COVID-19 SHIPPING & FAQs

How Devious Elements Apparel is adapting to Covid-19
Devious Elements Apparel works with a fulfillment partner to print and ship our orders. We’re in regular communication with them for the latest updates of what’s going on. 

We are continuing to fulfill orders, although fulfillment time will take longer than our previous maximum of 7 days. Some product categories are taking up to 3 weeks for fulfillment as delays are being felt across our supply chain and industry-wide.

Your support means a lot to us, especially during this time. Stay safe and take care of yourselves.

Owner
Tony Firpi Mr. DE

Are any shipping delays expected during this COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes, you can expect shipping delays. More countries are limiting passenger flights and closing their borders. While this doesn't directly impact cargo, fewer passenger flights mean fewer transit options for shipments and longer lines at borders. 

We're especially seeing longer delays for shipments flying from Europe to Canada and Australia. There's a holdup in Frankfurt, one of the main shipping hubs in Europe. If you have an order that's taking a long time, it's likely waiting in line for a cargo plane. Because of the long delays, we're no longer fulfilling orders to Canada and Australia in Europe.

We're in touch with our carriers and they'll notify us of any more disruptions. We also recommend you follow your local news for any regional disruptions.

So thank you in advance for your patience! :)

Will I receive my order?
Our fulfillment partners are still operating and we’re continuing to accept orders. Fulfillment and shipping will take longer but your order will reach you.

Is it safe to receive packages from areas where Covid-19 has been reported?
Yes. The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, traveled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.

This is what the World Health Organization recommends:

What is DE Apparel & suppliers doing to keep employees safe?
We have implemented company-wide work from home policies. Everybody who can has been working from home for the past few weeks. 

Here's what we're doing to keep fulfillment teams safe:

• We're staggering shifts and maintaining a 6-foot distance between each station
• We set up partitions at tables in our break rooms
• Distributing PPE such as safety masks and gloves to all employees
• In Charlotte, we set up an on-site wellness clinic with health consultations available 24/7 over the phone

We are committed to keeping our teams safe and we'll continue to follow guidelines from the CDC, WHO, US Department of State, and local governments and health agencies.

What technology is used to print on t-shirts (and any fabric product)?
Our standard process is the Direct to Garment (DTG) method of printing. That means we can create photo quality prints, that are vivid and last the test of time. Lighter, softer, breathable top quality detailed prints on all of our products. We use nothing but the best Kornit and Brother printers for all DTG printed garments.

Why are some items in my order fulfilled separately?
Because of the variety of products we fulfill, we package each item based on dimension requirements to ensure protection during shipment. So Items of different dimensions are typically shipped separately. This is a common industry standard like Amazon typically does. So don't freak when you get an order missing an item, the packing slip will indicate if you have more items on the way

I ordered a mask, how fast will I receive it?
All of our products are made to order and our masks are made per customer order from our overseas supplier. All orders need to be created and made before we can ship so naturally it won't ship right away. 

Ship time for Masks, Sneakers, Jackets, Backpacks & Bags will take around 14-17 days to fulfill before shipping. Shipping for these products will take approximately 15-18 days after fulfillment to receive since it needs to go through local customs. We unfortunately don't control local shippers like USPS standard ship times.

How should I wash my printed garments?
In order for you to prolong the life of your custom print, we suggest following the care instructions below:

Machine wash cold, inside-out, gentle cycle with mild detergent and similar colors. Use non-chlorine bleach, only when necessary. No fabric softeners. Tumble dry low, or hang-dry for longest life. Cool iron inside-out if necessary. Do not iron decoration. Do not dry clean.

Be wary of washing and drying on a high setting, especially when the garment is 100% cotton. High-temperature washes can fade and crack the print, and a high-temperature dryer settings can shrink the garment, as well as damage the print. 

Sublimation apparel can be washed at any temperature setting without affecting quality. But we recommend washing with like colors, as the polyester fabric may make colors run. High temperatures during washing and drying may shrink the fabric.

We use the latest direct-to-garment (DTG) printing technology to offer a wide variety of printable garments and design color options at an affordable price. The DTG ink in this process is different from the ink screen printers use. Keep in mind that the original manufacturer's care instructions don't take into consideration the DTG printing process.

Why does my shirt have a vinegar smell? Which can sometimes happen.
When unpacking a new shirt or hoodie with a direct-to-garment (DTG) print, you might notice a vinegar-like smell or an off-white residue. Don't worry, that's not unusual - it's from a fixation agent applied during the printing process and it's not permanent.

Fixation agent (sometimes known as pre-treatment) is used for all DTG prints across the industry. It helps the ink bond with the fabric, and without it, the ink would flake off the garment

The solution is simply to wash the garment! Neither the residue nor the smell is permanent and both should go away after one wash. If the discoloration is noticeable, the quality control team will include a card explaining that it's from the fixation agent.