Bartleby Objects is a process-focused collection. We care about research, sourcing, experimentation, and livelihood. The collection was established in 2016, as a practice in slow, sustainable design and fabrication. Our products are made on a very intimate scale - one at a time, by hand in New York City - by designer/leather-worker Mary L Chan Our Bridle leathers are sourced from the oldest veg-tannery on the East Coast, custom-split to our specifications. Our Italian Vegetable-tanned leathers are provided by a founding member of the Consortium of Italian Hand Vegetable Tanneries. The Italian bovine hides are a by-product of food production. To the strict adherence of the EU farming standards, the animals are humanely treated and responsibly raised, resulting in hides of exceptional quality. The tanning process is metal-free and relies on natural tannins, lime, and vegetal extracts to imbue the skins with their characteristic firmness, coloration, and earthy scent. To do justice to the materials, we pay special attention to our process - hand-cutting hides to limit waste, hand-stitching to ensure longevity. All exposed outer stitches are hand-punched and double-needle saddle-stitched. The saddle stitch is exceptionally strong, creating interlaced links that are not only more robust than standard machine lock stitches but can also be seamlessly repaired. Edges are diligently sanded and finished smooth, to feel good in the hand and protect against damage. Bags and shoes are numerically stamped, and those goods are eligible for our repair program, ensuring mechanical repairs for up to 5 years from the date of your order. Originally from Malaysia, owner/designer/leather-worker Mary L Chan was raised in Hong Kong and Singapore, studied English Literature & Queer Theory in Scotland and New York, then Interior Design at Parsons in New York City. Prior to Bartleby Objects, established the umbrella project, Studio Bartleby (Objects & Environments) in 2006, which focused on the practice of interior and furniture design.

IN STOCK vs MADE-TO-ORDER vs. MADE-TO-MEASURE Orders for stocked items, placed Monday - Thursday will ship within 2 business days from the date your order and payment have been received. Orders placed on Friday-Sunday will ship the following Monday. Items listed as "made-to-order" generally ship 1-2 weeks from the date of your order. If timing is a factor, please contact us, and we'll quickly respond with an expected lead-time or we may have one ready to ship! Shoes may be made-to-measure with a studio visit or virtual appointment. NYC customers are invited to visit the studio to have accessories customized. If you're not able to come meet in person, we can make shoes to measure wit a foot tracing and some simple measurement notes that can be mailed to us. Again, get in touch and we'll be happy to make your very own customized shoes to fit. If your order is a gift and you would like to include a note, please contact us to include the text of your note. We will hand-write a card to the recipient on your behalf. RETURNS & STORE CREDIT We accept exchanges for store credit within 14 days of the ship date. Apologies, no refunds. To make an exchange, please contact us with your order information, including your name, email, and order date/number. Please include this information with your return, as well. Objects received after 14 days will receive store credit, less 15% for restocking. Shipping costs will not be credited. SHOE EXCHANGE POLICY We understand fit can be difficult with footwear. If you wish to exchange your pair for another size, please contact us within 5 business days - shoes in "like new" condition will be exchanged for a different size at no additional charge. As soon as we receive & check the returned pair for signs of wear, we'll get in touch to let you know how long it will take to make your new pair. Full or partial credit for shoes showing signs of wear (significantly scuffed sole, staining, overt stretching, etc.) will be applied at our discretion. Shoes exchanged between 5 - 14 business days can only be exchanged for store credit, as per our regular exchange policy. Apologies, no returns.