Terms of service
MELANIN AFRIKA
Terms & Conditions
Last updated: 1 October 2026
Welcome to Melanin Afrika. These Terms & Conditions govern your use of our website and the purchase and use of our digital sewing patterns.
By accessing our website or purchasing a product from Melanin Afrika, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.
1. About Melanin Afrika
Melanin Afrika provides digital sewing patterns inspired by African heritage, tradition, culture and contemporary fashion.
Our products are primarily delivered as digital files intended for personal sewing and garment-making use.
2. Digital Products
All sewing patterns sold through Melanin Afrika are digital products unless otherwise stated.
After successful payment, your purchased pattern will be made available for digital download according to the delivery method provided on the website.
You are responsible for:
Providing a valid email address when placing your order.
Ensuring that your device can download and open the supplied file format.
Having suitable software for viewing and printing the pattern.
Checking the product description, size information and file requirements before purchasing.
Digital patterns do not include physical fabric, garments, sewing equipment or printed pattern pieces unless specifically stated in the product description.
3. Pattern Information
Every effort is made to provide accurate measurements, instructions, illustrations and pattern information.
However, sewing patterns require sewing and garment-construction knowledge. Results may vary depending on:
Fabric choice
Sewing techniques
Individual measurements
Alterations
Printing settings
Cutting accuracy
Sewing machine and equipment
The user's interpretation of the instructions
Melanin Afrika is not responsible for a garment that does not fit or perform as expected where the pattern has been incorrectly printed, cut, altered or sewn.
4. Printing Digital Patterns
Customers are responsible for printing their purchased patterns correctly.
Where a pattern includes an A4, A3, A0 or other printing format, please follow the printing instructions supplied with the product.
Before cutting the complete pattern, we strongly recommend printing and checking any provided test square or measurement reference.
When printing tiled pages, ensure that printer scaling is set according to the instructions provided with the pattern.
5. Intellectual Property
All Melanin Afrika patterns, illustrations, instructions, graphics, photographs, logos, written content and other original material remain the intellectual property of Melanin Afrika unless otherwise stated.
Purchasing a pattern gives you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the pattern for your own sewing purposes.
Purchasing a digital pattern does not transfer ownership or copyright of the pattern to the customer.
6. Prohibited Use
You may not:
Resell, redistribute or share the digital pattern file.
Upload the pattern to websites, social media platforms, file-sharing services or online groups.
Give copies of the pattern to other people.
Repackage or modify the digital pattern for resale.
Claim the pattern or its original artwork as your own.
Sell the digital pattern or any substantially reproduced version of it.
Use Melanin Afrika's branding or artwork without permission.
7. Making Garments for Sale
Unless a particular product states otherwise, purchasing a Melanin Afrika sewing pattern does not automatically grant permission to reproduce and commercially distribute the digital pattern itself.
If you intend to use a pattern to produce garments for commercial sale, please check the specific licence stated on the product page or contact Melanin Afrika before doing so.
Any commercial-use permission applies only to the manufacture and sale of physical garments and does not transfer copyright ownership of the pattern.
8. Pricing
All prices displayed on the website are in the currency indicated at checkout.
Melanin Afrika reserves the right to change prices, product availability and promotional offers at any time. Changes will not affect an order that has already been successfully completed, except where required by law.
9. Orders and Payment
An order is considered accepted once payment has been successfully processed and the order has been confirmed.
We reserve the right to cancel or decline an order where there is a legitimate reason to do so, including suspected fraudulent activity, technical errors or unauthorised use.
10. Refunds and Consumer Rights
Because our products are digital downloads, we generally do not accept returns simply because a customer changes their mind after purchasing or downloading a pattern.
However, nothing in this policy is intended to remove or limit any rights that a consumer may have under applicable South African consumer-protection law.
If you experience a problem with your download, receive an incorrect file, receive a materially defective file or experience another legitimate problem with your purchase, please contact us so that we can investigate and, where appropriate, provide a replacement, correction or refund.
11. Website Use
You agree to use the Melanin Afrika website lawfully and responsibly.
You may not attempt to interfere with the operation or security of the website, gain unauthorised access to accounts or systems, or use the website for fraudulent or unlawful purposes.
12. Changes to These Terms
Melanin Afrika may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time.
The latest version will be published on this website. Your continued use of the website after changes have been published constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms, subject to applicable law.
13. Contact
For questions regarding these Terms & Conditions, digital products, licensing or orders, please contact:
Melanin Afrika
Website: melaninafrika.com
Email: mcm@melaninafrika.com
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws applicable in the Republic of South Africa.