For those who have purchased TOUTA
Thank you for choosing TOUTA from among many shops. We are delighted that you visited our site.
TOUTA's clothing is made in Senegal, from fabric procurement to sewing. Because each item is carefully handmade with the local artisans, unlike mass-produced industrial products, there may be individual differences in materials and stitching.
Please read the following carefully and understand them before making your purchase.
For washing instructions and handling, please refer to here.
■ Wax (African batik) | All-over patterned fabric
Features: Bold patterns created by wax resist dyeing. It is a firm, thick cotton that softens and becomes more comfortable with each wash.
Appearance/Smell: New items may have a unique smell (which lessens after several washes).
Notes:
○ The color may run or transfer during the first wash, so always wash separately. Be especially careful with dark colors.
○ A quality/manufacturer seal is attached to the fabric every 12 yards. We remove it as carefully as possible, but occasionally, seal marks or stickiness may remain.
○ You may see wax-like streaks on the surface, but this is a characteristic of the material.
○ Avoid high-temperature ironing and tumble drying (this can cause discoloration and deterioration).
■ Voile | Thin, sheer, cool fabric
Features: A light plain weave material with excellent breathability and quick-drying properties.
Notes:
○ Due to the thinness of the fabric, it is susceptible to strong friction and snagging and can tear easily, so please handle with care when putting on and taking off.
○ Innerwear may show through. Light colors are particularly sheer.
○ Due to the sewing process, there may be some "slack" or differences between the left and right sides.
○ When washing, use a net and hand washing is recommended.
■ Vichy | Checkered fabric with a natural texture
Features: Rustic and rough plain weave. Good breathability.
Notes:
○ Due to the nature of the fabric, slubs (fiber knots) and weaving irregularities may be visible. Please understand this as the traditional rustic charm.
○ The rough weave tends to fray easily. Threads may come out from the seams due to strong friction or repeated washing.
○ Wash in a net or hand wash. Reshape and dry in the shade is recommended.
■ Brodé | High-quality lace fabric with jewels
Features: Delicate lace and jewels give a glamorous impression.
Notes:
○ Jewels may come off or discolor/deform due to wear, washing, or ironing. White glue marks may remain where jewels have come off. These are less noticeable on light-colored fabrics but may be noticeable on dark colors.
○ This is a delicate material that snags easily. Please be careful with bags, accessories, nails, etc.
○ Brodé fabric, like Wax, has a quality/manufacturer seal every 15 yards. We remove it as carefully as possible, but occasionally, seal marks or stickiness may remain.
■ Motif | High-density, glossy, high-quality cotton
Features: High-density, luxurious material with embroidery and jewels. There are individual differences in design and thickness.
Notes:
○ Some products use jewels, which may come off or discolor/deform due to wear, washing, or ironing. White glue marks may remain where jewels have come off. These are less noticeable on light-colored fabrics but may be noticeable on dark colors.
○ The embroidered areas are prone to snagging and threads may fray. Please be careful with bags, accessories, nails, etc.
○ For finishing the embroidery, there may be knots or thread stops on the reverse side of the fabric in the embroidered areas. Please understand that this is part of the processing and not a defect.
■ Basin | High-density, high-quality cotton fabric
Features: Characterized by a moist feel and glossy appearance. Features woven patterns of traditional designs.
Notes:
○ The surface gloss may be lost due to friction.
○ Slight shrinkage when washed. Drying in the shade is recommended.
○ For embroidered items, be careful of color fading and thread fraying.
■ Wakh | Glossy and crisp synthetic fiber fabric
Features: Crisp stiffness and gloss give a formal impression. With repeated washing, it becomes softer and more conforming to the skin.
Notes:
○ Due to its coarser weave structure, it tends to fray easily at cut edges and seams. Threads may come out with strong friction or repeated washing.
○ It is prone to static electricity and has low moisture absorption.
○ Weave irregularities, color irregularities, and wrinkles characteristic of the material may be seen, but please understand these as material properties, not defects.
○ If you wish to maintain a crisp texture, dry cleaning is recommended.
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At TOUTA, each item is carefully handmade with Senegalese tailors.
In the local area, overlock sewing machines (specialized machines for fabric edge finishing) are not widely used, and it is common to finish with raw edges.
TOUTA, even in such an environment, uses techniques also used in haute couture, such as French seams, triple folding, and rolled hems, without relying on overlock sewing machines, paying attention to even the unseen parts.
These sewing techniques, while time-consuming, contribute to comfort, durability, and beauty.
Please enjoy the unique "time and effort" that is TOUTA.
*As of June 2025
Please understand the following in advance:
○While TOUTA's tailoring includes basic fraying prevention, some fabrics may be more prone to slight fraying depending on their characteristics and product structure.
○ As all processes are done by hand, there may be misalignment or curves in the seams. Also, since each piece is hand-cut, there may be individual differences in size and silhouette.
○ Many of the fabrics used have all-over patterns or geometric designs. Therefore, there may be discrepancies in the direction or position of the pattern depending on the cutting position and the combination of sewing parts.TOUTA cherishes this as the "unique charm" of a one-of-a-kind item, not found in industrial products, and delivers it to you.
Some items made during this period may show slight roughness in stitching, as the sewing personnel and tailoring specifications were different from the current ones.
There may be unfinished edges (without edge processing) or simplified thread finishing in some areas, but we have inspected and repaired them to an extent that does not interfere with use.
Due to the characteristics of the material and structure, some parts may remain that are difficult to fully repair. For applicable products, the condition is clearly stated in the product description and supplementary images, so please be sure to check before ordering.
Traditionally, yukata are primarily hand-sewn in Japanese style. Our atelier respects this tradition while carefully tailoring them with machines to suit modern lifestyles.
○ For parts where fabrics meet, such as the back center and sleeves, we use **French seams** to ensure that seam allowances do not show on either the front or back.
○ For parts where seams are visible, such as hems and cuffs, we apply triple folds to ensure no raw fabric edges are exposed.
We do not use overlock sewing machines and strive for sewing that balances both elegant appearance and practicality.
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A musor is a traditional women's head accessory widely used in Senegal and throughout West Africa. There are various ways to wrap it, from simple turban styles to voluminous and three-dimensional arrangements.
About 90% of Senegal's population is Muslim, and musors can sometimes function like hijabs. At U5LOVE, we include musors made from leftover fabric from clothing. Since they are made from leftover fabric, sizes may vary, and there may be cases where we cannot make one if there are no leftovers.
We indicate the presence or absence of a musor on each product page, and we appreciate it if you can check it.
How to use TOUTA's Musor!!
⚪︎ Wrap it around your head as a hair accessory
⚪︎ As a scarf
⚪︎ Wrap it around your bag as an accent
⚪︎ Wrap it around your body as a bandeau top
○ Due to lighting conditions and monitor environments, the color and texture of the product image and the actual item may differ slightly.
○ The design and pattern placement will vary for each item depending on the fabric cut, so it will not be exactly identical to the photo.
○ We primarily use natural materials, so there may be color unevenness, fiber knots, small weaving flaws, etc., but please understand these as characteristics of the material.
For the reasons stated above, we do not accept returns or exchanges.
Finally,
TOUTA's clothes value the "one-of-a-kind" texture and the warmth of human hands. While this means they lack the uniformity and perfection of industrial products, this "trace of hands" is the value TOUTA cherishes. We hope you understand this and enjoy your unique garment.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.