Frequently Asked Questions

You Ask, I Answer

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ABOUT

Who are you?

Hi, I'm Emilee Palomino and I started Smarty Girl when I couldn't find airplane clothes for my daughter.

This brand is a one-woman show (two-woman if you count the toddler at my side demanding a snack).

I've been told I have a way with words, an eye for design and a knack for details.

Take those strengths and factor in an entrepreneurial spirit, a supportive family, a lineage of women who are makers, a business degree from Wichita State University plus a decade of marketing experience...and you've got yourself a company.

I'm beyond grateful to have found my passion. Thank you for supporting it!

Where are you?

I work from my home in Wichita, Kansas where I warehouse leggings and fulfill orders.

I'm fortunate to know nice people all over the world: My prints were illustrated in California. My logo was designed in Pakistan. My manufacturer is in Peru. A bloke in London helped with website code. My copyright attorney is in sunny Santa Monica.

Globalization, baby!

How long have you been in business?

Since December 2016.

That's when I had the idea of "boyish designs for girly girls" while shopping for my then-year-old daughter.

Sofie loves airplanes but I couldn't find any airplane clothes in pink or purple.

Sure, I could dress my daughter in blue and green. But I wondered: What bigger message is sent when airplanes don't come in "girly" colors?

I wanted to foster Sofie's aviation fascination and I envisioned the Smarty Girl brand then and there. I decided to test the market with girly dinosaur leggings.

After six months of feverishly working during naptime, my first pair of dinosaur leggings sold in June 2017.

The dinosaurs were a hit and six months later, I launched four more prints (sharks, airplanes, insects and chemistry) and was blown away by the response.

In June 2018, five new designs (astronaut, robot, narwhal, vehicle, sloth) launched on Kickstarter.

Within 10 days, my campaign was fully funded. In total, I raised $17,004 to get the leggings produced.

Leggings were manufactured in Peru and sent to Kickstarter backers in November 2018 and they are for sale here.

What's next?

A dino restock! Due to overwhelming demand, I launched a restock in November 2020 featuring my original dinosaur design on dinosaur leggings + a brand new dinosaur twirl dress with pockets.

LEGGINGS

What's for sale?

All in-stock leggings + the dinosaur dress is for sale here.

Do you plan to restock _____?

I recently restocked the dinosaurs and am working on designing a new collection to launch in 2021.

Who designed your prints?

The Kickstarter collection (astronaut, narwhal, vehicle, robot, sloth) was designed by Katy Tanis.

Katy is a kick-butt artist and fellow science geek who designs for major brands like Tea Collection.

Smarty Girl's first collection (dinosaur, airplane, shark, chemistry, insect) were designed by artist Tory DeOrian who tragically passed away on October 14, 2017 at the age of 25.

Tory hand-illustrated my beloved prints with a fierce devotion to her craft. She was a valued collaborator, friend, personal cheerleader and champion of all things girl power.

Tory radiated a whimsical spirit that lives on in the little girls who run, jump and play in the designs she poured herself into. She is sorely missed.

Are you going to make shorts, shirts, "mommy and me" matching leggings, etc.?

Since I had zero apparel manufacturing experience, I focused my limited resources on kids' leggings. My first foray into other products is my dinosaur twirl dress.

I have a lot of ideas when it comes to expanding my product line. From book bags to bedding to pajamas to shoes, there's nothing I don't want to slap my logo on.

Feel free to get in touch with suggestions.

Do Smarty Girl leggings run big or small?

True to size. See this size chart for measurements.

The sloth design is slimmer in the waist and longer in the leg than other designs; sizing up in sloths is recommended.

SHIPPING

Where do you ship?

Everywhere!

How much is shipping?

Free 🎉

USPS First Class with tracking is free in the continental U.S. including territories and overseas APO/FPO/DPO addresses.

You can expect to receive leggings within 3-5 business days of ordering.

USPS Priority in 1-2 business days is available for a fee; to calculate, add products to cart and enter your address.

Note: If your shipping address is in Kansas, sales tax is added.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes! Packages are shipped USPS First Class International (7-21 business days).

International rate is determined by package weight and delivery location. To calculate, add products to cart and enter your address.

Customers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. Smarty Girl is not responsible for delays due to customs.

Where's my package?

Check the tracking number on the shipping confirmation email. It can sometimes take a day for the status to update.

Smarty Girl is not responsible for lost or stolen shipments if the tracking number confirms the package was delivered to the address provided by the customer.

RETURNS/EXCHANGES

What is your return policy?

Returns of unworn and unwashed leggings with tags attached are accepted within 30 days of purchase.

To initiate a return, email your order number to emilee@smartygirlbrand.com
Customers are responsible for return shipping fees and packaging
Once returned items are received, a refund will be credited to the original form of payment

If leggings have been worn or washed, a refund can not be issued. To return leggings purchased from a store, contact the retailer for their policy.

If you're dissatisfied with your purchase for any reason, please reach out and I'll be happy to make it right.

How do I make an exchange?

Please follow the return procedures above and place a new order for a different size.

Why don’t my leggings look exactly like the picture?

The beauty is that no two pairs are alike.

Because of the small batch printing technique used (aka the old school way as seen here), there are sometimes small imperfections in the design. Returns are not accepted for these perfectly imperfect pairs.

Due to various monitors and screens, colors may appear a tad different in real life.

ETHICAL MANUFACTURING

Where are the leggings made?

I searched high and low for ethical manufacturers who shares my commitment to people and the planet.

Smarty Girl's current collection was ethically manufactured in Lima, Peru.

Using the most premium pima cotton in the world, they brought Smarty Girl to life with their unmatched craftsmanship and a clear pride in the rich history of Peruvian textile manufacturing.

Smarty Girl's first collection was made in Quanzhou City, China.

I was fortunate to find a transparent factory that provided a safe and healthy environment for employees. They met all legal, wage, child labor, overtime, health, safety and environmental standards required by local laws.

Why pima cotton?

Pima is widely renowned as the queen of all cottons for being exceptionally soft, durable and absorbent.

Pima originated in Peru more than 5,000 years ago. Its extra-long staple is picked by hand to ensure softness. Hand-picking is also superior from an environmental perspective.

The Peruvian coastal climate is ideal for growing pima. The finest pima grows in the valleys of northwestern Peru, near the equator, where the climate and nutrient-rich soil provides plants with the perfect amount of nutrients.

Pima's extraordinary weave feels similar to satin. It's cream of the cotton crop.

MISCELLANEOUS

How do I care for Smarty Girl leggings?

Slow the fading process by turning your leggings inside out before machine washing in cold and laying flat to dry. Best to not use bleach or an iron but who irons kids' clothes?!

Be kind to your Smartys! When washed in warm water and machine dried, they will shrink and fade quicker (trust me, I've done experiments).

Do you want to see this picture of my kid wearing Smarty Girl leggings?

Heck yeah! Customer photos are my favorite!

Tag @smartygirlbrand and use #smartygirl so I can find your picture. I repost all customer pictures on my Instagram stories.

If your Instagram account is private and I'm not following you, I can't see your picture. Feel free to send it via direct message. You can also email or post to my Facebook wall.

By sharing your photos with me and/or tagging the Smarty Girl handle and/or using the Smarty Girl hashtag, you consent to Smarty Girl's use of your post, picture, video or review on all Smarty Girl digital and printed platforms in order to promote Smarty Girl.

If you'd like me to see your photo but don't consent to it being reposted, simply let me know.

Do you accept wholesale orders?

I do accept a limited number of wholesale accounts. Hopefully some day, Smarty Girl will be found in boutiques across the world.

Where can I buy leggings in Wichita, Kansas?

Smarty Girl leggings are carried at The Workroom.

What payments do you accept? Is your site secure?

Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express), Paypal, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay.

Smarty Girl is hosted on Shopify’s platform, which is trusted by more than half a million e-commerce businesses. The padlock symbol in the address bar means you’re safe and secure.

Can I talk to a real person?

Sure. Call the office during business-ish hours at (316) 285-9666. Voicemails will be returned.