Sustainability & Ethical Sourcing (FAQ Page)
At The Clandestine Underground sustainability isn’t a buzzword — it’s built into the way we do business.
We design and produce with intention, striving to create pieces that are not only original and high quality, but also made responsibly from start to finish.
Here’s how we’re doing our part:
✅ Ethical Production Standards
We aim to source garments from WRAP-certified factories, ensuring that every piece is made under fair, safe, and humane working conditions. When we use products made in the USA, we partner with brands that provide living wages, employee benefits, and sustainable in-house manufacturing practices.
♻️ Eco-Friendly Materials & Practices
Our original designs are often printed on apparel made with sustainable fibers, including 100% cotton and recycled polyester blends. We also use screen print transfers from a small business in New Jersey, which sources materials from U.S. companies and operates with a low-waste model.
We only produce what we need. By using screen print transfers and making most items to order, we drastically reduce overproduction and unnecessary inventory waste.
📦 Planet-Conscious Shipping
Every order is shipped carbon neutral, using recycled or biodegradable packaging materials whenever possible. We also reuse incoming shipment boxes to further minimize waste. Behind the scenes, we recycle and compost the majority of our operational waste to continue improving our impact.
🌍 Giving Back
A percentage of every purchase goes toward organizations that support social justice, environmental conservation, animal rescue, and women’s empowerment. Supporting us means supporting meaningful causes around the world.
We’re always learning, growing, and looking for better ways to serve both people and the planet. Thank you for supporting a business that believes in doing things differently — and doing them right.
A few more detailed FAQ's about our sustainability:
What makes our packaging eco-friendly?
-Tissue = printed with soy-based inks, on FSC-certified paper, and is Acid, sulphur, and lignin-free. noissue Tissue is 100% Compostable, Recyclable, and made from recycled materials.
-Tape = printed with soy-based inks, 100% compostable, made from recycled materials & reusable.
-Hang Tags = made from recycled materials & easily curbside recyclable.
-All Paper = easily curbside recyclable.
-PolyMailers / Apparel Bags = made from a combination of PBAT, a bio based polymer which is compostable, and PLA which is made up of plant materials such as regular field corn and wheat straw.
What do we do daily to be more eco-friendly?
We recycle as much as we can, all cardboard / curbside recycled plastic / glass we can recycled curbside in our city. However, we still recycle thin plastics that are not curbside recyclable by taking them to plastic drop off points (we have some at Lowes & Walmart, but there are so many more just consult Google). We also compost all of our materials we receive that are certified compostable after we are through - however we try to lengthen the lifespan of our products we use as long as possible to reduce waste.
What else do we do with our products to be more environmentally conscious?
We are adamant about supporting other smaller businesses when we purchase Wholesale products. This is a key factor for us in being more environmentally conscious because it lowers the production of large companies who are constantly putting out the largest emissions of toxic chemicals and gasses into the atmosphere. We support smaller wholesale Blank tshirt companies, apparel distributors & artists, and anywhere else in our daily lives when we can!
A FEW OF THE BRANDS WE WORK WITH AND THEIR SUSTAINABILITY PAGES:
- Los Angeles Apparel - Social Responsibility Page
- Lane Seven Apparel - Sustainability Page
- 613 Originals - About Us Page
- American Apparel - Sustainability Page
- NoIssue - Sustainability Page
A FEW OF THE CHARITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE DONATED TO:
GENERAL FAQ'S
If you have a question we did not answer please refer to our Contact Us section to speak to a customer service representative.
ORDERING & SHIPPING
ORDERING & SHIPPING
Q: How long will my order take to ship?
A: Most items ship within 2–3 business days. Made-to-order and personalized artwork typically take 4–5 business days. You’ll receive an email with tracking info once your order is on the way.
Q: Do you ship internationally?
A: Yes! We ship worldwide using DHL, USPS, and UPS. Please note: duties and taxes are not included at checkout and are the responsibility of the customer. Delivery times vary by location.
Q: Do you offer expedited shipping?
A: Yes — we offer standard (2–8 business days) and expedited (1–3 business days) options at checkout.
RETURNS & EXCHANGES
RETURNS & EXCHANGES
Q: How do I start a return or exchange?
A: Log in to your account on our website, go to My Account → Orders, and select the order you’d like to return or exchange. Choose the return/exchange option, add your reason, and if you’re exchanging, include your preferred size in the comments.
Q: Do you cover return shipping?
A: We don’t cover return shipping costs. For returns, the label fee (typically $4–$6) is deducted from your store credit. For exchanges, you’ll receive an invoice for the return shipping label before we send your new size.
Q: When will I receive my store credit or exchange?
A: Once we receive your return, you’ll get store credit issued to your account, or your exchanged item will ship out.
ORIGINAL DESIGN SIZING / FIT
ORIGINAL DESIGN SIZING / FIT
Q: How do your oversized t-shirts and sweatshirts fit?
A: All shirts and sweatshirts are a unisex oversized fit, designed for a relaxed look. Here’s our sizing guide:
- XS/S = fits like a Unisex Large
- S/M = fits like a Unisex X-Large
- L/XL = fits like a Unisex XX-Large
- 2XL/3XL = fits like a Unisex XXX-Large
If you prefer a more fitted look, we recommend sizing down.
STORE CREDIT / PAYMENTS
STORE CREDIT / PAYMENTS
Q: How do I use my store credit?
A: Log into your account (or ShopPay if that’s how you checked out). At checkout, you’ll see a Store Credit section where you can apply it toward your new order.
Q: Do you offer refunds?
A: We currently only offer store credit or even exchanges (all sale items are final sale).
PRODUCT INFORMATION & CARE
PRODUCT INFORMATION & CARE
Q: Where are your products made?
A: Many of our original designs are made in the USA or in WRAP-certified factories abroad. We carefully source to ensure ethical and sustainable production.
Q: How should I wash my tees/sweatshirts?
A: For best results, machine wash cold and tumble dry low. This helps preserve the garment’s quality and print.
Q: Do you restock items once they sell out?
A: Some bestsellers are restocked, but many of our drops are limited edition. If you love something, we recommend grabbing it while you can!
GENERAL QUESTIONS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q: Do you offer wholesale?
Yes! We wholesale through platforms like Faire and FashionGo, but we’d love for you to shop directly through our wholesale portal for the best pricing and perks.
Q: Do you support causes?
A: Absolutely. A percentage of our proceeds support animal rescue, social justice, environmental conservation, and women’s empowerment. You can head to our Sustainability FAQ page for more information our sustainability efforts and some places we donate to.
