is declined at checkout, however your statement shows the money has been debited from your bank account.
Please rest assured that you haven’t actually been charged - the money has only been reserved for the payment, and is still in your account.
Look at the transaction detail in the app and you’ll see it’s marked as "pending". After 2 business days, check your statement again and you will see the payment has been reversed.
If you do not receive an order confirmation email from us, the order has not been completed and you have not been charged.
There is more information about how pending payments are handled on the Revolut website and the Monzo website.
What is your returns policy?
If you are unhappy with your item, please return it within 30 days from the date of of purchase, unused and in the same condition that you received it. Upon receipt, we will subsequently offer you a refund or an exchange.
Please return all items in their original packaging where possible.
Unfortunately we are unable to accept returns of earrings, for hygiene reasons. No exceptions will be made.
Our full returns policy is here.
Can I exchange my item?
We only replace items if they are defective or damaged. If you require an exchange, send us an email at hello@yalastudio.com
Exchanges will not be shipped until the original item has been returned to us.
Return your item within 30 days of purchase, unused and in the same condition that you received it.
Please note, this does not apply to sale items.
Unfortunately we are unable to accept returns of earrings, for hygiene reasons.
Do you provide repairs?
Yes. To arrange a repair, please contact us with information and/or photographs of the damage and we will respond accordingly.
For damage to components such as chains, clasps or earring hooks, repairs will be made at no additional charge.
While we do offer repairs, we do not take responsibility for jewellery damaged through negligence.
We also ask that any items sent to us for repairs are placed either in the same product box they arrived in, or alternative packaging which provides adequate protection as it travels through the postal system.
It may not be possible to repair items that suffer further damage in transit due to insufficient packaging.
Do you have a reclamation program?
Yes. If you have reached a point where you no longer wish to keep your Yala piece, you can send it back to us and we will recycle the components into new jewellery. Please email us on hello@yalajewellery.com for more information
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR RECLAMATION PROGRAM
How can I read previous newsletters?
To read past editions of our monthly newsletter, please click here to access the Yala newsletter archive.