Sizing
What size should I order?
Every listing has a size chart in the photos with real chest and length measurements. Use it — S, M and L mean different things at different shops.
The fastest way to get it right: take a shirt you already like the fit of, lay it flat, and measure straight across the chest an inch below the armhole. Double that number and match it to the chart. It beats guessing every time.
What sizes do you carry?
- Tees — S through 4XL
- Crops — S through 2XL
- Crewnecks — S through 3XL
- Hats — one size, adjustable closure
Do they run big or small?
The tee is a relaxed fit and true to size. The crop is the same fabric cut boxy and short — it's a different shape, not a smaller tee, so check the chart rather than assuming your usual size.
Crewnecks: the Comfort Colors is relaxed and sits a little oversized. The Gildan is a classic fit and closer to the body.
I'm between sizes. Which way?
Size up. Garment-dyed cotton softens and settles with wear, and none of this is cut to be tight.
Are these unisex?
The tees and crewnecks are unisex sizing. The crop is cut on a women's boxy fit.
The garments
What are these made of?
- Tee — Comfort Colors 1717. 6.1 oz, 100% ring-spun cotton, garment-dyed, relaxed fit.
- Crop — Comfort Colors 3023. The same 6.1 oz ring-spun cotton, cut boxy and short.
- Crewneck — Comfort Colors 1566. 9.5 oz, 80/20 ring-spun cotton-poly fleece, garment-dyed, relaxed fit.
- Crewneck — Gildan 18000. 8 oz, 50/50 cotton-poly, classic fit.
Why two different crewnecks?
Because they feel different, and you should get to pick which. The Comfort Colors is heavier and garment-dyed, with a soft lived-in drape. The Gildan is a classic midweight fleece with more structure.
Choose on feel. Both take the same embroidery.
What does "garment-dyed" mean?
The garment is dyed after it's sewn rather than before. That's why it arrives soft and broken-in instead of stiff, and why the colour has depth to it.
It also means slight shade variation between pieces is normal. Two Peppers from different dye runs won't be identical. That's the process working, not a flaw.
Will it shrink?
Very little. The dye process pre-shrinks the cotton, which is one of the reasons we use these blanks. Wash cold and it'll hold its shape.
The embroidery
Is this embroidered or printed?
Embroidered. All of it. No printing, no vinyl, no heat transfer that cracks after six washes.
Thread doesn't peel. It's still there when the shirt finally wears out.
Can I choose the thread color?
No, and that's on purpose. Each garment color has one thread color picked to read clearly against it:
- Black on Ivory, Moss and Orchid
- Navy on Chambray and Peachy
- White on Pepper and Espresso
- Cream on Blue Jean
Designs where the thread is the whole point — the rainbow flag, the rainbow QUEENS — keep their own colors.
Why so few colors online?
Deliberately narrow. A short color list means every piece is photographed properly and ships when we say it will.
There's a lot more color on the table at the market.
Where does the design sit on the shirt?
It varies by design — some are small left chest, some run the width of the chest. The listing photos show the placement for each one.
Orders and shipping
How long until my order ships?
Everything is made to order, so nothing is sitting in a box waiting. Each piece is stitched after you order it, which takes 7–10 business days before it ships. Transit time is on top of that.
Nothing here was made before you asked for it, and nothing goes in a landfill because nobody did.
What does shipping cost?
$5 flat anywhere in the US, and free on orders over $50. Shipped USPS from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Do you ship internationally?
We ship within the United States only right now.
Will I get tracking?
Yes — a tracking number goes out by email the moment it ships. If it's been more than 10 business days and you haven't heard anything, email us and we'll tell you exactly where it is.
Can I change or cancel my order?
Email within 24 hours and we'll cancel and refund in full. After that the machine has usually already run.
Wrong size or address? Email as soon as you notice. If it hasn't been stitched yet, it's an easy fix.
Returns and care
Can I return it?
Every piece is stitched for one person after they order it, so we can't restock returns the way a shop with shelves can. That means no returns for change of mind.
What we will always fix: if the stitching is flawed, the garment arrives damaged, or we sent the wrong item, color or size — that's ours. Send a photo within 14 days of delivery and we'll remake it or refund it, your choice.
How do I wash it?
Cold water, inside out. Tumble dry low.
If you iron it, press from the back or put a cloth over the front — never a hot iron directly on the stitching.
Do that and the stitching will outlast the garment.
Will the embroidery come off in the wash?
No. That's the whole reason we stitch instead of print. There's nothing on the surface to crack, lift or peel — the design is sewn through the fabric.
Custom, bulk and markets
Can I order a lot of one design?
Yes — that's the easy one. Email with the design, the sizes and the date you need them, and we'll work it out.
Can you stitch something custom for me?
Absolutely, send us a message and we will work it out. Custom orders take 4-6 weeks.
Where can I see these in person?
South End markets in Charlotte, most weekends. There's more color on the table than there is online, and usually a few designs that never made it to the site.
How do I reach a human?
Email info@shopcopperco.com and you'll hear back within two business days. It's a small shop — most days it's one person and an embroidery machine.