Frequently Asked
Questions

How Indian is your product?

Our shoe is completely designed, manufactured, and assembled in India.

Are the shoes waterproof?

The shoes are water-resistant. Natural Indigenous wool is known to be water-resistant. The pastoral community in monsoons uses woolen blankets to keep themselves dry. The Tamarind kernel paste applied to these blankets while weaving enhances its water-resistant ability.

How comfortable is Indigenous wool during summers?

Indigenous wool is indeed very comfortable because it has excellent thermoregulation properties. Our shoes are made from traditional Woolen blankets, which the shepherds use to protect themselves from the harsh heat of the summers. The woven structure of the fabric provides breathability and further enhances the comfort of the shoe in summers.
 

Do the shoes need to be worn with socks?

Our shoes will be comfortable without socks but can also be worn with them. Wearing socks could affect the overall comfort of the shoe.

Are the insoles removable?

Yes. The insoles are made from EVA foam with wool lining on top. However any insole has a validity and they get compressed based and need to be replaced after certain mileage. These insoles can be replaced with insoles of the choice and foot/arch type for maximum comfort.

Does the colour of wool fade?

These are the un-dyed and natural colours of the wool and hence will not fade but only deepen over time.

Can we get our shoes in exact colours as shown on the website?

Yes, you will get the shoe in colours very similar to those shown on the website but not exact. Certain variations in the wool fabric’s colour and texture are due to its handcrafted nature and not a defect.

Is Indigenous wool Coarse?

Our Indigenous wool is slightly coarser than other wool types (like Merino, Cashmere, etc.). Still, the coarse nature also contributes to the therapeutic benefits. The coarseness reduces over a period of time with constant usages.
Coarseness is normal and should not be considered a fault!

Do Indigenous wool Shed?

Our Indigenous wool is prone to shedding (fibres tend to fall out or stick out from the fabric). But the shedding minimizes and eventually stops after a period of regular use.
Shedding is normal and should not be considered a fault!

Do the shoes dry quickly if they get wet?

The indigenous wool is naturally water-resistant. The Tamarind kernel paste applied to the wool ensures that the shoe doesn’t get wet quickly. Even if they get wet, the weave structure of the fabric helps in drying quickly. Please see Wash & Care instructions for more details.

How can I take care of my shoes?

Your shoe needs specific care and attention. Kindly refer to our ‘Wash & Care’ instructions for more details.

Will we accept a refund/exchange?

For more details, kindly refer to the Return Policy.

How is Earthen Tunes promoting local craft?

We have procured blankets from weavers for our shoes, providing them work of about 15000 hours.

How can I reduce my carbon footprint by wearing Earthen Tunes shoes? (farmer, and eco-friendly process)

Our shoe is predominantly made from natural materials. It is much more sustainable in comparison to any other footwear being used by farmers presently. An average Indian farmer goes through 5 to 7 pairs of footwear annually. This contributes to the increasing amount of footwear-related waste being disposed of annually. It is expected that the shoe will last about one year and would help in reducing the amount of waste being generated.

How is Earthen Tunes impacting the lives of weavers?

The art of weaving woolen blankets from indigenous wool is one of the age-old crafts of the country.
Unfortunately, it is on the verge of extinction. The sharp decline in demand for woolen blankets in the past decade and the rearing of meat-based sheep instead of the indigenous breed has led to the decrease of active weavers. The average age of weavers is currently above 60 years, with very few of the younger generation taking up the craft. With our woolen range of shoes, we are trying to revive this craft.

Wash and Care

Indigenous wool has natural colors and inherent benefits such as resistance to odor and stains, making our shoes very easy to care for and maintain. Usually, a regular clean-up with a soft brush or a cloth is enough to keep them clean, but we advise you to take timely care of your shoes and not wait until they become too dirty.

For Hand-wash 

  1. Remove the laces
  2. If the dirt is dry, gently brush it off with a clean and a soft “shoe brush” or a cloth. Do not press hard or with excessive force.
  3. Take two bowls/jars of clean water and mix wool detergent in one of them. Dip a cloth in the detergent water and dab the affected area. Clean the cloth in the other water bowl/jar. Repeat the dabbing and cleaning 3-4 times. Always use a clean side of the cloth for dabbing.
  4. If the stain remains, repeat the same process above but this time, try gently rubbing the affected area instead of dabbing. Work carefully from the edge to the center of the stain and always use the clean side of the cloth for rubbing. Please do not overdo it.
    5. OR
  1. If there is no improvement in cleaning, soak the affected area with mild wool detergent for 10-15 minutes and then follow steps 2 and 3.
  2. Finish the washing process by rinsing it with clean water.
  3. Air-dry the shoes naturally by holding/hanging them upside down for a minute to get rid of excess water and placing them on the sole at a dry and airy place, preferably outdoors in sunlight and air.
  4. Wash the shoelaces separately.

For Machine-wash

  1. Remove the laces
  2. If the dirt is dry, gently brush it off with a soft “shoe brush” or a cloth. Do not press hard or with excessive force.  
  3. Clean the sole with a “shoe brush” and make sure that no hard particles remain at this stage.  
  4. Apply diluted mild wool detergent over the affected area or entire shoe and leave it for 10 minutes 
  5. Put the shoes in a khadi bag (it is provided with the shoe) and wash it in a washing machine using a wool/delicate cycle. Use only mild wool detergent with cold water. 
  6. Air-dry the shoes naturally, preferably outdoor in sunlight and air.   

Attention

Do not use a hard brush or scrub, or any sharp object.

Do not use hot water.

Do not over soak the shoes.

Do not use any harmful chemicals.

Tips & Hacks

Hand wash gives better results than machine-wash  You can use a delicate towel or soft sponge instead of a cloth.

Always scoop or blot any excess spills quickly using white tissue or an absorbent towel. Remove solid stains with a spoon or soft edge wooden kitchen tools.

In case of drinks like fruit juice, wine, etc., rinse as much of the drink as possible with clean water & then follow the washing process.

While cleaning the sole, do not let any dirt onto the shoe upper.

While machine-washing put an extra piece of cloth or delicate towel along with shoe in a bag.

For quick drying, drain the excess water after washing and then put a clean absorbent cloth or tissue paper inside the shoe. Put the lace in the first two lace loops (Closest to toe) and hang securely.  

Take timely care of your shoes, and do not wait for them to get too dirty. Usually, just a regular clean-up with a soft brush or cloth is enough to keep them clean. 

In case of emergency, you can use regular cloth liquid detergent. But use it in a smaller quantity to prepare a MILD detergent solution. In case of using a detergent powder, make sure it dissolves completely in water before washing.

Disclaimer

Indigenous wool is coarser in nature and might feel a bit rough against the skin on being worn for the first time. Indigenous wool is also subjected to initial shedding. Kindly note that both the coarse nature and the shedding will minimise after a period of regular usage. These signs are completely normal and a mark of the authenticity the product and processes. Certain variations in the colour and texture of the wool fabric are due to the hand processes and are not defects.

Natural wool is biodegradable and at the end of its life cycle. However if thrown in soil, it turns into a nitrogen rich manure for your plants.

Our endeavour is to minimise the waste. The box is made from recycled paper and also it is intentionally kept uncoloured for ease of recycling.

Shipping, Return
and Refund Policy

Refund Policy

Refunds are available only for Urban Essentials Footwear and can be claimed one time only. To be eligible for a refund, the request must be made within 7 days from the date of delivery.

Eligibility Criteria for Refund:

Footwear must be unworn/unused and in its original condition.
Footwear must be returned in its original box and packaging.
The original copy of the invoice must be provided.

Refunds are granted if:

You received the wrong order.
The replacement item is not available.

Refunds will be processed using the original payment method within 7-10 business days after our returns team receives and inspects the returned goods. Please note, processing times may be longer in some instances.

Shipping Policy

Shipping for Exchange/Returns:

Returns will only be picked up from the original
shipping address mentioned on the invoice.
The return shipping cost will be deducted from the refund amount.

Domestic Shipping:

Free delivery within the country.
Shipping time varies from 7-14 business days.

International Shipping:

Free delivery worldwide. Shipping time varies from 7-30 business days
depending on the location.
Delivery charges exclude any local taxes or customs,
which must be paid by the customer according to
actuals to local authorities. Earthen Tunes is not responsible for customs charges
or disposal/displacement of orders due to lack of
coordination between customers and local customs.

Tracking Orders:

Parcels can be tracked using the link sent via the mail and Whatsapp
Alternatively, customers can visit the delivery partner’s website mentioned in their shipment confirmation email and use the provided tracking number.

Address Errors:

While we will try to assist with errors in shipping addresses, Earthen Tunes is not responsible for losses due to such errors. Customers are encouraged to double-check ordering information before placing the order.

Exchange Policy

Exchanges can be claimed one time only. Requests for
exchanges must be made within 7 days from
the date of delivery.

Eligibility Criteria for Exchange:

Footwear must be unworn/unused and in its original condition.
Footwear must be returned in its original box and packaging.
The original copy of the invoice must be provided.

Exchanges are granted if:

The shoe size is too large or too small.

Shipping for Exchanges:

Customers will have to pay for shipping from their end
and Earthen tunes would pay for sending the
exchanged pair. Returns for exchanges will only be picked up from the
original shipping address mentioned on the invoice. If
the replacement pair is not available, a refund will be
processed as per the refund policy. Exchanges will be
processed within 7-10 business days after our returns
team receives the goods. Processing times may be
longer in some instances.

Order Cancellation/Amendment by Customer

Once an order is placed, we are unable to make
amendments or cancellations. However, if you contact
our customer care immediately after placing your order
(within business hours), we will attempt to make amendments or cancellations if the items have not
been dispatched.

Customer Care Contact:

Phone: 9558463161

Email: contactus@earthentunes.in

Order Cancellation by Earthen Tunes Pvt Ltd

We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order at
our sole discretion. Situations that may result in
cancellation include but are not limited to: limitations
on quantities available for purchase, inaccuracies or
errors in product or pricing information, or issues
identified by our credit and fraud avoidance
department.
We may require additional verifications or information
before accepting any order. If your order is cancelled after your credit card has been charged, the amount
will be reversed to your card account. The customer agrees not to dispute the decision made
by Earthen Tunes Pvt Ltd regarding the cancellation.

Contact us if you have any suggestion, need help
or have a question about an order. We're always happy to
hear from you.