Privacy Policy
Silk Routes Limited Last updated: April 2026
1. Who We Are
Silk Routes Limited is a clothing manufacturer and garment production company based in the United Kingdom.
Company name: Silk Routes Limited Registered in England and Wales Company number: 7287895 Website: https://www.silkroutes.co.uk Email: client@silkroutes.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8402 5991 Contact page: https://www.silkroutes.co.uk/contact/
Silk Routes Limited is the data controller for the personal data we collect through this website and in the course of our business. This means we decide how and why your personal data is processed.
We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s independent data protection regulator.
2. What This Policy Covers
This Privacy Policy explains:
- What personal data we collect about you
- Why we collect it and the legal basis under UK GDPR
- How we use, store and protect your data
- Who we share it with
- How long we keep it
- Your rights as a data subject
- How to contact us or make a complaint
This policy applies to all personal data collected via this website, by email, by telephone, and through any other means of contact with Silk Routes Limited.
3. The Data We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following categories of personal data:
Contact and identity data Name, email address, telephone number, job title, and the name of your company or brand.
Enquiry and project data Details of your garment manufacturing enquiry, including product type, quantities, budget, timelines, and any design or specification information you choose to share with us.
Communication data Records of correspondence between you and Silk Routes, including emails, messages sent via our contact form, and notes from telephone calls.
Technical and usage data IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited on our website, time and date of visits, and session duration. This data is collected automatically when you visit our website.
Cookie data Data collected through cookies and similar tracking technologies placed on your device when you visit our website. Please see Section 9 of this policy for full details.
We do not collect or process payment card data, bank account details, or any special category personal data (such as health information, ethnic origin, or political opinions) through this website or in the ordinary course of our business.
4. How We Collect Your Data
We collect personal data in the following ways:
Directly from you when you:
- Submit an enquiry via our website contact form
- Email us at client@silkroutes.co.uk
- Call us on +44 (0) 20 8402 5991
- Exchange business cards or make contact at a trade event
- Correspond with us during an active manufacturing project
Automatically when you visit our website, through cookies and analytics tools that record technical and usage data about your session.
From third parties on occasion, for example when a brand or agency introduces a client to us, or when your contact details are shared with us by a mutual business contact.
5. Why We Use Your Data and Our Legal Basis
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, we are required to have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. The table below sets out our purposes and the legal basis we rely on for each.
| Purpose | Legal Basis |
|---|---|
| Responding to your manufacturing enquiry | Legitimate interests (to assess and respond to business enquiries) |
| Managing an active client or project relationship | Performance of a contract / steps prior to entering a contract |
| Sending you information you have specifically requested | Consent or legitimate interests |
| Maintaining records of our business correspondence | Legitimate interests (to maintain accurate business records) |
| Complying with legal and regulatory obligations | Legal obligation |
| Improving our website and understanding how it is used | Legitimate interests (to maintain and improve our online presence) |
| Direct marketing to existing clients or warm contacts | Legitimate interests (where a prior business relationship exists) |
| Direct marketing to new contacts | Consent |
Where we rely on legitimate interests as our legal basis, we have assessed that our interests are not overridden by your rights and interests as a data subject. You have the right to object to processing carried out under legitimate interests — see Section 8.
Where we rely on consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time — see Section 8.
6. Who We Share Your Data With
Silk Routes Limited does not sell, rent, or trade personal data. We share data only in the following circumstances and only to the extent necessary:
Service providers and processors We use third-party service providers to support our business operations. These may include email and communication platforms, website hosting providers, and analytics services. These providers act as data processors on our behalf and are contractually required to process data only on our instructions and in accordance with UK GDPR.
Manufacturing partners and suppliers Where we need to share your project or product details with a factory, supplier, or finishing service in order to fulfil a manufacturing brief, we will share only the information necessary. We will inform you if your personal data is being shared in this way.
Professional advisers We may share data with our accountants, solicitors, or insurers where necessary for legal, financial, or compliance purposes.
Regulatory bodies and law enforcement We may disclose personal data where required to do so by law, court order, or at the request of a regulatory authority such as HMRC or the ICO.
Business transfers In the event that Silk Routes Limited is acquired, merged, or its assets transferred, personal data held by us may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify affected individuals in advance where this occurs.
7. International Data Transfers
Silk Routes Limited works with manufacturing partners in Europe and internationally. Where we share your data with partners or service providers located outside the UK, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with UK GDPR requirements.
These safeguards may include:
- Transfers to countries that the UK government has assessed as providing an adequate level of data protection
- Standard contractual clauses approved by the ICO
- Other lawful transfer mechanisms as permitted under UK GDPR
If you would like further information about the safeguards we apply to international transfers, please contact us at client@silkroutes.co.uk.
8. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:
Right to be informed You have the right to be told how we use your personal data. This Privacy Policy fulfils that obligation.
Right of access You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you. This is known as a Subject Access Request (SAR).
Right to rectification You have the right to ask us to correct any personal data that is inaccurate or incomplete.
Right to erasure You have the right to ask us to delete your personal data in certain circumstances — for example, where it is no longer necessary for the purpose it was collected, or where you withdraw consent.
Right to restrict processing You have the right to ask us to limit how we use your data in certain circumstances — for example, while a dispute about accuracy is resolved.
Right to data portability Where we process your data by automated means on the basis of consent or contract, you have the right to receive a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
Right to object You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes. Where you object to direct marketing, we will stop processing your data for that purpose immediately. Where you object on legitimate interests grounds, we will assess your objection and stop processing unless we have compelling legitimate grounds that override your rights.
Rights related to automated decision-making You have the right not to be subject to decisions made solely by automated processing that significantly affect you. Silk Routes Limited does not use automated decision-making or profiling in its business processes.
Right to withdraw consent Where we rely on consent as our legal basis, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.
How to exercise your rights To exercise any of the rights listed above, please contact us:
Email: client@silkroutes.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8402 5991 Contact form: https://www.silkroutes.co.uk/contact/
We will respond to all requests within one calendar month. We will not charge a fee for handling your request unless it is manifestly unfounded or excessive, in which case we may charge a reasonable fee or refuse to comply. We may need to verify your identity before processing a request.
9. Cookies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience, understand how our site is used, and support our legitimate business interests.
What are cookies? Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognise your device and remember certain information about your visit.
Types of cookies we use
Strictly necessary cookies These cookies are essential for the website to function. They enable core features such as page navigation and access to secure areas. They cannot be disabled.
Analytics and performance cookies These cookies collect anonymous information about how visitors use our website — such as which pages are visited most often and whether visitors encounter error messages. We use this information to improve how our website works. These cookies do not collect data that identifies you personally.
Functionality cookies These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make to provide a more personalised experience.
Managing cookies You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website. For further information about cookies, including how to manage or delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org or the ICO’s cookie guidance at ico.org.uk.
10. How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this policy and to comply with our legal obligations.
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Enquiry data (no project commenced) | 12 months from last contact |
| Active project correspondence and records | Duration of project plus 6 years |
| Completed project records | 6 years from project completion |
| Financial and accounting records | 6 years from end of relevant tax year (HMRC requirement) |
| Website analytics data | 26 months |
| Marketing contact lists | Until consent is withdrawn or opt-out received |
When data is no longer required, we delete or anonymise it securely.
11. How We Protect Your Data
Silk Routes Limited takes the security of your personal data seriously. We have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against accidental loss, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
These measures include:
- Secure email communications
- Password-protected systems and devices
- Access controls limiting data access to authorised personnel only
- Regular review of our data handling practices
- Secure deletion of data that is no longer required
No method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. While we take all reasonable steps to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you suspect that your personal data held by us has been compromised, please contact us immediately at client@silkroutes.co.uk.
12. Third-Party Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy applies only to silkroutes.co.uk. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party websites and recommend that you read the privacy policy of any website you visit.
13. Children’s Data
Our website and services are directed at businesses and adult professionals. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 18. If you believe a child has provided us with their personal data without appropriate consent, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our business practices, legal requirements, or the way we use personal data. When we make material changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
15. How to Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or if you wish to exercise any of your data protection rights, please contact us:
Silk Routes Limited Email: client@silkroutes.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8402 5991 Contact form: https://www.silkroutes.co.uk/contact/
16. How to Make a Complaint
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, please contact us first at client@silkroutes.co.uk so we have the opportunity to resolve the matter.
If you are not satisfied with our response, or if you believe we are processing your personal data unlawfully, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
Information Commissioner’s Office Website: https://ico.org.uk Telephone: 0303 123 1113 Address: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
This Privacy Policy is prepared in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Silk Routes Limited is registered in England and Wales. Company number: 7287895.
