FAQ

Yes. Your order will arrive clean, and ready to wear. Each machine washable item has been washed on a regular or delicate laundry cycle using cold water. We use unscented, vegan, biodegradable laundry soap.

No. All washed items are air dried indoors to save energy, avoid shrinkage and allergens. It is possible that some items were machine dried by the previous owner.

We decide if each item needs to be professionally dry cleaned (GreenEarth), based on its material and condition. We clean items that are labelled “dry clean only” one of three ways: GreenEarth dry cleaning*, delicate hand washing in cold water, or freeze/steam cleaning**. 

*We leave the plastic bag and hanger at the GreenEarth dry cleaner to be reused or recycled. 

**If a “dry clean only” item appears clean, we freeze it in a sealed bag and then steam it.

The following items may need to be dry cleaned: vintage pieces; structured blazers; wool jackets and coats; fitted dresses; knit or cashmere sweaters; and items constructed from multiple materials, such as dress pants that have linings.

Following care instructions extends the life of your garment and decreases the likelihood of items ending up as textile waste in landfills. Many items labelled “dry clean” need to be professionally cleaned to keep their structure/shape. If these items are machine washed they can lose shape, shrink, or become unwearable. 

Our goal is to be size inclusive, and it's something we're working on. However, not all sizes can be stocked at all times due to limited availability. We do not organize items according to label size, but instead use measurements. Visit our Measuring & Fit page for more information.

Sizing on garments from different brands is often inconsistent. A “medium” from one brand may not fit like a “medium” from another. We also believe that assigning gender to apparel items is limiting. Fold and Fray carries both “mens” and “womens” items mixed throughout our site. It's not the gender of an item that determines fit, it's the item's unique measurements and how those specific measurements fit on your body.

Refer to the Measuring & Fit page for this information. You can then use the "filter" option to find items with specific measurements. This helps you find a custom fit.

You can use a string and compare the length of string against a metal tape measure or ruler.

Fold and Fray sells men's and women's apparel. However, our clothing is not gendered. Using the Measuring & Fit page will help you find the correct fit. If you are specifically looking for only “mens” apparel, you can type “men” or “mens” into the search bar and it should pull up the corresponding items.

Items have been sourced locally from a variety of secondhand shops and thrift stores in Southern Ontario, Canada.

No, unfortunately.

Fold and Fray is not vegan because we carry secondhand silk, wool, and leather. However, items on our site are organized by material (cotton, linen, etc.), so that you can shop with Fold and Fray based on the fibers that align with your ethics. Typing “vegan” into the search bar should pull up all relevant products. We do not sell any fur, and limit our leather goods to bags and footwear. We do not sell plastic vegan products because the long-term effects of plastic are harmful to animals.

Repair is a preventative long-term care strategy and a key element of sustainable consumption. Repairing items extends their life cycle and keeps them out of the landfill, and within the circular economy. By using and reusing items that have already been made, we reduce the demand for new products; and the environmental and social costs associated with producing consumer goods are also reduced.

Repairs will be listed in the item description. Before-and-after photos may also be included.

Minor repairs on apparel may include: replacing buttons, mending seams and woven imperfections.

Fold and Fray works with Dimar Shoe Repair* in Guelph, Ontario, to repair footwear, bags and leather goods. Possible repairs/restorations include: general cleaning; repairing seams; replacing zippers, buckles, linings and laces; adding anti-slip soles; or replacing soles/ heel lifts**. 

We operate within a zero waste philosophy, and only replace parts of the sole/heel lifts when they have fully worn down. This is the most common repair we commission, and has the biggest impact in terms of items remaining in the circular economy. Investing in minor repairs done by professionals, like the folks at Dimar, is a preventative long-term care strategy, and one of the best ways to extend the life of some footwear and bags. 

* Dimar Shoe Repair is licenced to repair Birkenstocks. They are also an authorized Vibram repair store. 

** The heel lift is the very bottom layer on some footwear heels.

Yes. We offer free local delivery within the Guelph, Ontario area. This is a set radius. If you're not within the preset radius, but would like to arrange a contactless local delivery/pick-up, email hello@foldandfray.com.

We want you to be completely happy with your order. You can find our return policy HERE.

This CBC article gives a simple overview of some environmental costs associated with transporting and shipping online purchases.

We ship plastic-free. Your items will be wrapped in brown kraft paper and packed into a cardboard box or mailer that is sealed with paper tape. The paper and boxes are made from 100% recycled content. Our apparel mailers, from EcoEnclose, are 100% recycled/97% post-consumer waste; they are fully recyclable and naturally biodegradable.

Each item comes with a Fold and Fray tag (printed on 100% pcw paper) that is attached with a cotton string and/or safety pin. We need a physical tag for our inventory system. If you want this tag to be removed before mailing, please specify in the "notes" section at check out, and we'll be happy to remove it for you and responsibly reuse/recycle it.

Your package will be in the mail within 7 business days of ordering unless otherwise stated.

Please expect longer than usual delivery times due to Covid-19.

Contact us immediately by emailing hello@foldandfray.com, with your order number in the subject line. Do not wear/use the item(s) or dispose of packaging until the entire damage process has been completed and finalized by Fold and Fray.

Currently we only ship within Canada and the United States. However, we may ship internationally in the future. Please subscribe to our email list to stay updated. You can also reach out through our CONTACT page to suggest possible new shipping locations.

There are many resources about Fast Fashion. The documentary, The True Cost Movie is a great entry point. Fashionrevolution.org is a great online resource. Aja Barber has an excellent Patreon that you can support; you can also follow her on social media. The book, “The Conscious Closet” by Elizabeth L. Cline is also good. We plan to add additional resources in the future.

Microplastics are tiny plastics in the environment that are less than 5mm in length. Microfibers* are a kind of microplastic that come from plastic textiles (fleece, athletic wear, polyester, nylon, acrylic ect.). Approximately 35% of microplastics found in the ocean are microfibers from the fashion and textiles industry. This PDF Brochure, from UN Environment, has additional information. 

When we wash our clothes, tiny fibers shed off and enter our water system through wastewater. Anywhere from a few thousand to 10-12 million fibers can be shed per load of laundry. Plastic persists in the environment and bioaccumulates. It does not break down, but instead breaks apart, into smaller and smaller pieces. Some of the places microplastics have been found include: in beer, bottled water, tap water and the stomachs of ocean animals. Current research suggests that one person consumes an average of 5g of plastic per week, the equivalent of one credit card. 

Podcast episode #3 from The Wardrobe Crisis featuring marine biologist Jennifer Lavers, is a great episode to learn more about the impact that plastic has on birds, ocean animals and people. They also speak about microfibers, and why plastic clothing is so problematic.

*Also called microplastic fibers or plastic microfibers

Reducing plastic microfibers begins with what you buy. Choosing items that are made from natural fibers, rather than synthetics, is a first step. Washing items only when necessary with cold/cool water can greatly extend the life of your apparel. In addition, you can help reduce the amount of microfibers entering wastewater from synthetic apparel you own, by using a Guppy Friend (a bag that catches microfibers) or by installing a filter on your washing machine.

Please contact us at hello@foldandfray.com or through our CONTACT page.