Frequently Asked Questions
About Tsenà by Tamalà
-
Tsenà by Tamalà is a curated shop of unique pieces handcrafted in Madagascar and curated for everyday life. We offer small-batch, limited, and sometimes one-of-a-kind pieces selected for their craft, character, and story.
-
Our pieces are handmade, handcrafted, or sourced in small batches. Because of this, slight variations in colour, shape, size, texture, or finish may occur. These variations are part of what makes each piece unique.
-
Our pieces are primarily handcrafted in Madagascar by artisans and atelier partners of Tamalà, or curated in markets across the island.
Products & Sourcing
-
Many Tsenà pieces are available in limited quantities because they depend on available materials, artisan production capacity, colours, and small-batch sourcing.
Some pieces are market finds, upcycled, or made from deadstock materials, which means availability can be unpredictable. Once a piece sells out, we may not be able to restock the exact same item.
-
Some Tsenà pieces are found in local markets in Madagascar and carefully curated by Tamalà.
For us, this is part of the value of Tsenà. Local markets are full of creativity, skill, and everyday design, and buying from them helps support the economy on the ground. It keeps money circulating within local communities, supports small vendors and artisans, and recognizes the beauty already present in Malagasy markets.
Curation is not just about finding beautiful pieces. It is also about valuing the people, skills, and local ecosystems behind them.
-
Tsenà is organized into small collections, each with its own way of celebrating craft, creativity, and life in Madagascar.
Tsenà Finds are pieces discovered in local markets in Madagascar and carefully curated by us. They may be one-of-a-kind, seasonal, or difficult to restock. Buying these pieces helps support local vendors, artisans, and the everyday market economy.
ReImagined pieces are made using upcycled, deadstock, or repurposed materials. They give new life to existing textiles or materials that might otherwise be overlooked, while keeping the pieces playful, useful, and unique.
Tamalà & Friends features pieces created in collaboration with artisan-led brands, small ateliers, and creative partners connected to the Tamalà ecosystem. These pieces highlight different skills, materials, and design perspectives.
Together, these collections reflect what Tsenà is about: unique pieces, handcrafted in Madagascar, curated for you.
-
Some Tsenà pieces are made from upcycled, deadstock, or repurposed materials.
Upcycled means an existing material is transformed into something new and useful.
Deadstock refers to leftover or unused materials that already exist, instead of producing new material from scratch.
Because these materials are limited, each piece may have small variations in colour, texture, print placement, or finish. That is part of what makes them unique.
-
We do our best to photograph each item as accurately as possible. However, colours may vary slightly depending on lighting, screen settings, and device settings.
For handcrafted items, small differences in weave, texture, shape, size, or finish are normal and are not considered defects.
-
Sometimes, but not always. Because many items are limited, handcrafted, or sourced in small batches, restocks are not guaranteed. Similar pieces may become available later, but they may not be identical.
If you absolutely love an item but it has been sold out, please let us know! Who knows, maybe the artisan is still able to reproduce it.
-
Pop-Up Treasures are pieces that are best discovered in person at our pop-ups. They may be one-of-a-kind, limited, or vary more in colour, size, or fit.
Orders & Payment
-
All prices are listed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.
-
Yes. After placing your order, you should receive an order confirmation by email. Please make sure your email address is entered correctly at checkout.
-
Please contact us as soon as possible if you wish to. If your order has not yet been processed or shipped, we will do our best to help. Once an order has been shipped, we will not be able to change or cancel it.
Shipping
-
We currently ship to Canada, the United States, and select countries in Europe.
For Europe, we currently ship to:
France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
-
Estimated delivery times are shown at checkout when you select your shipping option.
As a general guide:
Canada: 3–9 business days
United States: 5–12 business days
Europe: 7–21 business daysDelivery times are estimates only and may vary due to carrier delays, holidays, weather, customs, or other circumstances outside our control.
-
Shipping fees are displayed at checkout before you complete your purchase.
-
When tracking is available, you will receive the tracking details by email once your order has shipped.
-
Please make sure your shipping address is complete and accurate before placing your order.
If a package is returned to us because of an incorrect address, failed delivery, or non-pickup, the customer may be responsible for the cost of reshipping.
If your package appears lost, please contact us and we will do our best to help with the carrier.
Returns and Exchanges
-
Because Tsenà pieces are limited, handmade, and often one-of-a-kind, all sales are final unless the item arrives damaged, defective, or incorrect.
-
Please contact us within 7 days of delivery at hello@tamalaartisanal.com with your order number and clear photos of the issue.
Depending on the situation, we may offer a replacement, exchange, repair, store credit, or refund.
-
Exchanges are not guaranteed because many pieces are limited or one-of-a-kind. Please contact us and we will let you know what is possible based on availability.
Care
-
Care instructions are included in each product description. In general, we recommend keeping handcrafted pieces dry, storing them in a cool dry place, and handling them with care.
Avoid soaking, machine washing, prolonged sun exposure, and excessive moisture unless the product description says otherwise.
-
We recommend keeping raffia and natural fibre pieces dry. If they get slightly damp, let them air dry naturally away from direct heat.
Pop-Ups
-
Yes. Tsenà pieces may be available at select pop-ups. Pop-ups are a great way to discover limited pieces, try items in person, and find pieces that may not be available online.
Follow us on instagram (@tsenabytamala) for updates on our upcoming pop-ups or sign-up to our newsletter.
-
Not always. Some pieces may be available online only and some may be reserved for pop-ups depending on the nature of the piece.
Pieces such as bob hats will be reserved for pop-ups due to variations in sizes and colors. Not all hats fit all heads the same!
Contact
-
For questions about your order, products, shipping, or pop-ups, you can contact us at: hello@tamalaartisanal.com
Or by filling out our contact form.
You can also follow us on Instagram at: @tamala.world or @tsenabytamala