Soft Surroundings International and its affiliates ("we" or "us") appreciate the trust you place in us, and we are committed to respecting your privacy and the security of your personal information. This privacy policy describes the information we collect or that you may provide when you visit our websites, SoftSurroundings.com("Websites") or otherwise interact with us online in person, or through the mail, and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information.
This privacy policy applies to information we collect:
- On our Websites;
- In email, text, and other electronic messages between you and our Websites;
- From our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC;
- When you interact with our advertising and applications on third-party websites and services, if those applications or advertising include links to this privacy policy; and
- Offline or through any other means.
Except as described in this privacy policy, our privacy policy does not apply to information collected by any third party, including through any application or content (including advertising) that may link to or be accessible from or on the Websites. Further, this privacy policy does not apply to any Personal Data collected from or about any of our employees (or job applicants). Personal Data collected from employees or job applicants is addressed in our employment policies and handbook.
Please read this privacy policy carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your information and how we will treat it. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, you should not use our Websites, browse or purchase our goods or services, provide us with your Personal Data, or otherwise interact with us. By accessing or using any of the Websites, providing us with Personal Data, browsing or purchasing our goods or services, or otherwise interacting with us, you acknowledge and consent to the disclosures in this privacy policy. This privacy policy may change from time to time (see Policy Changes). Your continued use of any of the Websites, browsing or purchasing of our products or services, provision of Personal Data, or other interactions with us after we make changes is deemed to be an acknowledgement of and consent any such changes. Please check the privacy policy periodically for updates.
We always welcome your questions and feedback. For privacy privacy-related issues, please contact us at
Soft Surroundings
1100 N Lindbergh Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63132
Phone: 1-800-240-7076
Fax: 1-314-521-5780
e-mail us
Information We Collect and How We Collect It
We collect information from and about visitors to and users of our Websites and products and services and individuals and households who interact with us. We collect information: (1) by which you or your household may be personally identified, such as name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, personal preferences, credit card information, including billing address, or any other identifiers by which you may be contacted online or offline; (2) that is about you or your household but does not identify you or your household individually, such as IP address or other online identifiers; and/or (3) about your internet connection, the equipment you use to access our Websites and usage details (collectively, "Personal Data").
We collect this information:
- Directly from you when you provide it to us;
- Automatically as you navigate through the Websites. Information collected automatically may include usage details, IP addresses, and information collected through cookies, web pixel tags, and other tracking technologies. These technologies are discussed in greater detail below; and
- From third parties, for example, our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC, or other business partners.
Information You Provide to Us:
We may collect Personal Data when you:
- Place an order from our catalogs, over the telephone, or on one of our Websites;
- Make a purchase at one of our retail stores;
- Return an item or make an exchange;
- Inquire about our business, products, or services;
- Request a catalog;
- Receive a gift package;
- Create an account on one of our Websites
- Subscribe to our e-newsletters, e-mail promotions, and other communications from us;
- Enter a contest or sweepstakes;
- Are referred to us through a marketing promotion;
- Are referred to us by our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC;
- Connect with us on social media
- Contact us or our customer support; or
- Participate in a marketing survey, promotion or event.
In these instances, we collect the following types of information:
- Contact information, such as your full name, email address, phone number and address;
- Authentication Information, such as passwords and reminder questions/answers;
- Order Information, including products purchased, style and usage preferences, sizing and measurement information, and shipping preferences;
- Payment Information such as credit, debit, or other financial account information;
- Demographic Information, such as age, gender, or other information you provide in response to surveys or in customer service interactions; and
- Audio information (e.g., if you participate in a customer support call).
Information We Collect Through Automatic Data Collection Technologies:
As you navigate through and interact with our Websites, we may use automatic data collection technologies to collect certain information about your equipment, browsing actions, and patterns, including:
- Details of your visits to our Websites, including traffic data, location data, and other communication data and the resources that you access and use on the Websites;
- Information about your computer and internet connection, including your IP address, operating system, and browser type.
The information we collect automatically helps us to improve our Websites and to deliver a better and more personalized service, including by enabling us to:
- Estimate our audience size and usage patterns;
- Store information about your preferences, allowing us to customize our Websites according to your individual interests;
- Speed up your searches; and/or
- Recognize you when you return to our Websites.
The technologies we use for this automatic data collection may include:
- Cookies (or browser cookies). A cookie is a small file placed on the hard drive of your computer and stored by your web browser. Soft Surroundings uses cookies to collect information around abandoned shopping carts. A cart is considered abandoned within one hour of inactivity/lack of purchase. Once the cart is considered abandoned, an SMS message will be sent as a reminder. You may refuse to accept browser cookies by activating the appropriate setting on your browser. However, if you select this setting, you may be unable to access or use certain features of our Websites. Unless you have adjusted your browser setting to refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you direct your browser to our Websites. If you set your browser to refuse cookies, we will likely not be able to process an order or request online. So please call us at 1-800-240-7076 place your order or make your request.
- Pixel Tags. Pages of our the Websites and our e-mails may contain small electronic files known as pixel tags (also referred to as clear gifs, web beacons, and single-pixel gifs) that permit us, for example, to count users who have visited those pages or opened an email and for other related website statistics (for example, recording the popularity of certain website content and verifying system and server integrity). Pixel tags also enable us to send you e-mail in a format you can read and let us know when you have opened an e-mail message from us.
We may use third-party companies to provide advertising services and/or to collect certain information when you visit and interact with our Websites. These third-party companies may collect and use non-personally-identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visit to our Websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you and for our business purposes, including but not limited to research and analytics, product promotions, and website management. These third-party companies may use cookies and other technologies to recognize your browser to collect and record information about your web surfing activity including your activities on the Websites. This information may include, without limitation, the pages you viewed, how long you spent on each page, and how you interact with particular webpages via input devices. These technologies may be used directly on this website.
You may visit the Network Advertising Initiative, www.networkadvertising.org/choices or the Digital Advertising Alliance, http://www.aboutads.info/, to learn more about interest-based advertising, or to opt out of receiving advertisements tailored to your interests on your browser, from their respective members and participants.
We do not permit these companies from using this information for their own marketing purposes or from sharing this information with anyone other than us or our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC.
We also engage third-party partners for the purpose of identifying users and delivering to electronic or direct mail marketing on our behalf or on behalf of our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC. To opt out of recognition services, please go here. To learn how to opt out of cookies set by third parties, please go to http://www.aboutads.info/.
We may also use technologies, such as our own cookies, to provide you with relevant online display advertising. To exercise your rights to opt out of our cookies used for this online marketing, click here.
Information From Third Parties
We may receive information about you from other sources, including our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC, data vendors, data co-ops, marketing partners, and anti-fraud services. We may add this information to the information we have already collected from you to use for all the purposes described in the privacy policy.
In addition, we may gather information about you from external sources, which includes Personal Data obtained from social media platforms and data co-ops, such as name, email address, friend list, photo, age, gender, location, birthday, social networking ID, current city, your comments about our Services, and the people/sites you follow. In addition, we may utilize the Google Maps service and other comparable services to acquire geolocation data. This information is used to simplify the checkout process by suggesting shipping and billing addresses, or locating the nearest store. Please note that the Google Maps service adheres to Google's privacy policy as outlined on www.google.com/policies/privacy. Our collection of Personal Data from Facebook or other social media platforms is subject to their terms of use and privacy policy and your social media settings. Finally, we procure and exchange contact information, demographic information, commercial information, and internet and electronic activity with third-party data aggregators and data co-ops.
How We Use Your Information
We always want to provide you with the best possible shopping experience and fulfill your orders exactly as you've requested. In order to do this, we use information about you, including Personal Data to:
- Present our Websites and their contents to you;
- Process, fulfill, ship, and track your orders;
- Provide the information, products, and services you request;
- Facilitate returns or exchanges;
- Contact you about the status of an order;
- Respond to your inquires and requests;
- Create, maintain, customize, and secure your account with us, including to associate your purchases and orders with your account;
- Send you catalogs, e-newsletters, e-mail promotions, and other communications from us;
- Personalize your experience and to deliver content and product and service offerings relevant to your interests and preferences;
- Facilitate your participation in a marketing survey, promotion, contest, sweepstakes, or event;
- Customize our communications to you;
- Provide information concerning product recalls or products you have purchased;
- Provide you with support, including to investigate and address your concerns and monitor and improve our responses;
- Improve our merchandise selection and customer service;
- Process your purchases, transactions, and payments and prevent transactional fraud;
- Carry out our obligations and enforce our rights arising from any contracts entered into between you and us, including for billing and collection;
- Notify you about changes to our Websites or any products or services we offer;
- Test, research, and analyze information we receive, including for the purpose of developing and improving our products and services;
- Fulfill any other purpose for which you provide such information;
- Evaluate or conduct a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of our assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar proceeding, in which Personal Data held by us is among the assets transferred;
- Respond to law enforcement requests and as required by applicable law, court order, or governmental regulations; and
- Fulfill any other purpose with your consent.
We may also use your information to contact you about our own goods and services, or those of our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC, or of other third parties that we believe may be of interest to you. If you do not want us to use your information in this way, please refer to the Your Choices section below.
Disclosure of Your Information
We may disclose Personal Data that we collect or you provide as described in this privacy policy:
- To our subsidiaries and affiliates, including our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC;
- To contractors, service providers, and other third parties we use to support our business. For example, we contract with other companies to provide certain services, including credit card processing and shipping. We provide these companies with only the information they need to perform their services and work closely with them to ensure that your privacy is respected and protected. These companies are prohibited by contract from using this information for their own marketing purposes or from sharing this information with anyone other than us;
- To a buyer or other successor in the event of a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of our assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar proceeding, in which Personal Data held by us is among the assets transferred;
- To third parties to market their products or services to you if you have not opted out of these disclosures. For example, from time to time, we make our catalog mailing list (names and addresses only) and general shopping activity available to carefully screened companies whose products we believe will be of interest to you. If you prefer that we do not share any information with these companies, please contact us;
- To law enforcement or governmental officials in order to comply with any court order, law, or legal process, including to respond to any government or regulatory request;
- To enforce or apply our policies, terms of use, terms of sale, or other agreements, including for billing and collection purposes;
- To fulfill the purposes for which you provide it;
- For any other purpose disclosed by us when you provide the information;
- With your consent; and/or
- If we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to protect the rights, property, or safety of us, our customers, or others. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for the purposes of fraud protection and credit risk reduction.
We may disclose aggregated information about our users, and information that does not identify any individual and cannot be used to re-identify an individual or household.
Your Choices We offer choices about the types of information you receive from us. If you prefer not to receive catalogs or other communications from Soft Surroundings, please contact us at:
Soft Surroundings
c/o Customer Service
1100 N Lindbergh Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63132
Phone: 1-800-240-7076
info@softsurroundings.com
If you no longer wish to receive our e-newsletters and e-mail promotions you may electronically unsubscribe here or contact us by mail, telephone, or email.
If you do not want to receive mailings from other carefully screened companies, please contact us at:
Soft Surroundings
c/o Customer Service
1100 N Lindbergh Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63132
1-800-540-7076
info@softsurroundings.com
Please be sure to provide us your exact name and address, or the mailing label from your catalog, so that we identify you correctly. Because we plan our mailings in advance, it may take some time for your request to become effective. If you continue to receive our communications, please contact us again and we will make our best effort to correct the situation.
Updating or Reviewing Your Information
To update your customer information (e.g. name, address, telephone number and e-mail address), please contact us at:
Soft Surroundings
c/o Customer Service
1100 N Lindbergh Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63132
1-800-540-7076
info@softsurroundings.com
A limited amount of purchase information also may be available to you. To protect your privacy, we will need to validate your identity before you update or review your information.
Your Privacy Rights
Some of the Personal Data we collect information constitutes "personal information" or “personal data” under state laws in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Virginia, and other states. These states provide their residents with certain rights with respect to their Personal Data. These rights are discussed below. Out of concern for your privacy and as a courtesy to our customers, we will honor the privacy requests described below made by any customer living in the United States, whether or not you are protected by one of these statutes.
Within the last twelve (12) months, we collected directly, indirectly (e.g., through your actions on our Websites, or from third parties, the categories of Personal Data listed in the table below. Any such collection has been for purposes described in the How We Use Your Information section above from sources included in the Information We Collect and How We Collect It section above.
Please note that Personal Data does not include publicly available information from government records, lawfully obtained, truthful information that is a matter of public concern, deidentified or aggregated consumer information or information specifically excluded from the scope of applicable data protection laws.
We have not sold any Personal Data of consumers in the last 12 months. We have not collected any "sensitive personal information" or "sensitive data" in the last 12 months.
We will retain your Personal Data for the period necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Notice unless a longer retention period is required or allowed by law.
The criteria used to determine our retention periods include:
- The length of time we have an ongoing relationship with you and provide requested services to you;
- Whether there is a legal obligation to which we are subject (for example, certain laws require us to keep records of your transactions for a certain period of time before we can delete them);or
- Whether retention is advisable in light of our legal position (such as in regard to applicable statutes of limitations, litigation or regulatory investigations).
As described above, we may disclose your Personal Data to our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC. Further, we may disclose your Personal Data to an unaffiliated third party for a business purpose. When we disclose Personal Data for a business purpose, we enter into a contract that describes the purpose and requires the recipient to both keep that Personal Data confidential and not use it for any purpose except performing the contract. We have disclosed this Personal Data for a business purpose to the following categories of third parties:
- contractors, service providers, and other third parties we use to support our business, such as email service providers, payment processors, and shipping carriers;
- consumer relations, including consumer complaint response services;
- employee recruitment, career portal and job applicant services; and
- legal representation, including with regard to prevention harm to our company, its subsidiaries, our products or services or a person or property (e.g., fraud prevention).
We may "share" your Personal Data with our affiliate Coldwater International LLC and other third parties. As used herein, "share" refers to sharing for purposes of cross-context behavioral advertising or targeted advertising, as contemplated under applicable law. Applicable law prohibits third parties who receive the Personal Data from resharing it unless you have received explicit notice and an opportunity to opt-out of further sharing.
We share your Personal Data for the purposes listed in the How We Use Your Information Section above.
We share your Personal Data with the following categories of third parties for cross-context behavioral advertising:
- Our affiliate, Coldwater International LLC;
- Advertisers; and
- Social media companies.
Certain states provide their residents with specific rights regarding their Personal Data.
Access/Right to Know. You may request that we disclose certain information to you about our collection and use of your Personal Data. Once we receive and verify your request, we will disclose to you, as applicable:
- The categories of Personal Data we collected about you;
- The categories of sources for the Personal Data we collected about you;
- Our business or commercial purpose for collecting or sharing that Personal Data;
- The categories of third parties with whom we disclose that Personal Data; and
- The specific pieces of Personal Data we collected about you (also called a data portability request).
- If we sold or disclosed your Personal Data for a business purpose, two separate lists disclosing:
- the Personal Data categories that we sold and for each category identified, the categories of third parties to whom we sold that particular category of Personal Data; and
- the Personal Data categories that we disclosed for a business purpose and for each category identified, the categories of third parties to whom we disclosed that particular category of Personal Data.
Right to Correct. You may request that we correct inaccurate Personal Data about you. Once we receive and verify your request, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to correct the information to comply with your request.
Right to Delete. You may request that we delete any of your Personal Data that we collected from you and retained, subject to certain exceptions. Once we receive and verify your request, we will delete (and direct our service providers to delete) your Personal Data from our records, unless an exception applies. In responding to your request, we will inform you whether and to what extent we have complied with the request, and, if we have not complied in whole or in part, provide you with an explanation why.
We may deny your deletion request if retaining the information is necessary for us, or our service provider(s), to:
- Complete the transaction for which we collected the Personal Data, fulfill the terms of a written warranty or product recall conducted in accordance with federal law, provide a good or service that you requested, take actions reasonably anticipated within the context of our ongoing business relationship with you, or otherwise perform our contract with you;
- Help to ensure security and integrity to the extent the use of your Personal Data is reasonably necessary and proportionate for those purposes;
- Debug products to identify and repair errors that impair existing intended functionality;
- Exercise free speech, ensure the right of another consumer to exercise his/her free speech rights, or exercise another right provided for by law;
- Comply with the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act;
- Engage in public or peer-reviewed scientific, historical, or statistical research that conforms or adheres to all other applicable ethics and privacy laws, when the information's deletion may likely render impossible or seriously impair the ability to complete such research, if you previously provided informed consent;
- Enable solely internal uses that are reasonably aligned with consumer expectations based on your relationship with us and compatible with the context in which the you provided the information; or
- Comply with a legal obligation.
Opt-Out and Opt-In Rights. You may direct us not to share your Personal Data at any time. "Share" refers to sharing for purposes of cross-context behavioral advertising or targeted advertising.
o exercise the right to opt-out, you (or your authorized agent) may submit a request to us by visiting the following Internet Web page link: https://www.softsurroundings.com/emailus/
You may also exercise the right to opt-out using an opt-out preference signal in a format commonly used and recognized by businesses, such as through an HTTP header field. When we receive an opt-out preference signal, we will treat it as a valid request to opt-out of the sharing for that browser or device sending the signal, and, if known, for the consumer.
Once you make an opt-out request, we will wait at least twelve (12) months before asking you to reauthorize Personal Data sharing. However, you may change your mind and opt back in to Personal Data sharing at any time by sending us an email to soft_surroundings@softsurroundings.com.
You do not need to create an account with us to exercise your opt-out rights. We will only use Personal Data provided in an opt-out request to review and comply with the request.
Making a Privacy Request. To exercise the access, correction, deletion, and opt-out rights described above, please submit a consumer request to us through one of the following:
- Calling us at 1-800-540-7076;
- Emailing us via https://www.softsurroundings.com/emailus/; or
- Contacting us at the address listed in this policy.
When you use a request method above, we may request certain information for verification purposes, such as your name, address, and e-mail address. We will use this information to verify this is a permitted request, such as by matching your name and address with information in our records. Depending on the type of request, we may require a certain number of data points to allow for verification.
Only you, or a person properly authorized to act on your behalf, may make a consumer request related to your Personal Data. You may also make a consumer request on behalf of your minor child.
An authorized agent may make a request on your behalf using the request methods designated above. Additionally, if you use an authorized agent to submit a consumer request, we may require the authorized agent to provide proof that you gave the agent signed permission to submit the request. We may also require you to verify your own identity directly with us or directly confirm with us that you provided the authorized agent permission to submit the request.
You may only make a consumer request for access or data portability twice within a 12-month period. The verifiable consumer request must:
- Provide sufficient information that allows us to reasonably verify you are the person about whom we collected Personal Data or an authorized agent of such person;
- Describe your request with sufficient detail that allows us to properly understand, evaluate, and respond to it.
We cannot respond to your request or provide you with Personal Data if we cannot verify your identity or authority to make the request and confirm the Personal Data relates to you.
Making a consumer request does not require you to create an account with us.
We will only use Personal Data provided in a consumer request to verify the requestor's identity or authority to make the request.
If we deny your request, you may appeal that decision. If you appeal and your appeal is denied, you may have the right to complain to your state's attorney general. You may appeal your decision by contacting us at soft_surroundings@softsurroundings.com.
Response Timing and Format. In accordance with applicable law, we endeavor to respond to consumer requests within forty-five (45) days of its receipt. If we require more time (up to 45 additional days), we will inform you of the reason and extension period in writing. If you do not have an account with us, we will deliver our written response by mail or electronically, at your option.
The response we provide will also explain the reasons we cannot comply with a request, if applicable. For data portability requests, we will select a format to provide your Personal Data that is readily useable and should allow you to transmit the information from one entity to another entity without hindrance.
We do not charge a fee to process or respond to your consumer request unless it is excessive, repetitive, or manifestly unfounded. If we determine that the request warrants a fee, we will tell you why we made that decision and provide you with a cost estimate before completing your request.
Non-Discrimination. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your rights. Unless permitted by applicable laws, in connection with you exercising your rights, we will not:
- Deny you goods or services;
- Charge you different prices or rates for goods or services, including through granting discounts or other benefits, or imposing penalties;
- Provide you a different level or quality of goods or services; or
- Suggest that you may receive a different price or rate for goods or services or a different level or quality of goods or services.
We may offer you certain financial incentives permitted by applicable laws that can result in different prices, rates, or quality levels. Any legally permitted financial incentive we offer will reasonably relate to your Personal Data's value to us and contain written terms that describe the program's material aspects. Participation in a financial incentive program requires your prior opt in consent, which you may revoke at any time.
Other Privacy Rights. California Civil Code Section § 1798.83 permits California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of personal data to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make these requests, please contact us using one of the means identified in this policy.
Links to Other Sites
Occasionally, we provide links on our Websites to other sites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy and security practices and policies of these other sites or any other sites that are linked to from our Websites, or any damage to, or viruses that may infect your computer equipment or other property, or for any loss or corruption of data resulting from any third party website navigated to or accessed from links hosted on or contained in our Websites. If you decide to access any website linked to in our Websites, you do so entirely at your own risk. We do not guarantee that you will receive an alert when you leave one of our Websites, and it is your responsibility to determine when you have left one of our Websites. Any Personal Data you provide on linked pages or applications is provided directly to that third party and is subject to that third party's privacy policy. We encourage you to learn about their privacy and security practices and policies before providing them with Personal Data.
Secure Online Ordering
For information on our online order page, please visit https://www.softsurroundings.com/faq/ordering/secure-online-ordering/.
Privacy of Minors on Our Websites
Our Websites are not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect Personal Data from anyone under the age of 18. If you are under 18, do not use or provide any information on our Websites or on or through any of its features/register on the Websites, make any purchases through the Websites, or provide any information about yourself to us, including your name, address, telephone number, email address, or any screen name or user name you may use. If we learn we have collected or received Personal Data from someone under 18 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information. If you believe we might have any information from or about someone under 18, please contact us.
Policy Changes
We encourage you to review our privacy policy periodically. It is our policy to post any changes we make to our privacy policy on this page. Your continued use of any of the Websites, browsing or purchasing of our products or services, provision of Personal Data, or other interactions with us after we make changes is deemed to be an acknowledgement of and consent any such changes. Please check the privacy policy periodically for updates.
Questions or Comments?
For questions, comments or assistance, we invite you to contact us at:
Soft Surroundings
c/o Customer Service
1100 N Lindbergh Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63132
Phone:1-800-240-7076
Fax: 1-314-521-5780
e-mail us
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Acetate: A synthetic fiber made from wood cellulose like a bio fiber, but treated with acid to produce a strong, lightweight absorbent fabric often used in linings.
Acid Etched: Designs on or carved into glass by use of acids on the surface.
Acrylic: A synthetic fiber with the properties of very soft wool. Holds up well to machine washing.
Alpaca: Luxurious natural fiber made from the fleece of the alpaca (related to the llama).
Angora: Luxurious natural fiber made from the fleece of the angora goat or the combed soft hairs of the angora rabbit. Products sold by Soft Surroundings containing angora fiber are humanely harvested and confirmed cruelty-free. Our angora is sourced by combing and humane shearing, never from plucking. We use best practice standards to ensure animal welfare is always safeguarded, and we are committed to working closely with our suppliers to maintain this.
Applique: A piece of fabric, cut to shape and sewn on to a larger piece as decoration.
Arabesque: From the mideastern style - an intricate pattern or design featuring spiralling or serpentine lines.
Armoire: A large, sometimes ornate cabinet or chest.
Artisan: Made by, or having the visual appeal of the work of skilled craftsmen, using time honored methods.
Asymmetrical: Varying in length or pattern from one side to the other. Different on each side, not symmetrical.
Ball Fringe: Corded fringe ending in tufted pom poms.
Bamboo: The latest of the bio fibers, Bamboo (rayon made from bamboo) fiber comes from the cellulose of bamboo plants. It is a very soft yarn that blends well with other fibers. Bamboo is the most absorbent and quickest drying of this fiber group. The bamboo used is an easily renewable crop and not taken from the wild. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth.
Bateau: Boat neck - a neckline with a straight horizontal opening at front and usually back.
Batik: Originally, a hand dyeing process using wax to create intricate patterns. A print in the ethnic style of batik work.
Batiste: A fine, sometimes sheer, linen or cotton fabric. Handkerchief weave.
Battenburg: An intricate form of flat, cutwork lace.
Batting: Synthetic or natural filling in a quilted piece or pillow.
Beading: The decorative application of ornamental beads, including seed beads (small spheres), bugle beads (tubes), charlotte beads (with single facet) or any variety of novelty shapes.
Bed Cap: A coverlet with squared, fitted corners at the foot.
Bedskirt: Fabric used to cover the area from bottom of mattress to floor. May be tailored (straight fabric, with or without pleats) or gathered. "Drop" refers to the length of the fabric from mattress bottom to hem. Puddling occurs when a longer drop (usually 18" plus) is used that causes the fabric to bunch at floor level.
Bedspread: A (usually) unlined covering for the bed that reaches completely to the floor and has additional length at top to fold over bed pillows.
Beetling: Hammering fabric (usually linen) to achieve a smooth, polished finish.
Bengaline: Fabric woven not unlike taffeta, but with a slightly raised directional cord or rib, usually of blended fibers.
Berber: A fairly flat woven carpet with varying woven loop sizes and minor color variations for a textured effect.
Bias Cut: Fabric cut at a diagonal angle to enhance the drape and curve appeal.
Biofiber: Any yarns of a family made from plant cellulose that is treated chemically to produce monofilament fibers (rayon, tencel, modal, etc.).
Bleeding: Fabric losing dye when exposed to water.
Bodice: The area of a garment covering the upper torso.
Bolster Pillow: A long, often cylindrical, cushion or pillow for a bed, sofa, etc.
Bouclé: Fabric woven of a curled yarn, for a textured, "Chanel" effect.
Bouillon Fringe: Fringed trim ending in thick, twisted individual cords.
Braid: Applied trim in a braid or loop pattern.
Broad Cloth: A heavy, sturdy woven fabric, with a slightly felted surface.
Brocade: A jacquard style weave in which some thicker yarns are used for a substantial tapestry or chenille surface in some areas.
Brocante: An antique fair or flea market (French).
Brushed Cotton: Cotton fabric that has been brushed after weaving, for a soft, peached surface.
Brushed Fringe: Simple fringe ending in full, unraveled yarn at a uniform length.
Burlap: Woven jute in a basic canvas weave to an almost open weave. Textured and sturdy.
Burn-Out: A process of printing which uses chemicals, rather than color, to "burn out" or dissolve away one fiber in a cloth. Purpose is to achieve a sheer lacy & intricate design. Also used to obtain eyelets or other type patterns in a fabric.
Canoodle: Canoodle lounging chair. To canoodle is to snuggle up playfully.
Capodimonte: Literally "top of the mountain", from an old legend of an Italian prince whose castle set too high in the mountains to maintain a garden. Ceramic flowers were created by artisans to mimic the beauty of nature. An Italian born ceramic technique in which individual clay pieces (petals, leaves, roping or cutwork) are hand formed and placed before the piece is fired.
Cashmere: Luxurious natural fiber made from the fleece of the cashmere goat. The fine hairs are removed by combing, not shearing.
Chenille: A fabric with a deep nap that looks like soft, tufted yarns that has a fuzzy surface. Most commonly made of cotton, but can be made from many fibers.
Chiffon: Sheer, soft, flowing fabric often made of silk or silk-like synthetic fibers.
Chintz: A glossy, glazed fabric, usually cotton, printed with large, bright flower motifs.
Cluny Lace: A type of bobbin lace with a pattern of high loops, developed in Cluny, France.
Coir: A coarse, stiff fiber from the husk of coconuts.
Cotton: The most commonly used fiber in the world. Cotton is a natural fiber that is highly absorbent and soft.
Cotton Voile: A soft, sheer fabric, usually cotton, with a crisp finish. Similar to organdy.
Crewel: An elaborate form of chain stitch embroidery, done on a heavy fabric.
Crochet: Handworked fabric made by looping thread with a hooked needle.
Cuff: The turned-back portion of a sleeve or pant leg.
Cushion: A stuffed pad or support; a throw pillow.
Damask: A glossy jacquard fabric, usually made of silk, with a pattern visible from either side.
Denim: A rugged cotton twill fabric, usually blue, used for jeans, jackets, and work clothes.
Dobby: A pattern in cloth made by a special loom that raises and lowers warp threads.
Down: The soft, fluffy feathers from the breast of ducks or geese, used in pillows, comforters, etc.
Downy: Soft and fluffy, like down.
Drawstring: A cord or ribbon run through a hem or casing to tighten, fasten, or close an opening.
Drop: See Bedskirt.
Drop Needle: A knitting technique in which some needles are purposely not used, creating a lacy effect.
Duvet: A quilt or comforter, usually with a removable cover.
Elastane: A synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity, commonly referred to as Spandex or Lycra.
Embroidery: The art of decorating fabric with needle and thread or yarn.
Embossing: A technique for creating a raised design in a fabric or paper.
Empire Waist: A high waistline that falls just below the bust, giving a long, slender look to the torso.
Enamel: A glassy substance applied to metal or pottery for decoration or protection.
Eyelet: A small hole or perforation, usually rimmed with stitched embroidery, as in broderie anglaise.
Fabric: Cloth made by weaving, knitting, or felting fibers.
Faggoting: A decorative embroidery or lace pattern in which thread is pulled and tied, creating a small, open area in the fabric.
Faux Leather: Artificial material designed to look and feel like genuine leather.
Fiber: The basic component in the form of a slender, elongated structure that is capable of being spun into yarn.
Flannel: A soft, napped fabric, usually wool or cotton, used for shirts, pajamas, and bedding.
Flatware: Eating and serving utensils that have flat, usually thin handles.
Flax: The plant from which linen is made.
Floral: Having to do with flowers.
Frond: The leaf or leaflike part of a palm, fern, or similar plant.
Fringe: Ornamental trim consisting of a series of hanging threads or strips.
Full/Queen: A size designation for bedding that generally fits both full and queen size mattresses.
Futon: A thin mattress, usually filled with layers of cotton batting, used on a floor or on a raised, foldable frame.
Gabardine: A durable, tightly woven fabric with a distinctive diagonal twill weave.
Gauze: A thin, sheer fabric with a loose open weave.
Gauzy: Like gauze, thin and sheer.
Gimp: A trim made of silk, wool, or cotton often stiffened with metallic wire, often braided or twisted.
Gingham: A cotton fabric, usually woven in checks or stripes.
Glazed Cotton: Cotton fabric with a smooth, shiny surface.
Grosgrain: A heavy, closely woven fabric with narrow horizontal ribs.
Guipure: A heavy lace made with a large pattern.
Gusset: A triangular or rhomboidal piece of fabric inserted into a seam to add breadth or reduce stress from tight-fitting clothing.
Hem: The edge of a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.
Hemp: A strong, durable fiber derived from the stem of the hemp plant, used to make rope, twine, fabric, and paper.
Hera: A handheld quilting tool used for marking quilt lines.
Houndstooth: A woven fabric pattern consisting of small, broken checks or abstract four-pointed shapes.
Hutch: A boxlike furniture with doors or drawers and shelves, often used for storage or display.
Incised: Cut into.
Interlock: A type of knit fabric with a smooth surface and a slight amount of stretch.
Iron: A heavy, flat-topped implement used for pressing clothes and linens.
Jacquard: A fabric with an intricately woven pattern produced on a Jacquard loom.
Jute: A strong, coarse fiber from the bark of a jute plant, used to make burlap, rope, and sackcloth.
Kapok: A silky fiber obtained from the seed pods of a tropical tree, used for stuffing mattresses, pillows, etc.
Kenaf: A plant of the hibiscus family, grown in the tropics, and used as a source of bast fiber.
Knit: A fabric made by looping yarns together, as in hand-knitting and machine-knitting.
Lace: A delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made either by hand or machine.
Laminate: A material constructed by uniting two or more layers of material.
Lap Quilt: A small quilt, often used as a throw or for a baby.
Lattice: A crisscrossed structure or pattern.
Linen: Fabric woven from flax yarns.
Lining: A protective inner layer, as in a garment or curtain.
Loom: A device used to weave fabric by interlacing a series of threads or yarns.
Louvers: Slatted panels, typically made of wood, metal, or glass, arranged in a frame, that allow light and air to pass through.
Lurex: A type of yarn or fabric that incorporates a glittering metallic thread.
Lycra: A trademarked brand name for a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity, commonly used in athletic wear.
Matelassé: A heavy fabric with a raised pattern, typically covering both sides.
Matte: Having a dull, lusterless surface.
Matting: A material, often straw or grass, used for mats or matting.
Mercerize: A treatment for cotton fabric that increases luster and strength.
Merino: A breed of fine-wooled sheep valued for its wool.
Mohair: The long, silky hair of the Angora goat.
Muslin: A lightweight, plain weave cotton fabric.
Nap: A soft or fuzzy surface on a fabric, usually created by brushing, as on flannel, or shearing, as on velvet.
Needlepoint: A form of canvas work created on an open-weave mesh canvas.
Netting: Fabric with an open mesh construction.
Neutrals: Shades of black, white, gray, brown, and beige.
Novelty Fabric: A fabric with an unusual design or texture.
Nylon: A synthetic polymer, known for its durability and resistance to abrasion, used in textiles, rope, and molded parts.
Oilcloth: A cotton fabric treated with oil and pigment to make it waterproof.
Organdy: A stiff, sheer fabric, usually cotton, used for blouses, dresses, and trimmings.
Organic: Produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents.
Organza: A thin, stiff, transparent fabric made of silk or synthetic yarns.
Ottoman: A heavy, corded fabric with a large, ribbed weave.
Outdoor Fabric: Fabric designed to withstand outdoor conditions such as sun exposure and moisture, commonly used for patio furniture, umbrellas, and awnings.
Paillette: A flat, shiny decorative object, such as a sequin, used for ornamentation.
Paint: A liquid composition that, when spread over a surface, dries to form a hard, protective or decorative coating.
Paisley: A distinctive intricate pattern of curved, feather-shaped figures based on a pine-cone design from India.
Panel: A distinct section of fabric, often bordered or framed for use as a wall hanging or in the construction of garments.
Pantone: A standardized color matching system used in the design industry.
Parchment: A type of paper made from animal skin, usually sheepskin, calfskin, or goatskin.
Passementerie: Decorative trimmings such as tassels, fringes, and cords, often used on soft furnishings.
Patchwork: A technique in which fabric pieces are sewn together to form a pattern or design.
Pelmet: A decorative framework fixed above a window to conceal curtain fixtures.
Percale: A closely woven, plain-weave cotton fabric with a thread count of 200 or higher.
Petit Point: A form of needlepoint with small, precise stitches.
Pickstitch: A closely spaced line of small, diagonal stitches used as decoration on tailored garments.
Pieced: Made of or formed by a patchwork of fabric pieces.
Piqué: A cotton fabric with a raised, woven design, used for summer-weight clothing.
Plaid: A fabric with a pattern of stripes and intersecting bands, usually in multiple colors.
Plain Weave: A basic weave in which the weft and warp threads cross one another alternately.
Plush: A rich, soft fabric with a cut pile, typically used for upholstery and toys.
Pocket: A small bag or pouch-like receptacle, typically sewn into or on clothing for carrying small items.
Polyester: A synthetic fiber known for its durability, resistance to wrinkling, and quick drying time.
Poplin: A plain-weave cotton fabric with a corded surface.
Print: A pattern or design produced by printing onto fabric.
Provincial: Having to do with the provinces or countryside.
Quilt: A bed coverlet made of two layers of fabric stitched together with padding in between, usually in a decorative design.
Rag Rug: A rug made from scraps of fabric or yarn, often braided or woven together.
Ramie: A natural fiber similar to linen, made from the stalks of the Chinese plant Boehmeria nivea.
Rayon: A synthetic fiber made from cellulose, typically derived from wood pulp.
Ribbed: Having parallel ridges or grooves.
Rickrack: A flat, narrow braid used as trim on clothing or curtains.
Rotary Cutter: A tool with a round blade used for cutting fabric, typically used in conjunction with a cutting mat and ruler for accuracy.
Rug: A floor covering made of woven material, typically with a thick pile.
Sateen: A cotton fabric with a smooth, glossy surface produced by a satin weave.
Satin: A smooth, glossy fabric typically made of silk or polyester, woven with a satin weave.
Scrim: A lightweight fabric used for reinforcing or stiffening other materials.
Seersucker: A lightweight cotton fabric with a crinkled surface, typically striped or checkered.
Selvage: The self-finished edge of fabric that runs parallel to the warp (lengthwise) threads.
Sequin: A small, shiny disk sewn as one of many onto clothing for decoration.
Serape: A long, colorful blanket-like shawl, typically worn over the shoulders.
Serge: A type of twill fabric with diagonal lines or ridges on both sides.
Sheen: A soft, shiny, smooth texture or appearance.
Shirring: A sewing technique in which fabric is gathered along parallel rows.
Shirting: A plain or striped cotton fabric typically used for making shirts.
Shot: A variation in color that occurs when two different-colored threads are woven together.
Silk: A fine, lustrous fiber produced by silkworms, often used in textiles.
Sisal: A strong, stiff fiber derived from the leaves of the agave plant, used to make rope, twine, and durable textiles.
Slipcover: A removable fitted cover for a piece of upholstered furniture.
Solids: Fabrics with a single, uniform color.
Soutache: A narrow, flat decorative braid, typically used in embroidery or as trim.
Spandex: A synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity, commonly used in stretch fabrics.
Spring Needle: A type of sewing machine needle designed for use with knits and stretch fabrics.
Stain: A discoloration that can be removed by cleaning.
Staple: A fiber of relatively short length, typically measured in inches or centimeters.
Stonewash: A process in which denim is washed with stones or sand to achieve a faded, worn appearance.
Stretch: The degree to which a fabric can be stretched without breaking.
Swatch: A small sample of fabric used for testing color, texture, or quality.
Synthetic: Made by chemical synthesis, especially to imitate a natural product.
Taffeta: A crisp, smooth fabric with a lustrous surface, typically made of silk or synthetic fibers.
Tapestry: A heavy, woven fabric, often with pictorial designs, used as wall hangings or furniture coverings.
Tassel: A bunch of threads, typically looped at one end and attached for decoration.
Terry Cloth: A soft, absorbent fabric with loops of yarn on one or both sides, typically made of cotton.
Thread Count: The number of threads per square inch in a woven fabric, typically used as a measure of quality.
Tie-Dye: A method of dyeing fabric in which sections are tightly bound with thread or string to resist dye, resulting in a variegated pattern.
Tieback: A loop or band, typically of fabric or cord, used to hold back curtains or drapes.
Toggle: A small bar or rod, typically of wood or plastic, used as a fastening, especially on clothing.
Toile: A type of printed fabric with a repeated pattern depicting scenes of country life.
Traverse Rod: A curtain rod with a pulley system that allows curtains to be drawn open or closed horizontally.
Tulle: A fine, lightweight netting fabric, typically used for veils and ballet tutus.
Twill: A type of fabric woven with a pattern of diagonal parallel ribs.
Upholstery: The covering of furniture, typically with fabric.
Valance: A decorative framework or drapery hung above a window to conceal curtain fixtures.
Velvet: A fabric with a soft, dense pile formed by looping the warp thread over a rod during weaving.
Vintage: Characterized by the best or most typical of its kind.
Viscose: A semi-synthetic fiber made from regenerated cellulose, typically used in textiles and fabrics.
Voile: A soft, sheer fabric, typically made of cotton or silk, used for making curtains or dresses.
Waffle Weave: A woven fabric with a recessed square or diamond pattern, resembling the texture of a waffle.
Wash: A liquid preparation used for cleaning clothes, utensils, or other objects.
Weave: A particular method or pattern of weaving cloth.
Weft: The crosswise threads on a loom that are passed over and under the warp threads to make cloth.
Wicker: A pliable plant material, typically willow branches, used for making baskets and furniture.
Wool: The soft, curly hair forming the fleece of sheep and certain other animals, used to make textiles.
Wrinkle: A small line or fold in something, especially fabric or the skin, typically caused by crumpling, folding, or contracting.
Yarn: Spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing.
Yoke: A fitted or shaped piece at the top of a garment, especially one cut separately from the rest.
Zipper: A device consisting of two flexible strips of metal or plastic with interlocking projections closed or opened by pulling a slide along them, used to fasten garments.
ORDERING
Please note that Soft Surroundings designs are only sold at www.softsurroundings.com. We are not affiliated with any other sites or organizations that may be claiming to sell our products.
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Methods of Payment
We accept the following payment methods:
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We do not accept cash, checks or money orders. We are only able to accept credit cards that have a U.S. based issuing bank.
If you use a debit card to place your order, your bank will show two transaction entries: a "pre-authorization hold" and the final sale. The "pre-authorization hold" allows Soft Surroundings to verify your debit card information so that we may begin processing your order. This hold is typically removed by your bank within two to three days, depending on your specific bank's policies. Unfortunately, with a debit card, the pre-authorization hold and final charge are not combined into one single transaction, and therefore will appear twice on your statement. Please know that this is not a policy specific to Soft Surroundings; this is the financial industry policy regarding online transactions for debit cards.
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PRODUCT INFORMATION
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