Choose your perfect pattern, fabric, and extras to design a dress as unique as your story.
MISION
At Once Upon a Thread, we believe life is too short not to wear a pretty dress every day. Each of our handcrafted dresses is made to order, ensuring quality, comfort, and individuality. With a range of premium fabrics and customisable options, we create timeless pieces that celebrate each child’s unique style.
OUR STORY
Once Upon a Thread, science and creativity intertwined. I’m Henriëtte van der Zwan, a former animal geneticist who discovered a love for sewing when my children were babies. What started as a hobby soon became a passion, as friends and family began requesting the unique dresses I created. Inspired by the joy of designing beautiful, custom garments, I founded Once Upon a Thread —a brand dedicated to making every girl feel like the princess in her own fairytale.
VISION
We dream of a world where every dress tells a story and every child can express their personality through beautifully crafted clothing. By offering high-quality, custom-made designs, we aim to bring creativity, comfort, and a touch of magic to every little girl’s wardrobe.
Chest
Measure the whole way around the chest, over the nipple line. The arms should be relaxed next to the body.
Waist
Measure at the narrowest part of the waist: over, or just above the belly button.
Hips
Measure around the fullest part of the hips/bottom, with both feet flat on the floor.
Height
Measure the child barefoot, standing with their feet flat, straight against a wall. Take the measurement from the top of the head to the floor.
For younger girls this measurement must be taken without a nappy for an accurate measurement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a physical shop?
No. All our garments are made to order and only available online.
How do I order?
- Select a pattern from our selection of patterns
- Select a fabric from our selection of fabrics
- Select a fabric combination if you wish to
- Select any optional extras like a collar or sleeves
- Select your size (please measure the child before selection)
Will the dress look like the pictures?
- Please note that some shades of colour and fabric might be different to what is displayed on your electronic screen as all screens have different colour calibrations.
- We have all our fabric custom printed for us. Therefore, we can assure the best quality fabric with the crispest prints.
Can I choose a different dress pattern or fabric?
- We aim to offer a custom made service in which you can select any combination of fabrics we hold. However, should you feel that none of the fabric choices satisfy your needs, you are welcome to contact us and we are willing to use fabric you supply. Please just contact us before purchasing the fabric since not all fabric types work on all patterns (e.g. stretch or non-stretch fabric). Please also note courier of the fabric to us is at the customer’s expense.
- Should you have a dress pattern in mind that we do not carry, please feel free to contact us and we can custom make it for you. Please just note this is done at an extra cost.
Can I make changes to the pattern??
Most of the patterns offer variations like sleeves and collars. However, should you require a change of one of the patterns that do not carry variations please just contact us.
Turnaround Times
Since all our garments are custom made-to-order we do not carry stock. Therefore the turnaround time is 15 workdays from the date the payment is made. If you require a faster turnaround time, please contact us as this can be done at a surcharge.
Delivery
What are the courier costs?
- R90.00 (3-5 business days): Door-to-Door (nationwide), by the courier guy.
- R70.00 (7-9 business days): Pudo
Return Policy
- Regrettably, due to each garment being custom made, no returns or refunds are possible
- However, in the event that the item you received is faulty, defective or the incorrect item, Once Upon a Thread must be informed within 24 hours of you receiving the parcel, with photographic evidence of your concern, if you wish to return them.
The courier costs will be carried by Once Upon a Thread. - Once Upon a Thread will not be liable for items damaged during transit while being couriered. Courier is done at the clients own risk.
- Once Upon a Thread will let you know once the package is shipped, and thereafter you will receive communication via Whatsapp or e-mail on the courier process
How do I order the correct size?
- Each pattern has measurements for each size. It is the buyer’s responsibility to ensure that the correct size is selected.
- The child must be measured across their waist and chest as well as their height. Please see the Measurements page for tips on how to measure.
- If the child is of the average size or cannot be measured, the buyer can select the desired size, HOWEVER, please note no custom made dress can be returned due to incorrect measurements. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to measure the child before selecting a size. The measurements can also be entered in the system and the dress can be tailor made if the child should measure at two different sizes.
- These sizes are the average size of children at that age. If a child measures between sizes, opt for the larger size.
- Please note that if the measurements are sent incorrectly, you cannot return the garment.
- Once upon a thread will not be liable for items you have ordered in the wrong size
- Please view our size guide and measurement chart page
- Please view our measuring page on instructions how to measure the child
How do I care for my dress?
- The Once upon a Thread summer range is made from Cotton twill fabric. Cotton will is a durable natural fabric. Since it is a natural fabric, cotton can shrink.
- However, all fabric is pre-washed before cutting to ensure shrinkage is kept to the absolute minimum after sewing.
- Cold hand- or machine wash
- Cool to medium iron
- Do not tumble dry
- Dry flat
- Do not bleach
- Wash like colours separately
- Make sure the garment is completely dry before storing to prevent mildew
- The Once upon a Thread winter range is made from stretch velvet fabric. Velvet is a delicate fabric that must be treated with care to preserve its beauty. Velvets generally do not shrink nor wrinkle.
- Cold hand- or machine wash
- Do not tumble dry
- Dry flat (very important to prevent stretching)
- Do not iron
- Do not bleach
- Wash like colours separately
- Make sure the garment is completely dry before storing to prevent mildew
