Samantha Holmes
Since Nov 2006 / 162 reviews
This partner has a rating of 5 stars
About
Beautiful, ethical, timeless alpaca clothing and accessories, designed in Scotland, handcrafted in Peru, since 2003
Samantha Holmes founded her label in Scotland in 2003 as a boutique lifestyle brand specialising in alpaca clothing, accessories and homewares, now renowned for its exclusive, handcrafted clothing and home textiles made from luxuriously soft natural fibres.
Each product is designed in Scotland and beautifully made by skilled artisans in Peru. Alpaca is supersoft, hypoallergenic and weightlessly warm. It is extremely hardwearing and does not pill and bobble like most fibres. Give your cashmere a break and try alpaca wool instead.
It is on sale at up-scale independent boutiques and top stores such as Fortnum and Mason.
In her collections, Samantha has moved away from the traditional, rustic ethnic designs associated with South American crafts, concentrating instead on classic, beautiful, creative designs with more fashionable appeal.
Samantha developed her interest in luxury fabrics more than a decade ago, while working for an international company importing cashmere from Nepal. This led her to Alpaca which, although less well known than cashmere, is equally beautiful. Buttery soft and with no lanolin content, Alpaca is also ideally suited to sensitive skins.
Samantha first travelled to Peru in 2003 to find the small artisan groups who have helped her produce her exclusive collections. She still works with her Lima teams today and aims to visit them each year, ensuring that they continue to be fairly remunerated and work in good conditions.
Alpaca Fur
The Alpaca fur used in Samantha Holmes’ products is ethically sourced. The Alpacas from which the skins are removed are not killed for their fur.
There is a tradition in Peru which has developed as a result of the death of weaker and very young Alpaca in the harsh Andean Winters. Alpaca roam freely in their natural terrain on the Altiplano of the Andes where temperatures can plummet in the Winter. The fur Samantha Holmes sources is mainly from baby Alpacas - or “cria” - which have died of natural causes. Herd wastage can account for at least 10% of a farmer's livestock in the Andes and, in a cruel winter, this can sometimes rise to over 20%.
The farmers do not kill their baby alpacas for their skins because it is not financially viable for them to do so. The skins are tiny. Alpacas can live for 20 years, promising a lifetime of shearing potential of far greater value than a single skin.
Alpaca products
Samantha Holmes Alpaca
Softly, Naturally, Ethically
Samantha Holmes Alpaca is the small international trading business I set up in my back bedroom in 2003. We specialise in soft, cosy alpaca clothing, homeware, babywear and gifts. Each item is beautifully made and hand-finished by our artisans in Peru and Bolivia in butter soft alpaca wool.
I design the collection. Every item is exclusively made by or for me. My assistant, Gayle, handles day-to-day order administration, with our crew in Glasgow managing packing and despatch. Still trying to elicit photos of these important people, but they are very shy!
I have travelled extensively in Peru, visiting each year to meet my makers, many of whom we've known for 20 years. Essayu, our head knitter, managed to build a new family home on the proceeds of his first few years’ income. Most important is Paola, who has been central to production from the get-go. Like me, she has two children and our business and families have flourished together.
Our Products
Delivery
Orders are dispatched on a 48 hour Delivery service usually within 24 hours receiving the order. However we ask you to allow 5 working days for orders within the UK to avoid disappointment. Our delivery charges are detailed below. Delivery within the UK is FREE for any orders of £45 or more. Please give us your work address, or an address where someone will be available to sign for your parcel. Please also provide a mobile phone number if you would like a text alert to confirm the 2 hour delivery window.
Next Day Delivery within the UK £4.95 (please place your order prior to 1pm on the day before your require delivery).
For Personalised orders, we recommend allowing 6 working days for turnaround.
Delivery within Europe may vary.
Delivery outside Europe - please contact us. Please note that we cannot accept responsibility for tax and import duties which may be payable on receipt. Every country has different rules on what is payable. It is important you check that the recipient is willing to pay these prior to confirming your order.
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Returns
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Returns Address
Samantha Holmes c/o Commands, Bleasdale Court, Clydebank, Glasgow, G81 2LE, GB
Terms and Conditions
Every item is described as accurately as possible. If a pricing error occurs for a reason beyond our reasonable control e.g. alterations to the rate of value added tax, we will advise you accordingly.
Registered Address: Samantha Holmes, Greenpark, Charlotte Street, Helensburgh, G84 7SE
Right of RefusalIf your card issuer rejects payment for your order goods will not be dispatched to you. We reserve the right to decline any order and in all such cases a full refund of any payment made will be refunded directly to the purchasing cardholder's card.
Delivery TimesWe make every effort to get goods to you as rapidly as possible, however if the item is out of stock or is going to be delayed in any way then we will notify you via email. If your goods are not in stock we will back order for you. You will always be emailed with the option to cancel if you would rather not wait.
Description of GoodsAll images, descriptive matter, specifications and advertising on our site are all for the sole purpose of giving an approximate description of the goods. More information is available by contacting us directly. Variations in the finished product may arise as a result of slight colour variations in the alpaca yarn and natural handcrafted process used to make our products. As such, we cannot guarantee that the product displayed on-line is identical to the one you receive.
GeneralIn the event a product is listed at an incorrect price due to typographical error or error in pricing information from our suppliers, we shall have the right to refuse or cancel any orders listed at the incorrect price whether or not the order has been confirmed. If your credit card has already been charged and we subsequently cancel your order, we will immediately issue a credit to the purchaser's credit card account in the value of the incorrect price.
Delivery outside the European Union. Please note that we cannot accept responsibility for tax and import duties which may be payable on receipt. Every country has different rules on what is payable. It is important you check that the recipient is willing to pay these prior to confirming your order.
Returns & Cancellation PolicyRisk in any Product shall pass to the Customer upon delivery. It shall be the responsibility of the customer to insure products against all risks from the time of delivery.You may cancel your purchase of goods by notifying Samantha Holmes by email within 2 days of your order being placed. In such cases a full refund will be made to the purchaser's Credit / Debit Card.You must cancel your purchase of goods no later than 7 days after receipt of goods by notifying Samantha Holmes by email. You must then return the goods to Samantha Holmes at your expense. Note: if you fail to take reasonable care of the goods Samantha Holmes reserve the right not to accept their return. Samantha Holmes will refund your purchase price to you in full within 30 days of the receipt of your returned goods. Please note proof of postage is not proof of delivery: You should return faulty goods directly to us immediately upon receipt.
Time limitation for notification of claims Damage in transit: If the goods arrive in a damaged condition you must make a note on the carrier's delivery note and it will be your responsibility to inform us within 2 days of delivery.
LiabilityWe shall not be liable for indirect or consequential loss or any loss to the customer arising from third party claims.
ShortagesIt is your responsibility to sign for the correct number of packages as shown on the carrier's delivery note and it will be your responsibility to notify us within 2 days from delivery.
Incorrect goods - It is your responsibility to notify us of any incorrect goods supplied within 2 days from delivery.
Non-DeliveriesWe will not accept liability for goods lost in transit unless we are notified within 10 days from the expected delivery date.Any claims regarding errors in dispatch or invoicing of any Product must be submitted to the Company within seven days of receipt of the advice note or invoice. The Company may refuse to recognise a claim not made within that period.
Distance Selling Regulations (General)Under the Distance Selling Regulations you have a right to cancel your order for any item purchased on this website, for a full refund. This does not apply to items personalised or made to your specification.
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Registered VAT No.: 813841536
Reviews
Philippa McKenzie
Independent review
Independent review