YOUR ORDER
How do I track my order?
We make sure to only use tracked (and environmentally responsible) shipping methods. When your order has been dispatched you will receive an email with a tracking number and a link, allowing you to make sure you know exactly when your parcel arrives. If you’re based in London, your order will be delivered by bike and you’ll get a two hour slot on the day of your delivery.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes we do! All international orders are shipped by DHL and are delivered within 7-12 working days. You can follow the entire journey of your order via the tracking number in your shipping confirmation.
What are your shipping methods and how long do they take?
We offer free shipping to all UK orders over £200. Additionally, all UK orders are delivered within 3-5 working days. Orders delivered within London are delivered by bike or an electric car thanks to our friends at QUIVER. The rest of the UK and all international orders are shipped using DHL and are guaranteed to be with you within 7-12 days, although often they arrive much sooner.
UK Delivery (Standard 3-5 Days) - £4.95
Europe - £14.95
USA and Rest of World - £19.95
Find out more about our shipping methods here
Can I collect from your studio?
Of course! Collections are free and can be chosen as an option at checkout. Your order will usually be ready for collection the following day, but do drop us an email at yourorder@been.london if you have any special requirements and we will try our best to accommodate.
Our address is Studio 21, 19 Rookwood Way, E3 2XT.
How are BEEN bags shipped sustainably?
We thought long and hard about our shipping partners, taking into consideration both their service and sustainability credentials. Our London orders (zone 1-3) are delivered by bike or an electric car by HIVED, a zero emissions parcel service. We hope to soon be using this service nationwide!
Rest of UK and international orders are delivered by DHL, see their sustainability policy.
Will I have to pay tax on orders to Europe?
Please note that additional taxes and duties may occur that are not included in the shipping rates at checkout when shipping to countries within the EU. As a small company, we sadly cannot take responsibility for any customs fees or charges for EU orders. These customs charges are the sole responsibility of the customer.
My order is a gift. Can I include a personalised note? Do you offer gift-wrapping?
Most definitely. Please add your request when adding a product to checkout or drop us a note with your order number at yourorder@been.london.
Can I edit/cancel my order to change my address?
Please let us know straight away on yourorder@been.london and we will try our best to accommodate.
REPAIRS & RETURNS
How do I return my bag?
When you buy something from us, we hope you love it. However, should you change your mind (it happens to the best of us), you have 30 days to send it back to us.
To arrange a return, you’ll need your order number and this link. View our full returns policy.
How long does it take to process a return?
Your return should take a maximum of 14 days to reach us and be processed. We always try to be as fast as possible, but during busy periods (such as holidays and sales), it can take a little longer. Once we have processed the return you will receive a return confirmation email.
Do you offer repairs?
All BEEN London products come with a 1 year warranty. So if your bag needs a little TLC, then get in touch with us at yourorder@been.london, state the order number, problem, and attach photos so we can assess how we can help. We will then contact you to ship the item back to us (you will need to cover the cost of this), we’ll make the repairs, and endeavour to have the bag back to you within 1 month.
Had your bag for over a year? Not to worry. To extend the lifespan of your BEEN London bag for as long as possible we have partnered with care and repair service The Seam. Head to this link to learn more about how The Seam makers can breathe new life through revitalising, restoring, or repairing - letting you love your BEEN London bag for longer.
BRAND
Who is behind BEEN London?
BEEN London was founded in 2018 by a former BBC News journalist Genia Mineeva and grew thanks to the support of hundreds of women in our community, most of whom are now co-owners of the company. We are now a small all-female team living and working in East London. You can read more about our story.
What is the thinking behind making products entirely from recycled materials?
It's quite simple, really. We want to give absolutely everyone an opportunity to be part of the solution to both the climate crisis and the waste problem. By choosing a BEEN London bag over most bags available on the market, you not only help rescue waste from ending up in a landfill but you also cut your carbon footprint by 87%. This is the equivalent of leaving the lights on for almost a year.
Why do you make your bags locally in the UK?
When BEEN London was just an idea, we had so many conversations with people working in the accessories industry - from high street to luxury fashion houses. Whilst we knew that most leather goods are made in South East Asia, it was a shock for us to learn that more often than not, all these totes and crossbodies are FLOWN across the world to reach the stores. Just imagine the added CO2 emissions of those flights! It’s also very important to us that we have full visibility of our supply chain to avoid any possible human rights violations.
We now work with several small leather workshops in the UK and will continue to do so for as long as possible, read more about our workshop
Where are you based?
Our studio is located in East London, just a stone’s throw away from Victoria Park. The address is Studio 21, The Trampery, 19 Rookwood Way, Fish Island, London E3 2XT, UK. This is where we design everything and work from every day. You are very welcome to stop by and say hi!
Do you have a shop?
No, but you are very welcome to stop by the studio to see our bags in person! Just email us at yourorder@been.london or DM us on Instagram when you’d like to stop by! We’ll make sure the kettle is on.
Studio 21,The Trampery, 19 Rookwood Way, Fish Island, London E3 2XT, UK.
We also occasionally host sample sales and run popups in various parts of London. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know.
Where can I sign up for your newsletter?
Sign up here to be the first to know about limited edition collaborations, sample sales and an occasional peek behind the scenes at BEEN London.
Oh, and did we mention 10% off your first order?*
Unsubscribe anytime.
*Please note the discount may not apply to certain collaborations.
I am a student and would like to interview you for my research paper.
We’re a tiny team and unfortunately at this stage we are unable to answer all education requests. Hopefully you can find your answer on our materials or ethos page but for anything else feel free to drop us an email at hello@been.london and we will try our best to answer.
I am a journalist and would like to write about BEEN London. Who is the best person to contact?
For all press inquiries please drop us a line at press@been.london or a DM on instagram. View our contacts page.
PRODUCTS
Why should my next bag be a BEEN London one?
That’s an easy one. Just by choosing one of our designs over the highstreet you cut your carbon footprint by 87% and rescue beautiful materials that otherwise would be discarded.You will also be supporting our wonderful artisans who work in one of the last remaining leather workshops in London. Most of all, you’ll join our incredible community who chooses to care and do something about the waste we’re all creating. Oh, and our bags are timeless and gorgeous too (in our opinion).
Where can I learn more about your materials?
We’re really proud of the beautiful range of certified recycled materials we use. It’s the impact and the stories behind every one of them that get us out of bed every morning. We’ve devoted an entire page to them so that you can dive deeper into the world of materials that are kinder to the planet.
Where are the bags made?
We believe in a slow, thoughtful and transparent approach to making fashion and ensuring all our artisans are paid fairly. All our bags are made entirely by hand in the UK, and the majority if our collection is made in a small workshop in Stratford, East London, just a quick bike ride away from our own design studio. Find out more about the workshop and the people making our bags.
How are the bags made?
Our bags are crafted entirely by hand by our talented artisans with decades of experience. Rolls of materials are carefully cut, stitched and edge-coated by local artisans. What we can promise to you is that we don't cut any corners. Even the structural parts of all BEEN London bags are made from beautiful recycled materials. We believe in zero-waste design which means all panels are cut square or rectangular for a reason, we also start our design process asking questions about what happens to our bags at the very end of their life.
Do you offer personalisation and monogramming?
We offer personalisation for most of our styles. Please add personalisation when adding a product to checkout or email your request to us at yourorder@been.london.
When are you launching your next collection
Stay up to date with our new releases and limited edition pieces by following us on Instagram and by subscribing to our newsletter!
Will your bag fit my laptop?
Yes! Most of our large bags comfortably fit a 13” laptop. Our Martello pouches are also perfect as a laptop case.
I have an idea! Can you make this bag?
We would LOVE to hear your suggestions. Email us any ideas at hello@been.london
How do I care for my BEEN bag?
We design our bags to last a lifetime and be easy to look after. To clean your BEEN London bag, simply wipe the surface gently with a damp cloth.
How durable is your recycled leather?
The recycled leather we use has been rigorously tested for colour steadiness and wear and tear. Please note that some of our metallic leathers might naturally wear over time, but this shouldn’t affect their functionality in any way.
Are BEEN bags waterproof?
All our products are either waterproof or water-resistant, making sure all your valuables are protected from the rain.
Is your recycled leather vegan?
No it isn’t, read more about our materials and view our vegan collection.
SUSTAINABILITY
What is your approach to sustainability?
We’re absolutely convinced that it is possible to be ethical whilst having a supply chain that has both a positive environmental and social impact. From the materials we use, the transparency all throughout the journey of our bags, to measuring our impact - we aim to create the most sustainable bags possible.
In our case sustainability is most definitely not an afterthought. Our approach is based on a genuine desire to empower as many people as possible to choose beautifully crafted products that are better for the planet. We constantly update our impact figures which includes everything from our C02 savings, amount of waste rescued to our reforestation work in the Amazon. Make sure to sign up to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram for the latest impact stories as well as new styles.
Read more about our approach
Where do you source your materials from?
Our approach to choosing materials is very straightforward. It’s important to us that everything we use needs to tick several boxes:
- Rescued from landfill with a recycles content of 70% and above
- Has a lower carbon footprint than the virgin equivalent
- International certification - we only work with certified materials.
The materials come from a few different places around the world. Some are made from discarded KLM uniforms in the Netherlands whilst others help reduce plastic bottle waste in Turkey. Find out more about our materials.
How are your bags carbon neutral?
We've always tried to keep the climate change causing CO2 emissions to a minimum, whether that means only working with recycled materials or offering zero emission London delivery. Having measured everything we found out that on average our bags have a carbon footprint 87% smaller than anything else on the market! Read more about our carbon footprint.
Do you measure your impact?
Yes! We currently track a few metrics including CO2 emissions and savings (through LCA analysis and tools created for us by Terra Neutra) and waste diverted from landfill.
Our newsletter and Instagramare a good source of up to date impact figures.
Could you tell me more about your reforestation work in the Amazon?
Every order automatically plants a tree in our forest in the Amazon. Read more about it on our blog.
I have offcuts/leftover material you can use. Do you want it?
Thank you! It would be great to hear more, please email us hello@been.london
Where can I find out more about your sustainability practices?
We hope Our Ethos will answer all of your questions but for anything we’ve missed we’d be more than happy to answer, drop us an email hello@been.london.
PERSONALISATION
What kind of personalisation do you offer?
We offer personalisation of initials up to 3 letters on certain products.
Why aren't all products available to be personalised?
At the moment our bespoke embossing works with only a handful of our certified recycled materials and styles. As we continue to innovate we hope to expand our collection available to emboss. View our current collection.
Can I change the font, size and colour of the personalisation?
Our personalisation is available in one size and font suited to the bag. All initials will be in capitals and will be blind embossed with no colour. Sadly non-English characters cannot be used for this service.
Can I decide where the personalisation goes?
The position of the bespoke personalisation is determined by the style of the bag and where its best suited, sadly this cannot be changed.
How long does it take?
Personalisation will add 2-3 business days to our delivery times.
How much does it cost?
Our bespoke personalisation service is £10 for up to 3 letters.
Can I return personalised items?
Once personalised, we are unable to offer refunds or returns. Please see our Returns Policy for more details.
Do you offer any other personalisation services?
We are able to offer bespoke personalisation using hard-wearing acrylic pen which is painted by hand and is available across our whole collection. This process requires finely tuned skill, experience and expertise. For more information and prices on this service, please contact us with more details.
PRE-ORDER
What do I need to provide when I make a purchase?
You will need to provide your email, shipping address and card details. All communications will be sent to your email address, including details of how to cancel and any updates of your pre-order.
What are my payment options with purple dot?
Purple Dot accepts all the major card networks - Visa, MasterCard and AmericanExpress.
What happens if I cancel my pre-order?
You can cancel at any time, follow the cancellation link in your pre-order confirmation email. You will receive an email confirming the refund and should see the moneyback in your account in 3-5 business days.
Can I change my email or shipping address?
Yes! Send an email to yourorder@been.london with your updated details and a member of the customer service team will get this updated for you. You will then receive an updated pre-order confirmation email.
Is my payment information safe?
Payment information is processed securely by Stripe. No card details are transferred to or held by BEEN or Purple Dot. All transactions take place via connections secured with the latest industry-standard security protocols.
I have cancelled my pre-order. How long will it take until I receive my refund?
Once you have cancelled your pre-order, your refund will be processed within 3-5 business days.
I have asked for a refund. How will I be refunded?
Refunds are issued back to the debit or credit card used at checkout.