Yes, we take commissions for chainmaile. We can make jewelry, accessories, costumes, and even decorative tapestries for your home with inlaid color patterns. Some of our most impressive pieces have been commissions, and it’s through them that we’re given a chance to flex our creative muscles in ways we wouldn’t have thought of on our own. And no commission is too small, so don’t be afraid to ask. Here’s some common questions we get, along with some of our guidelines for time and sizing.

Does it cost extra to commission a custom version of an existing item?

Generally, no. Most of these requests are for different colors of aluminum or for slightly different sizes, and we don’t charge extra unless the difference is signifigant. If the change is large enough to warrant a marked increase in time or cost, we’ll let you know and you can make a decision from there.

Different materials are another answer altogether. We can replicate pretty much anything you see in a number of materials, from stainless steel to solid 10k gold. As usual, all you have to do is contact us and we can give you an estimate.

What information do you need for an estimate?

If we’ve made something similar prior, all you would need to do is give us the name of the item (with a link to it, if you can) and that should be enough. If you’re looking for a full custom piece to be made, then you will need to provide a design idea (if you have a specific one in mind), measurements, weave, colors and materials desired, and the date you need your item finished by if it is for a specific event. If you’re unsure about what materials or weaves to use, we’re more than happy to give you some suggestions depending on what the item is for. We can also design an item for you; we hold multiple art degrees and are willing to work with you to realize whatever creative vision you have in your head.

Large maille pieces like shirts, costumes, dresses, etc. can be tricky to take measurements for because chainmaile is a very different fabric than what most people are used to. Shirts and vests are usually easy; we use your general T-shirt size as a base estimate for cost, and more specific measurements for finishing. We get a lot of requests for chainmaile bikini tops, and a bra size is usually good enough for an estimate. If you’re curious as to exactly what measurements we will need for one, we have a sizing guide with pictures here.

How do I pay for a commission?

For large and more expensive items costing over a hundred dollars we require half to be paid before we begin work, and the other half upon completion. We are typically able to factor shipping and packaging in with the initial estimate, so that’s usually not a concern. We have a variety of different payment options and you can choose whichever one is most convenient for you, including listing the piece on Etsy. Smaller items can be paid for in full once they are finished, and we will send you an e-mail once they are complete.

How long do they usually take?

Small items usually take a week at most, if all the materials we need are on hand. Large or very complex commissions can take anything from three weeks to several months; it just depends on what you want, and what materials we need. Due to the high cost, we usually don’t keep a large amount of precious metals on-hand, so we would probably need to order them before we can start work on your piece, along with any special clasps or other additions you may require. We can give you an estimate on how long that would take, as well.

You can check our commission schedule to see our availability; we try to keep it as up to date as possible. The general rule we have is that we work on only one large commission, such as a shirt or very delicate bit of micromaille, at a time. We usually can work on smaller and faster to complete items during that time, and will let you know if that’s an option. If you see that we have a large commission already scheduled for when you would need us to work (many larger items are requested for specific occasions), contact us anyway. For an extra fee we are willing to do a rush order if we have the supplies on hand and if it will not interfere with our current obligation. We can make a chainmaile vest in a week; we’ve done it before. We may also just be ahead of schedule! At the very least, we do know a lot of other maillers who do quality work, so we can ask around to see who is available and give you their contact information.