These F.A.Q. refer to any shirt on this site that is printed using the Direct-To-Garment process. This includes the "vintage shirt" section. All of our other shirts are printed using the screenprinted method.
Q: What is this "Direct-to-Garment" method of printing?
A:Direct-to-Garment printing is a unique process that embeds the ink directly into the fabric of the shirt leaving a much softer feel than traditional screenprinting. It allows for full color, photographic reproductions on garments of any color. These are NOT heat transfers or iron-ons...these are professionally printed shirts using state-of-the-art equipment.
Q: Why do you Direct-to-Garment shirts cost more than your regular shirts?
A: Simple, it's because it costs much more to produce the shirts this way. Not only is the process more
expensive, but we are also printing these exclusively for you when you order them...we only make them when you buy them, so each one is a complete custom garment.
Q: What is difference between the "clean" and "distressed" look?
A:The "clean" look is just a regular print the image on the shirt without any effects. The image is opaque, although you may see some of the shirt color showing through. The distressed look is where we make it look aged, as if the shirt has been worn and washed many times to give it a more vintage feel. These images have areas missing in them where the shirt color shows through. In both cases (clean and distressed) the ink will soften after the first or second washing giving it a softer feel.
Q: Are the images on these shirts as durable as your regular shirts?
A: Yes, just like our regular screenprinted shirts, they will last a lifetime if handled properly. The
images on our custom, direct-to-garment shirts have a tendency to get even softer with each wash and some fading is to be expected and completely normal. We recommend you wash them inside-out and in cool water and them hang them to dry. Though the image should stay vibrant for the most part, some fading is normal after washing.
Q: If this process is so great, why not offer ALL of your shirts this way?
A: That's a good question and there are a couple different reasons for this. One is because the direct-to-garment process is best suited for photographic-type imagery and not as much for spot color-type
prints like most of our screenprinted designs are. That isn't to say it can't be done, but we would rather focus on the strength of each type of printing process to ensure top quality products. Another reason is because since this process takes longer and is more expensive, we can still offer our screenprinted designs at lower prices and can ship them right away.
Q: Why does it take 3-4 weeks to ship these shirts?
A: The reason for the longer ship time is because these shirts are print-to-order. That means that we only print it when you order it. Due to the amount of orders we receive it takes a few days to receive the blank garments into inventory and print each shirt one at a time. You'll find that it often takes much less time to receive your order...3-4 weeks is the maximum time you'll have to wait unless you are
notified otherwise.
Q: My vintage shirt order has not shipped yet, why was I charged?
A: Once your order has been sent to the printer we charge your card because we have already purchased the materials to print your shirts. We send our orders to the printer in batches and you will be notified when this happens via email when you order status has been updated to "Sent to Printer" so you will know that your order is being printed and your card has been charged. You can also log into your account to see the status of your order. If it still says "DTG Processing", that means we haven't sent it to the printer yet and your card has not been charged.
Q: Can I return or exchange my vintage shirt?
Due to the custom nature of these shirts, they are not returnable, nor can you exchange them for another shirt.
Q: What if I receive a defective shirt?
If you believe your shirt is defective, please email us about a getting a replacement shirt.
Q: Can I get one of your regular designs printed using this method?
A: As of right now, no. However, we are planning on making a few of our more popular designs, as well as those that will reproduce well with this technology, available in different styles and colors at some point. Keep checking back for updates.
Did we forget one? Let us know!
