BEWARE. Owner took in specialty job, botched it in several ways, avoided my calls for weeks,…read moreoffered no apologies, and in-store meeting for resolution showed her character as self-serving and emotionally immature. If you're considering trusting Artee Fabrics with anything valuable--read this first. Their negligence and then evasion and disrespect really hurt me.
On April 2, 2025, I brought a piece of vintage hand-loomed Indian silk to Artéé Fabrics & Home to be made into a custom bolster pillow cover. I requested a smooth fit against the pillow--which I had brought in--with a hidden zipper (for later dry cleaning of the fabric)--and no seams at the top or bottom. I explained that the fabric was of great personal significance and that I'd been waiting decades for the right time and place to use it. The very special multicolored silk had been hand-carried from India to the U.S. in 1977 as a wedding gift from a family member.
Arti Bhandari Mehta assured me everything I requested was doable and that the piece would be ready in a few weeks.
When I came to pick up the finished pillow on May 3, I was utterly shocked and dismayed to find it did not match the order specifications at all. It had a loose fit, no zipper, and seams at both the top and bottom--exactly what I had asked Arti to avoid. I immediately left word with staff member Luanne that the job had been botched and I asked for the owner to call me. I expected a call within 24-48 hours.
No call came. Despite multiple follow-ups with staff--Luanne (twice), Björn, and Victoria--I did not hear from Ms. Mehta until May 20, when she phoned me while I was driving. She said she'd text me so we could arrange to meet at the store to discuss resolution. She did not text. I had to call the store again. Finally, with more effort and wasted time on my part, we set a time to meet in person on May 31.
At that meeting, Ms. Mehta was defensive, and completely unwilling to be still and listen. She spun things in self-justifying tones and refused to acknowledge any error or offer an apology. She also dismissed the significance of the fabric by saying, "20 years is not an heirloom." I clarified that I'd had the fabric since 1977 and that it had already been considered special when given to me. It was made clear to me that this was "very good" material, selected and saved for me as a wedding gift.
Ms. Mehta also denied ever showing me a zipper with a flap and insisted her shop does not ever install zippers in that manner-- that I got that wrong and implying I was untrustworthy and misrepresenting the original agreement. She further claimed the silk was too thin and had a weak warp, making it unsuitable for a zipper. However, she had personally handled the fabric at the time of order and raised no such concerns, even as I specified that the zipper should be placed in the back, with no seams showing at the top or bottom.
I presented a calm, clearly written one-page resolution with two options for moving forward. Ms. Mehta refused both with a sharp "I'm not doing that. Sue me if you want to." Her only offer was to either add a hidden zipper to the flawed cover--an option I did not trust would be properly executed--or to return my $54 deposit, only if I accepted the flawed pillow as-is.
When I declined those limited options, she attempted to withhold the pillow, stating I could not take it unless I agreed to her terms. I responded that both the pillow and fabric were mine. She then ordered me to leave the store. I invited her to call the police and said we could continue the conversation outside with their witness. She then accused me of "going around to stores and doing things like this." I denied the absurd accusation and pointed out that she was projecting who she was.
I took the pillow and left--without refund. I went directly to the local police station to document the incident and left a written statement. The officer confirmed it was not a criminal matter but encouraged me to pursue complaints through public channels such as Yelp, Trustpilot, Better Business Bureau, and possibly Small Claims Court.
Throughout our conversation, Ms. Mehta repeatedly invented excuses in an effort to absolve herself rather than take responsibility and make things right. Among other claims, she alleged I had brought in damaged fabric. While one portion of the silk had an imperfection from long-term storage, the portion we, together, designated for the pillow cover was perfectly sound.
Ms. Metha's behavior--reaching for justifications, rewriting the terms of the original order, and attempting to undermine my credibility--was a textbook example of what happens when business owners prioritize self-protection over accountability. Her refusal to take responsibility or offer a genuine remedy caused damage on multiple levels. This incident illustrates a broader and growing pattern across industries: incompetence, evasion, and blame-shifting.
