Privacy Policy

Polka Dots Designer Studio ("we", "us", "our", "Polka Dots") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website, use our mobile application, or engage with our services including MeasureMe, DressForge, the Polka Dots Bazaar marketplace, and any related services (collectively, the "Platform").

By using our Platform, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not access or use our services.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, password, date of birth, and gender when you register for an account.
• Profile Information: Style preferences, body type information, and other details you voluntarily provide for personalized recommendations.
• Order Information: Shipping address, billing address, payment details, order history, and product preferences.
• Measurement Data: Body measurements submitted manually or captured through our AI MeasureMe tool, including temporary photographs used for measurement extraction.
• Communications: Messages sent through our contact forms, customer support interactions, live chat conversations, and feedback you provide.
• User-Generated Content: Photos uploaded to the Customer Gallery, product reviews, ratings, and comments.
• Vendor/Partner Information: Business registration details, GST number, bank account information for payouts, portfolio images, and professional credentials submitted by marketplace vendors and DressForge partners.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, screen resolution, and unique device identifiers.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, products viewed, search queries, clicks, and navigation patterns.
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address. Precise location only if you explicitly grant permission for delivery optimization.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar technologies to enhance your experience and analyse usage patterns.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: Processing orders, managing your account, providing customer support, and delivering our products and services.
• Personalization: Recommending products through our Style Advisor, customizing your browsing experience, and providing tailored content and marketing.
• MeasureMe Processing: Extracting body measurements from photographs using AI algorithms. Photos are processed in real-time and permanently deleted within 24 hours.
• DressForge Management: Facilitating communication between customers and artisan partners, tracking order stages, and managing quality assurance workflows.
• Marketplace Operations: Processing vendor applications, managing payouts, facilitating transactions, and maintaining quality standards.
• Communication: Sending order updates, delivery notifications, promotional offers (with your consent), newsletters, and important service-related announcements.
• Analytics and Improvement: Understanding usage patterns, improving our Platform, developing new features, and optimizing user experience.
• Legal Compliance: Meeting legal obligations, preventing fraud, resolving disputes, and enforcing our terms of service.
• Loyalty Program: Managing Polka Points, tracking rewards, and processing referral bonuses.

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use the following types of cookies:

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie consent banner. Disabling essential cookies may affect Platform functionality.

4. Third-Party Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: Payment processors (Razorpay/Cashfree), shipping partners, cloud hosting providers (AWS), email service providers, and analytics tools that help us operate the Platform.
• Marketplace Vendors: When you purchase from a marketplace vendor, we share your name, shipping address, and order details necessary for fulfilment. Vendors cannot use this information for independent marketing without your consent.
• DressForge Partners: Artisan partners receive relevant measurements, design specifications, and order details necessary to complete your custom order. Personal contact details are not shared directly — all communication goes through our Platform.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, regulation, legal process, or government request, including compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and applicable Indian laws.
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets, your information may be transferred as part of the transaction with prior notice.
• With Your Consent: For any purpose not described above, we will obtain your explicit consent before sharing your information.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our servers.
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest, including payment information and measurement data.
• PCI-DSS compliant payment processing through RBI-certified payment gateways.
• Regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing.
• Access controls limiting employee access to personal data on a need-to-know basis.
• Secure deletion of MeasureMe photographs within 24 hours of processing.
• Two-factor authentication option for customer accounts.

While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but will notify you of any data breach within 72 hours as required by applicable law.

6. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law (including the Indian Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and GDPR for EEA users), you have the following rights:

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer at privacy@polkadotsstudio.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information as follows:

• Account data: Retained until you request deletion or after 3 years of inactivity.
• Order data: Retained for 8 years for tax and legal compliance under Indian law.
• MeasureMe photographs: Deleted within 24 hours. Measurement data retained with your account.
• Marketing preferences: Retained until you withdraw consent.
• Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymized after 26 months.

8. Children's Privacy

Our Platform is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately. Parents or guardians may place orders on behalf of children.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a prominent notice on our Platform. The "Last Updated" date at the top indicates when the policy was last revised. Your continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India, including the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. For users in the European Economic Area, we also comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable.

11. Contact Us

For privacy-related queries, concerns, or to exercise your rights, please contact:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority.