FAQ
Need to make an exchange or a return? Please see our terms HERE.
I just placed an order. When can I expect it to arrive?
Although some of our products are finished and waiting on our shelves when you place your order, we are making new products daily and there's a good chance your bag / wallet / keychain is in process at this very moment. As a general rule of thumb, we ask that you allow up to 5 days for final production and order processing, in addition to the shipping time frame that you select when you place your order. We thank you in advance for your patience!
I'm in a rush! Can I get my order sooner?
If you need your item(s) for a special occasion or travel deadline, send us an email when you place your order (hello@winter-session.com) and we’ll do our best to work with you!
Not what you had expected?
Our experience tells us that you’ll be delighted with you purchase. If, however, your order has failed to meet your expectations, we will happily issue a refund or exchange. As long as your item is in ‘like-new’ condition, you are welcome to send it back to us. Please call or email us before shipping your return so that we know to expect it. See more details about returns here.
Did we make a mistake?
We strive to be thoughtful and thorough in every part of our process, from design to manufacturing to shipping, but occasionally we do make mistakes. We apologize for any inconvenience the mix-up may have caused and will do our best to remedy the situation! Please email or call us right away and we will work with you to make things right.
How do I care for my leather goods?
Leather naturally darkens as it ages, particularly our un-dyed (Natural) leather. Regular use will maintain the character and strength of your leather pieces, as the oils from your hands will naturally condition the surface of the leather.
If you notice that your bag handles or straps are drying out, you can apply some Neatsfoot Oil to the surface of the leather with a soft, lint free cloth. This oil is available on our in our web shop here.
Our Tobacco and Black wallets are made with a wax-infused leather that stays soft and supple and should not require any reconditioning. Also note: the pockets in our wallets and card cases will naturally expand over time to accommodate more contents. However, the leather will not return to a smaller dimension once it has stretched.
If you get caught in the rain, don’t worry! It's okay for leather to get wet – just make sure you leave it out in a well-ventilated area, hung or laid flat so that it dries evenly without stretching or warping (as you would with a nice sweater).
If you have other questions about your leather piece, feel free to email us if you need some more detailed advice.
How do I care for my canvas goods?
We hope that you'll wear your bag well and not worry too much about it getting 'dirty'. However, there are some simple maintenance tips for stains and spills.
To spot clean the canvas, wipe it gently with a damp cloth or brush to remove dirt, and air dry. For major mishaps, you can submerge the entire item in room temperature water and let it soak for up to half an hour. Then, use a stiff brush (a toothbrush works in a pinch) or sturdy washcloth to ease out the stain. If you get the leather wet, too, that’s okay -- just be sure to get the whole surface wet so that it doesn’t warp or acquire a water stain when when it dries. Always let your item dry completely by laying out to dry on a towel or hanging in a well-ventilated area.
If you can help it, do not use soap on waxed canvas as this will remove the fabric's protective wax coating. Never machine wash or dry clean your bag as this could permanently damage the materials.
Your canvas bag will develop a patina as it ages, recording a legend of your marks and movements. The wax coating -- that’s on all of our fabrics except the Natural part of our two-tone bags -- will begin to gradually wear away over time. If you’d like to reproof your bag, it’s as simple as getting hold of a sponge, a hair dryer, and a small tin of fabric wax. We recommend Martexin brand, available in our web shop here. The good people and canvas gurus at Archival Clothing have a very helpful blog post in which they explain, step by step, exactly how to do this at home.
Please check the appropriate product page on our website for reference on specific fabric types and feel free to email us if you need some more detailed advice.
How do I care for my apron?
To best maintain the material, shape, and color, our raw denim aprons are best hand- or machine-washed in cold water and hung to dry. However, if you don't mind your apron shrinking in size and lightening in color, you can wash it in warm or hot water and/or tumble dry.
Where do your source your materials from?
We source the leather for our wallets and notebook covers from the renowned Horween Leather Company in Chicago – one of the oldest tanneries the nation, and the only remaining tannery in that city. The leather used for our bag handles, keychains and shoulder straps is sourced from another established American tannery: Hermann Oak in St. Louis.
We choose to use vegetable tanned hides, processed with a traditional method that engages natural materials like tree bark extracts to preserve the leather, rather than the more time-efficient but resource-intensive chrome processing. Vegetable tanning also results in beautiful aesthetic variations – shifts in color, subtle surface patterns – that make each Winter Session piece distinctive.
For our bags and backpacks, we use the highest quality cotton canvas available to us, which is woven, dyed and waxed in India. Our aprons are made from raw (unwashed) 100% cotton denim, woven in the USA.
All of our hardware is made of solid brass and is sourced in the USA. Our zippers and snaps come from the YKK facility in Georgia.
How do you make your products?
We’re so glad you’re curious! Follow us on Instagram and read our newsletter and blog to get the inside scoop on our inspirations, process and production space. And if you live in Denver (or are passing through), we invite you to come visit us at our workshop and retail space in the Five Points neighborhood -- that way you can see it all happening in person!
Do you make custom products?
Due to the volume of orders for our standard product line and special projects, typically we are not able to take on custom orders. However, if you have a burning desire to work with us on something special, send us an email and we'll let you know if it's something we can take on.
If you are interested in ordering custom aprons for your cafe / shop / team, email us at hello@winter-session.com and we can send you pricing details and style options.
Do you do monogramming?
If you'd like to add a personalized mark to the piece(s) you are ordering, there is an additional $10 customization charge and a slightly increased lead time, as these pieces will be made to order. Specifically, we can laser-etch a monogram onto our wallets or onto the leather zipper pulls on our Zip Bags. Please note your request in the 'Notes' section when you check out, and also send us an email so we can discuss the details of the customization.
