Privacy policy
Last updated: August 13, 2026
1. Who we are
Solace Wear Apparel ("we", "us", "our") is the responsible party for the personal information described in this policy, as defined under South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 ("POPIA"). Solace Wear Apparel operates as an unregistered sole proprietorship.
- Company registration number: not applicable - unregistered sole proprietorship
- Privacy contact email: info@solacewear.co.za
2. Our Information Officer
Under POPIA, every responsible party must have an Information Officer, responsible for compliance and for handling privacy requests and complaints. For Solace Wear Apparel, this function is carried out by Solace Wear Apparel management and can be reached at:
- Contact: info@solacewear.co.za
- Registered with the Information Regulator: Not yet.
To submit a privacy request or complaint, contact our Information Officer at the details above, or use the general contact details in section 18.
3. Personal information we collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:
- Contact details - name, email, phone number, billing and shipping address
- Order and transaction information - items purchased, order history, returns/exchanges
- Payment information - processed directly by our payment provider; we do not store your full card details
- Account information, if you create one - username, order history, preferences
- Communications - messages you send us via the contact form or email
- Device and usage information - IP address, browser type, pages viewed, collected automatically via cookies and similar technologies
4. Where we obtain it
Directly from you (when you browse, create an account, place an order, or contact us); automatically through your use of the site (cookies, analytics); and from our service providers (payment processor, Shopify).
5. Why we use it, and our lawful basis
| Purpose | Lawful basis |
|---|---|
| Process and fulfil your order | Performance of a contract with you |
| Process payment | Performance of a contract, via our payment provider |
| Arrange delivery | Performance of a contract with you |
| Customer support | Performance of a contract / our legitimate interest in resolving your query |
| Fraud prevention and store security | Legal obligation / legitimate interest |
| Marketing emails (new arrivals, offers) | Your consent, given when you subscribe, withdrawable at any time |
| Site analytics | Our legitimate interest in understanding and improving the store |
6. Mandatory vs. voluntary information
Contact, shipping, and payment details are required to complete a purchase - without them, we cannot process or deliver your order. Optional information (such as a marketing email subscription) is entirely voluntary; declining it has no effect on your ability to shop with us.
7. Direct marketing
We only send marketing emails to customers who have opted in (e.g. via the newsletter signup). Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can withdraw consent at any time without affecting your ability to place orders.
8. Cookies, pixels and tracking technologies
We use Shopify's essential cookies to operate the cart, checkout, and store security - these are necessary for the site to function.
9. Who we share your information with
- Shopify Inc. - our e-commerce platform and hosting provider
- Our payment processor
- Our courier / fulfilment provider
We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
10. Cross-border transfers
We currently sell and market only within South Africa. However, Shopify's own hosting infrastructure is international, so your personal information may still be processed or stored on servers outside South Africa as part of how the platform operates - this happens regardless of where our customers are based, and is governed by Shopify's own data processing terms.
11. Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, including operating on Shopify's secure, PCI-compliant platform and restricting access to customer data. No system can be guaranteed completely secure, and we cannot promise absolute protection against unauthorised access.
12. Retention
We keep order and transaction records for a minimum of 5 years, as required under the Tax Administration Act, 2011, and for as long as necessary to resolve any disputes. Marketing data (e.g. your email address for our newsletter) is retained until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete it.
13. Your rights
Under POPIA, you have the right to: access the personal information we hold about you; request correction of inaccurate information; request deletion; object to certain processing; withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and lodge a complaint. To exercise any of these rights, contact our Information Officer using the details in section 2. We may need to verify your identity before actioning a request, and will respond within the timeframes required by POPIA.
14. Security compromises
In the event of a data breach that may compromise your personal information, we will notify the Information Regulator and affected individuals as soon as reasonably possible, in line with our obligations under POPIA section 22.
15. Information Regulator (South Africa)
If you're not satisfied with how we've handled your personal information, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator:
- Address: Woodmead North Office Park, 54 Maxwell Drive, Woodmead, Johannesburg, 2191
- Email: enquiries@inforegulator.org.za
- Phone: 010 023 5200. Toll-free: 0800 017 160
16. Children's information
Solace Wear Apparel does not knowingly collect personal information from children.
17. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will revise the "last updated" date above, and post a notice on this page for material changes.
18. Contact us
Questions about this policy or your personal information: info@solacewear.co.za.
