What is Organic Armor made of?
Organic Armor is made primarily of natural latex, a sap-like liquid from the rubber tree (AKA Hevea Brasiliensis).
Organic Armor is hand fabricated. For small repeated elements like the stone settings and some of the horns we make our own molds. The rest is built by hand from a variety of textiles, including denim fabric (sometimes old blue jeans), woven straw, felt, foam, clothesline and even dryer lint. Wire is used as an armature when needed. Layers of latex and other coatings bond it and create the integrated, antique-looking surface. Then it’s painted with metallic paints, and sealed with an acrylic coating that has UV protection in it. The secret ingredient is love.
What size should I order?
Many of our pieces have adjustable ties or hook and chain closures, which makes them one-size-fits-most. This includes all neckwear, armwear, belts, and most horns, circlets and headdresses.
The armwear usually has elastic loop and button closures, which give a small range of stretch. They are made to fit either arm (if otherwise, this will be noted in the individual listings). Bracelets, cuffs, bracers and upper armband come in S, M and L. For more info on arm and neck wear sizing look here.
Bras and corsets come in standard chest/cup sizes, from 32 A to 38 D. Because women come in every beautiful shape and size, we usually build our bras on top of actual bras, ensuring their comfort and correct fit. We purchase high quality garments in the size you order and then transform them into Organic Armor. If you already have a bra that fits really well, especially if you are a belly dancer or a larger sized woman, it is helpful to have you send us that to transform. Not required, but helpful. The armor process eliminates most of the stretch in a bra, but the fact that they tie-on in back gives some leeway. If you are larger than 38 D contact us, we will happily make you a custom bra.
Helmets and hats come in standard S to XL hat sizes. To figure out your hat size, look here. Contact us for info on availability of XS or XXL +.
How do I order something custom?
We love custom orders. If you have a specific vision, a vague idea, or something in between, bring it to us. We can manifest it in rubber and foam! Custom work ranges from simply altering one of our existing designs using special colors, motifs or add ons; to designing something totally new from your drawings or reference material. See some examples here. All custom work is priced per job and the turnaround time varies widely.
How do I order armor for my pet?
All pet armor is custom made. We have some detailed measurements you’ll need to take first so we can make sure it will fit your warrior pooch. Depending on the time of year , the size of the animal and the complexity of the design, the pet armor takes between 6 and 12 weeks to complete. Contact us for more info.
How long will it take to get my order?
It depends on whether it’s in stock or made to order (MTO). The individual listings will indicate which one it is, and give an estimate for days needed before it can ship. It’s usually 3 to 5 days for in-stock pieces and 3 to 6 weeks for MTO pieces. Add to that the shipping estimate, which will be calculated for you in the shopping cart. If you have a special event coming up fast, that you really want some armor for, contact us and we’ll let you know if we can meet your deadline. We often can.
How do you ship?
We ship via US Postal Service Priority Mail, with tracking, insurance, and delivery confirmation. The shopping cart will calculate your shipping by weight and by region within North America. If you would like us to send your order by Express Mail or by another carrier, contact us before using the shopping cart.
What about international shipping?
We happily ship internationally and have sent our armor all over the world. The shopping cart will tell you your delivery estimate is between 2 and 7 days. This is not true for international packages. We use the US Postal Service and most countries are estimated to receive deliveries in 6 to 10 business days. This does not count time spent in customs. That will vary widely. Please send us a note if you’d like us to handle your international package in any special way.
How do I return something?
We want you to be happy with your armor. If is is damaged in transit or there is a sizing or other problem, we will rectify it as best we can. If you are not satisfied you can return the piece for your money back (minus shipping) within one month of receipt.
How do I care for my Organic Armor?
We have twelve year old Organic Armor that is in great shape. If you take care of it it will last a long time. It is made of latex rubber over various textiles, with an acrylic coating. It’s water resistant but not waterproof. Wearing it in the rain – no problem. Diving into the lake with it on – not a good idea!
It will hold it’s shape for many years and will bounce back from twists and bends, up to a point. If you crunch it under a pile of books or shut it in the car door for a week, it may permanently crease. Or it might not. It is surprisingly resilient but we don’t recommend rough handling.
To clean it, just wipe it with a damp soft rag. A spritz of water from a spray bottle is okay. Soap may leave a residue. Don’t store your armor in a sunny window or near your oven. Prolonged sun and heat will degrade rubber. Our armor is UV protected but use common sense. We recommend storing in a hatbox type container when not in use.
If the finish gets worn or dirty (that sticky playa dust!) you can refresh it this way: clean it well, then lightly brush a thin coat of semi-gloss clear acrylic over it; let dry and you’re good to go again
Can I rent something for a party or production?
Yes, we do rent our armor. We don’t always have what you see in the photos in stock. But send us an email and ask.
Can I use an image from your site?
All images on this site are protected by a Creative Commons License. This means you can share the images but you must attribute them, not use them for commercial purposes, and not alter them. Thanks for respecting this. Good karma will be yours.
How do I get on/off your mailing list?
We use a service called MailChimp to collect names for our mailing list. We send out no more than five newsletters each year. We never, ever give your name/contact info to anybody else. If you want to get on the list go here. If you want to unsubscribe, send us a note with “Unsubscribe” in the subject.