About BTD
I’m Mads and I’ve been running Bad Times Designs since 2020. BTD was a lockdown hobby that turned into a business because I'm neurodivergent can’t sit still!
I started off as Lil Leafy Shop and had a small collection of polymer clay earrings. I’ll be the first to admit they weren’t great, but they helped to get my creativity flowing. I tried (and failed) many styles and techniques over the years and eventually curated the gothic and alternative collections we have today. I've been running this shop full time since July 2022, which has been a struggle at times (especially with the current state of the economy), but I've loved every second.
BTD is a safe space for LGBTQI+ individuals. I myself am a queer woman and have always believed that fashion shouldn’t be gendered. I don’t cater for a specific demographic, instead I encourage people of all ages, genders and walks of life to wear what they want to wear. If that happens to be our accessories then I'm super happy!
3 random facts about me: I still play the Sims 3, I love escape rooms and I can name every country in the world. I also have a gaming youtube channel for Cities: Skylines!
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How soon will my order get shipped?In general, please allow up to two weeks processing time for your order to dispatch. All of our products are handmade, most being made to order, and I can only work so fast. Parcels are generally dispatched on Tuesdays and Fridays, however additional dispatches may be made during busy periods. Depending on what you’ve ordered and what time you place the order, your parcel may be shipped the same day! Larger orders and custom pieces may also take longer to process. Any potential delays to processing time will be publicised. Find out more on our Shipping & Returns page.
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How much does shipping cost?All orders are sent with tracked shipping via Royal Mail. Great Britain Standard delivery (48 Hour tracked) costs £3.00 on orders up to £50 and is free on orders over £50. Upgrades are available for 24 Hour Tracked shipping for £5 on orders up to £50 and £2 on orders over £50; and Special Delivery Before 1pm Next Day for £10. Australia, Canada & USA Standard delivery costs £15 for all orders. Shipping upgrades are currently unavailable. Please note that we will try our best to ship your order as soon as possible but processing time remains 2 weeks. See the FAQ above and our Shipping & Returns page for more information.
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Do you ship internationally?Yes! After seeking guidance from an export expert we are now able to reopen shipping to Australia, Canada and the US! Due to complications following Brexit, we are no longer able to ship to the EU. As a small business of only one person, it is a huge amount of extra work to comply with all of the import laws for each country, however this is something I am actively working on. If we are able to ship to the EU again it will most likely be via Etsy.
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What do I do if I'm not happy with my order?If this is the case, we’re so sorry! We want everyone to have a great experience with us and are committed to fixing any problems you may have. Please get in contact with us if your order is damaged or something is missing on arrival, or if it doesn’t arrive at all. Mistakes can happen and we will do everything we can to make sure you receive what you paid for. Pieces which are marbled or from a slab (i.e. marble homewares, CRYPT snake print studs) look different each time they’re made so the item you receive may not look exactly like the one pictured on the listing. We try to ensure the photos on our website and social media sites are representative of our products. This may involve editing the photos to combat unflattering lighting or to balance the colouring. Chainmail necklaces are measured hanging at their maximum length for consistency and bracelets are measured on a mandrel. Each chainmail weave has a different amount of stretch so measuring flat will not yield accurate measurements. If you believe you have received a necklace which is not the correct length, please measure hanging against a solid ruler or tape measure before contacting us. Bracelets will not necessarily be the length ordered from end to end as the weave's thickness will affect the inner circumference of the chain. If your piece is the correct length but doesn't fit comfortably, contact us via email to discuss an adjustment. Find out more information about adjustments here. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for any damage caused to our products through shipping or negligence. Our products are durable and are stress tested to ensure a long life, however there are limits to what they can withstand in regards to pressure, impact, heat and oils. Check our care page for more info on how to look after your Bad Times products.
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Can I return my order?We cannot accept returns for pierced jewellery or clips-ons due to hygiene reasons. All other items can be returned within 30 days of purchase. Please contact us via email before sending any items back. Refunds will be processed once the item has returned to our HQ. It is the buyer’s responsibility to pay for the shipping for the item to be returned. Items must be returned in their original condition, i.e. no damage caused by the buyer, and in original packaging where possible. If original packaging is not available, please ensure the new packaging provides adequate protection for the item. If the item is damaged in transit and it has not been adequately packaged, the refund may not be approved. Find out more on our Shipping and Returns page.
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My made-to-order jewellery doesn't fit, can I get it adjusted?Please contact us via email if your made-to-order bracelet or necklace does not fit. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure the correct measurement is supplied to us when ordering, however we understand bodies may change shape and size over time. Adjustments will be considered on a case by case basis, taking into account the item in question, the date of purchase and the size of the adjustment needed. Some requests may be denied, i.e. adjustments which turn a bracelet into a necklace. Chainmail pieces are measured hanging at their maximum length for consistency. Each chainmail weave has a different amount of stretch so measuring flat will not yield accurate measurements. Thicker chains need to be longer than the circumference of your neck/wrist to be able to close; a measuring guide is provided on each listing for reference. If you believe you have received a piece which is not the correct length, please measure hanging against a solid ruler or tape measure before contacting us. If your piece is the correct length but doesn't fit comfortably, contact us via email to discuss an adjustment. It is the customer’s responsibility to pay for postage for both directions if requesting an adjustment. Please note that necklaces on a chain (i.e. NORTH, ARIES etc) may incur additional charges for adjustments as the chain cannot be made longer without recutting from the spool. Find out more on our Shipping & Returns page.
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Can I collect my order if I live local to Chelmsford?Yes! Drop us a message before you checkout if you live local to Chelmsford or if you happen to be passing through in the near future and we will send you a custom code to remove shipping fees from your order. We don’t have a physical shop so we can arrange a date/time and location, i.e. somewhere in the town, for the handover. If you live local to Chelmsford and would like to have your order hand delivered, select the local delivery option at the checkout. This option is cheaper than regular shipping but still incurs a cost to cover petrol and time spent away from my desk.
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I haven't received an email confirming my order, did you get it?Our emails are automated and sometimes they get caught in spam filters so please check your junk folder just in case. If you paid via PayPal your order may have been put on hold for inspection; your checkout may have failed to finish loading if this is the case. PayPal selects random payments to inspect for fraud; this is nothing to worry about and it will get released eventually. PayPal will often not let you know that this is happening but you can see the status of your payment by logging in to their site - if it says 'pending' this means it is being checked. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days for the process to be completed but it is unfortunately completely out of our hands so we cannot do anything to stop them from doing this or speed up the process. You will receive a confirmation email from us once your payment has been released and we will get working on your order.
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Can I customise my order?In most cases, yes! Drop us an email if you're interested in a swap out or slight adjustment to a design. If requests are made after the order is placed we can’t guarantee we will be able to carry out your requests but we will try our hardest! Please note requests for real gold or silver findings will need to be made as a separate order as these will be slightly more expensive.
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Can I order custom jewellery?Absolutely! Check out our Customs Enquiry page for more information.
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Do you have any markets coming up?Markets for 2024 are as follows: - Satanic Flea Market, Sunday 30th June, Elecrowerkz London. Find us on the 3rd floor from 12pm, entry £4 per person. Nearest tube station is Angel. We don't have anything confirmed for 2025 yet but keep an eye on our social media pages for updates and announcements!
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Are you stocked in any shops?We're not currently stocked at any shops. We have previously stocked at Love Local and Twisted Treats in Colchester, and the Pop-Up Club in Chelmsford and Westfield London.
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Can I rent a piece of jewellery?Yes, we offer jewellery for rent for stylist pulls, photoshoots and events (based in the UK only). We require the full value of the item(s) to be paid upfront to cover the renting cost and deposit: Renting cost - 10% or 25% of the item value Deposit - 90% of the item value for ready to wear pieces; 75% of the item value for made-to-order pieces The deposit will be refunded upon the safe return of the item(s), providing there is no damage to the item(s). Any item(s) which are lost or damaged will void the rental agreement and result in the deposit being forfeited. Items can be rented for a maximum of 30 days and must be returned to us via tracked shipping by the 30th day. Each extra day where the item(s) have not been returned will result in an additional 5% of the item value being withheld from the deposit. Exceptions can be made in special circumstances; this will be discussed and decided on a case by case basis. If you would like to rent any of our jewellery, please see further information on our Rentals page and fill out the form. Renting can only go ahead after we have confirmed your request. Only currently available to customers in Great Britain.
Behind the Products
Whether made to order or ready to wear, all of our products are made by hand. Some products are assembled from parts (i.e. CUBA Wallet Chain, RAVEN Collar Pins) but most are made almost entirely from scratch. All chainmail elements in are woven by hand using jump rings and all polymer clay elements are shaped, baked and finished in house. Countless hours are spent perfecting designs and researching the best possible materials to ensure the quality, durability and longevity of our pieces.
As this shop is run by a single person and there are over 100 different products, it's not always possible to have stock on hand. Most pieces are made to order for efficiency and to ensure we have enough base materials to go around. There is an information card on each product page listing the materials and production so you know exactly what to expect. The definitions of terms are below:
Made to Order: production will often begin on these products once an order is placed. Production time varies per piece; some only take around 20 minutes (i.e. EMBER Bracelet) and some can take hours (i.e. LUNA Necklace, F U Earrings). Smaller, more fiddly pieces will take longer to produce (i.e. CALISTA Earrings) and pieces with heavier rings require me to take breaks in order to avoid injury (i.e. Chunky HYDRA Chain).
Ready to Wear: these items are fully formed pieces ready for purchase. Items in this category include the Chainmail Top, all Pearl Necklaces and Sterling Silver Crystal Hoops. Statement pieces are made continuously throughout the year as an artistic outlet and as so, pre-orders/requests are not taken. Minor adjustments may be needed if the size you select is different to the size already made. Ready to Wear items can be rented for 10% of the full item cost (not including earrings). Clearance sale items are also Ready to Wear
Items which are limited stock are often due to the materials being too expensive to order in bulk, or the design being very complex or time consuming. Stock will be replenished over time at varying rates depending on the item and demand. You can sign up for email alerts to get a reminder when your item comes back into stock.
Orders can take up to 2 weeks to dispatch regardless of production method, however orders consisting of solely ready to wear pieces will generally dispatch quicker. Large orders may take longer to produce, and the processing window may increase during busy periods.
Our values
Since I was a very young child, my moral compass has guided much of what I do. Bad Times Designs is an extension of myself so my morals and ethics apply just as much in my shop as they do in my personal life. I am a self employed autistic LGBTQ+ woman so many aspects of my life are politicised, but my values do not end with things that affect me personally. I have a platform and I feel it is my duty to use this platform to share education about real life issues, spread awareness about harmful political movements and raise funds for various charities. In 2021 I donated over £400 to Victim Support following the murder of Sarah Everard and subsequent violence from police at the Clapham Common vigil, and over £150 to Stonewall Housing for pride month. Between November 2023 and October 2024 I donated 10% of the proceeds from orders each month to Medical Aid for Palestinians each month, totally over £1700. There is always more I could be doing as learning and activism never stops, but I try my hardest with the resources I have.
If you don't agree with these values, you do not need to shop with us. I would much rather have a small audience of morally aligned people than compromise on my beliefs and appeal to the masses. As a small cog in the capitalism machine, I believe this is the most ethical way to conduct my business. If you have any questions about my values, feel free to drop us an email or DM!
This has been written in the first person as I (Mads) am the founder and only employee of Bad Times Designs. While it is Bad Times is a brand, it is a a raw expression of my soul and my creativity.
