Terms and conditions

1. Introduction and Acceptance

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Arewa Threads platform, including our website, progressive web app, the Arewa Threads mobile application, and all related services (together, the "Platform"). The Platform is owned and operated by Arewa Clothing Solutions ("Arewa Clothing Solutions", "we", "us", or "our"), a company registered in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By creating an account, ticking the acceptance box during sign-up, or otherwise accessing or using the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and by our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

2. Definitions

• "Customer" means a person who registers to browse, buy goods, or book tailoring or measurement services on the Platform.
• "Vendor" means a Retailer or Tailor who registers to sell goods or services on the Platform.
• "Retailer" means a Vendor selling fabrics, ready-made attire, caps, accessories, and related goods.
• "Tailor" means a Vendor offering made-to-measure tailoring services.
• "Rider" means an independent delivery person operating under the Arewa Express service.
• "Measurer" means a person who provides in-person measurement services to Customers.
• "Arewa Express" means the delivery service operated as a subsidiary brand of Arewa Clothing Solutions.
• "La'ada Points" means the Platform's loyalty reward points, described in Section 12.
• "Content" means any text, images, photographs, reviews, or other material uploaded to the Platform.
• "Escrow" means the holding of Customer payment by the Platform until an order is confirmed delivered.

3. Eligibility and Accounts

Customers may be of any age, but users under the age of 18 must have the consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian to make purchases or enter into transactions. Vendors, Riders, and Measurers must be at least 18 years of age and must complete identity verification (KYC) before their account is activated.

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep it updated. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials, including your password and any financial PIN, and for all activity that occurs under your account. You must notify us immediately of any unauthorised use of your account.

We reserve the right to suspend, deactivate, or refuse any account at our discretion, including where we suspect fraud, misuse, or a breach of these Terms.

4. The Platform's Role as a Marketplace

Arewa Clothing Solutions operates the Platform as an intermediary marketplace. We connect Customers with independent Vendors, Tailors, Delivery Servicemen (Riders), and Measurers. We are not the seller, manufacturer, tailor, or producer of the goods and services offered by Vendors.

Vendors, Riders, Tailors, and Measurers are independent third parties and are not employees or agents of Arewa Clothing Solutions. We do not control and are not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of goods or services provided by Vendors, save as expressly stated in these Terms or required by law. Any contract for the sale of goods or the provision of tailoring or measurement services is formed directly between the Customer and the relevant Vendor or service provider.

5. Orders, Pricing, and Payment

• All prices are displayed in Nigerian Naira (₦) and, where applicable, include the Vendor's price plus any applicable tailoring fees and delivery charges.
• Full payment is required at checkout through our payment processor, Paystack. We accept card, bank transfer, and USSD payments. Cash on Delivery is available for ready-made and fabric purchases only, and not for tailoring orders.
• When you place an order, your payment is held in Escrow by the Platform and is only released to the Vendor after the order is confirmed as delivered, subject to the dispute window described in Section 9.
• You may pay for part of an order using La'ada Points, up to a maximum of 50% of the order value. Points cannot be used for subscription fees or delivery fees.
• Vendors set their own prices, including prices for tailoring add-ons and customisations. The Platform may set maximum limits on certain add-on categories.
• We reserve the right to correct pricing errors and to cancel any order affected by an obvious error, with a full refund to the Customer.

6. Tailoring Services

Tailoring orders are made-to-measure based on the measurements and specifications you provide. You are responsible for the accuracy of the measurements you enter or approve, including measurements taken by a Measurer which you confirm. Before a Tailor cuts your fabric, you will be asked to confirm your measurements; once you confirm, you accept responsibility for their accuracy.

Custom design requests, including dress configurator selections, are binding once submitted. Prices for customisations are set by the Tailor and shown before you confirm. The Platform does not permit price negotiation or payment outside the Platform, and any attempt to transact off-Platform is a breach of these Terms.

7. Delivery (Arewa Express)

• Delivery is provided by Arewa Express Riders. Delivery fees are calculated based on distance and are shown before checkout.
• For inter-state deliveries, the order may pass through multiple Riders and an independent transport company. The Platform facilitates this process but does not operate the inter-state transport companies and is not liable for their conduct or delays.
• Risk in goods passes to the Customer on delivery. Customers should inspect goods on delivery and report any issue promptly.
• The Platform's liability for loss of or damage to any item during delivery by Arewa Express is limited as set out in Section 14.

8. Measurement Services

Customers may book an in-person Measurer through the Platform. The following gender policy applies strictly and is a condition of using the service:

• Male Customers are assigned male Measurers only.
• In respect for cultural and religious norms of Arewa, female Customers are assigned female Measurers by default. A female Customer may request a male Measurer, but only after reading and accepting a specific consent and liability notice. By accepting that notice, the Customer acknowledges the request is made at her own discretion and records her informed consent.
• Measurers have access only to the measurement information necessary to perform the service. Measurers are independent service providers and are bound by a conduct agreement.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Arewa Clothing Solutions is not liable for the personal conduct of any Measurer, Rider, or Vendor during any in-person interaction. Criminal or wrongful conduct by any individual is the sole responsibility of that individual. Customers are encouraged to take sensible personal safety precautions.

9. Escrow, Refunds, Disputes, and Returns

• Customer payments are held in Escrow and released to the Vendor 24 hours after delivery is confirmed, unless a dispute is raised within that window.
• If you are dissatisfied with an order, you may raise a dispute through the Platform, providing a description and supporting evidence. The Vendor will have an opportunity to respond.
• Disputes are reviewed by our Conflict Resolution team. Possible outcomes include a full refund, a partial refund, replacement, or no action, at our reasonable discretion.
• Where we issue a refund, we may do so as a goodwill gesture to preserve trust in the Platform. A refund is not, and shall not be treated as, an admission of legal liability by Arewa Clothing Solutions.
• Refunds are processed to the original payment method or, where agreed, as La'ada Points or platform credit.

10. Vendor Obligations

• Vendors must provide accurate descriptions, pricing, and images of their goods and services.
• Vendors must only upload images of their own original work, or images they are legally entitled to use. Uploading another party's images is prohibited and may result in listing removal and account suspension.
• Vendors must fulfil accepted orders promptly and to a reasonable standard of quality and workmanship.
• Vendors must maintain a valid subscription to keep their shop active. Failure to renew results in deactivation (not deletion) as described in the subscription terms.
• Vendors are responsible for their own tax obligations arising from sales on the Platform.
• Vendors must not solicit or conduct transactions outside the Platform, share contact details to circumvent the Platform, or otherwise attempt to avoid Platform commissions.

11. Commissions, Subscriptions, and Payouts

• The Platform charges Vendors a commission on each sale, at the rates disclosed to Vendors during onboarding and in their dashboard. Rates vary by transaction type and subscription tier.
• The commission rates currently in force are 5% to 8%, depending on what is sold. The rate that applied to an order is recorded against that order and does not change afterwards, even if rates change later. Vendors on a paid subscription tier may pay a lower rate.
• Vendors pay a recurring subscription fee according to their chosen plan and billing cycle. A free trial period may apply.
• Vendor earnings, net of commission, are held and paid out according to the Platform's payout schedule via Paystack Transfer. A security delay of 48 hours applies when a Vendor changes their bank details. A balance below ₦1,000 is carried to the next payout run rather than forfeited.
• We may set off amounts owed to us, or amounts required to fund a Customer refund where the Vendor is at fault, against a Vendor's payout balance.

12. La'ada Points

• La'ada Points are a loyalty reward with no cash value except as redeemable credit on the Platform. 100 La'ada Points equal ₦100 in redemption value.
• Points are earned through qualifying activities such as purchases, reviews, referrals, and completing your profile. Points do not expire.
• Points may be redeemed for up to 50% of an order value and cannot be exchanged for cash or withdrawn.
• We reserve the right to adjust earning rates and to reverse points obtained through error, fraud, or abuse.

13. Intellectual Property and User Content

The Platform, including its name, logos, design, and software, is owned by Arewa Clothing Solutions and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, or exploit any part of the Platform without our permission.

Vendors and Customers retain ownership of the Content they upload but grant Arewa Clothing Solutions a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, display, and use that Content for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform. You are responsible for ensuring you have the rights to any Content you upload. We apply measures to protect Vendor images, including duplicate detection and invisible watermarking, but do not guarantee that misuse by third parties will never occur.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by Nigerian law:

• The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We do not warrant that it will be uninterrupted or error-free.
• Arewa Clothing Solutions is not liable for the acts, omissions, quality, or conduct of independent Vendors, Riders, Measurers, transport companies, or other users.
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss, or for loss of profit, data, or goodwill.
• Our total aggregate liability arising from or connected to any order shall not exceed the total amount paid by the Customer for that specific order.
• For loss of or damage to goods in transit via Arewa Express, our liability is capped at the value of the affected item or a maximum amount specified in the Arewa Express terms, whichever is lower.
• Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or rights granted to consumers under the FCCPA that cannot be waived.

15. Prohibited Conduct

You must not use the Platform to: break any law; infringe others' rights; upload false, misleading, or infringing Content; harass or harm others; attempt to defraud the Platform or its users; transact off-Platform to avoid commissions; share payment details or contact information in chat to circumvent the Platform; or interfere with the Platform's security or operation.

16. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account, remove Content, or restrict access if you breach these Terms, if required by law, or to protect the Platform and its users. Vendors whose subscriptions lapse are deactivated but retain access to their account data and may reactivate by renewing. We do not delete accounts arbitrarily; account data is retained in line with our Privacy Policy and applicable law.

17. Deleting Your Account

You may delete your account at any time, from the website or from the Arewa Threads app, without contacting us. The route and its consequences are set out at arewathreads.com/account/delete and in our Privacy Policy.

Confirming a deletion closes your account immediately and permanently erases your personal data 30 days later. You may cancel at any point within that period by signing in; after it, the erasure cannot be reversed.

We may decline to begin a deletion while you have obligations outstanding on the Platform — including an order in progress, a garment being made, a delivery in transit, funds held in escrow, a payout in flight, an unsettled holdback balance, an active subscription, or an open dispute. Where we decline, we will tell you which obligation applies and how it may be discharged. This protects the other party to your transactions, who is entitled to a complete record of their own dealings.

Certain records must survive a deletion. Order, payment, commission, payout and refund records, and administrative audit entries, are retained in anonymised form for 7 years in order to comply with Nigerian tax and accounting obligations and to preserve the transaction history of the vendors, riders and measurers with whom you dealt. Your identity is removed from those records and replaced with a reference that cannot be traced back to you.

Deleting your account does not extinguish any liability accrued before the deletion, and does not affect any right or obligation that by its nature survives termination.

18. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved, the dispute shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Nigeria.

19. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be notified through the Platform or by email. Your continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

20. Contact

Questions about these Terms may be sent to us at the contact details below.

• Support email: support@arewathreads.com
• Phone: +2347062017631
• Address: Kofar Kaura Layout, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria
• Support hours: 8AM to 8PM