Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything about our leather, how it’s made, and how it reaches you. Still curious? Reach the studio.
- What is Isvena?
- Isvena is a leather goods house that makes hand-woven, vegetable-tanned leather totes, shoulder and hobo bags, crossbody and belt bags, clutches, buckets, belts and wallets. It is the direct-to-consumer brand of P.M. Rahamathulla & Co., a family leather workshop in Periyamet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, whose leather heritage dates back to 1936.
- What does vegetable-tanned, chrome-free leather mean and why does it matter?
- Vegetable-tanned leather is tanned using natural plant extracts (tannins) rather than chromium salts. Because it contains no chromium or heavy metals, it is chrome-free, safe to wear against the skin, less likely to cause allergic reactions, and fully biodegradable at the end of its life. It also develops a rich patina and deepens in colour with age.
- Where are Isvena products made?
- Every Isvena piece is made by hand in the family's own workshop in Periyamet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The workshop has produced leather goods under the P.M. Rahamathulla & Co. name and its predecessors since 1936.
- Are Isvena products made to order, and how long does delivery take?
- Yes. Nothing is made in advance — every piece is cut, woven and finished to order, and personalised with your name if you choose, so orders ship in 6–8 weeks from the Chennai workshop. Tracking details are emailed once the item is dispatched.
- Can I have my name engraved on an Isvena piece?
- Yes, and it is free on every piece in the collection. Enter the name you want — your own or the recipient's — in the engraving field at checkout, up to 20 characters. It is hand-embossed into the vegetable-tanned leather in the Chennai workshop before the piece is finished. Because engraving is done during making rather than added afterwards, personalised orders ship in the same 6–8 weeks as any other, but they cannot be returned as unused stock.
- Does Isvena ship worldwide?
- Yes, Isvena ships worldwide from Chennai, India, and shipping is complimentary on every order — the price you see is the price you pay. Payment is handled securely by card. Any import duties or taxes charged by the destination country are set by that country and remain the recipient's responsibility.
- What is hand-braided leather?
- Hand-braided leather is made by cutting full-grain hide into narrow strips — some as fine as 4mm — and interlacing them entirely by hand into a woven pattern. A single tote can take more than a full day to braid. It is the signature technique behind every piece in the Signature Collection, from the tall Verona tote to the crescent Luna.
- How do I care for vegetable-tanned leather?
- Keep the leather dry, wipe it with a soft dry cloth, and condition it occasionally with a natural leather balm. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight and excess water. With normal care, vegetable-tanned leather ages beautifully and can last for decades.
- Can I order custom sizes, colours, or wholesale quantities?
- Yes. Every Isvena piece is available in the workshop's full colour range, and many in standard and custom sizes. Isvena also continues the export and wholesale relationships built by P.M. Rahamathulla & Co., so bulk and private-label enquiries are welcome via the contact page.
- What colours does Isvena offer?
- The house range is fourteen colours: tan, cognac, caramel, toffee, chestnut, mahogany, oxblood, dark brown, dark chocolate, espresso, nero black, forest green, antique rose, and metallic silver. Because nothing is held in stock and every piece is woven to order, any silhouette in the Signature Collection can be made in any of the fourteen — the colour shown in a product's photographs is simply the one the studio shot. Further custom colours can be discussed for made-to-order and wholesale enquiries.
- What payment methods does Isvena accept?
- Isvena accepts secure card payments through Cashfree at checkout, which also supports UPI, net banking and wallets. Card details are entered on Cashfree’s own payment window and never touch the Isvena site. Delivery details are collected at checkout for worldwide despatch. For bespoke or wholesale orders, the studio can also arrange payment directly.
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