Caleigh Capes FAQ

How long has Caleigh Capes been in business?

We made our first cape as a Valentine's Day present for Lenore in 1998 and established our website later that spring.

It all started because I (Lenore) had always wanted a Celtic-style cape -- perhaps this reflects my Scottish ancestry or my love of Celtic music (I play fiddle in a three-woman band also called Caleigh). I love the romantic vision of roaming the foggy moors wrapped in the warmth of wool. I had looked around for years but hadn't found exactly the cape of my dreams. Eight years ago my husband and I honeymooned in Cape Breton and hoped we might find my cape there. No luck! We spent the next few months shopping through catalogs but still could not find the cape I was seeking. Some had the wrong cut, others the wrong material, and some were simply too expensive -- the closest thing we found was well over $300! Finally, we decided to have a cape custom cut and sewn and we couldn't be happier with the result -- my original cape still gets compliments everywhere I go!

Before long we were making capes for friends and family and soon after that word of mouth took over and Caleigh Capes was born. In 1998, we began selling capes on the web and as of August 2004 have sold capes to folks in more than thirty-eight states (plus five additional countries!). Our capes are crafted here in the forests of northern Minnesota by Bemidji Woolen Mills. We have a couple new ideas on the drawing board so check back soon if you don't see exactly what you are after. Every Caleigh Cape is custom made to match your specifications -- we'd love to craft a cape with you!

What is your mission?

We strive to produce the highest quality, best value, custom-made wool capes available anywhere. Our capes are designed to be functional and durable as well as elegant and stylish.

How does your money back guarantee work?

Our guarantee is very simple...if you are not absolutely satisfied with your cape, ship it back within two weeks and we will refund your money and reimburse your shipping cost. In seven+ years of business, we have had very few capes returned.

Do you make your living from this business?

No...we are both teachers...Lenore teaches music and Dann is an ecology professor. Caleigh Capes is strictly a hobby business which helps us avoid the temptation of raising our cape prices to match those found in retail stores and on other web sites.

Who designs your capes?

We develop the designs in cooperation with Bob & Bill Batchelder and the seamstresses at Bemidji Woolen Mills. We also incorporate customer comments and suggestions into our capes and are continually looking for ways to improve our product.