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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Clothing of the American Mind?
Clothing of the American Mind is paving the way for socially responsible businesses, both big and small. We are committed to always donating a percentage of our proceeds to the most forward-thinking progressive organizations and candidates. In addition to being politically active and conscious, we are dedicated to social responsibility, both in our production practices and in the global community. Our merchandise is made completely free of any sweatshop labor. We also make an ongoing effort to leave a lighter footprint on the earth; our shirts are designed with water or soy-based inks and most styles are made of 100% organic cotton. All of our packing and promotional materials are also made from recycled materials. We encourage you to buy blue and be green.
Where do your proceeds go? How much money have you donated?
Clothing of the American Mind donates a percentage of all its proceeds to the most active and reputable progressive causes, organizations and candidates. Since 2004 we have donated approximately $35,000 to groups such as Amnesty International, the ACLU, MoveOn.org, Progressive Democrats of America, Peace Action and many others. For a complete list of organizations we have donated to, follow this link
Is COTAM a non-profit?
No; COTAM is not a 501(c)3. We set up as a S Corporation. Before the 2004 election, we were donating 100% of our net proceeds. Now that we’re looking at growing the company and sticking with it for the long haul, we need to put some of the proceeds back into the company. Everything else is donated to our favorite organizations and we are committed to keeping it that way.
Are COTAM t-shirts sweatshop free?
Yes, all of our shirts are sweatshop free. They are also all made in the United States, many right here in downtown Los Angeles. We do have one shirt – our organic style for kids – that are made in Mexico. However, these shirts are made by a women’s worker co-op where everyone is paid a living wage. In fact, everyone involved in the production of our t-shirts – at every level – is paid a living wage.
We also have several union-made, union-printed t-shirts, which are also made in the U.S.
Are your products considered Fair Trade?
We consider our merchandise to be Fair Trade, per the criteria of the Fair Trade Federation. You can learn more about Fair Trade here.
How long will it take to receive my order?
COTAM ships to almost any country in the world. Depending on where you are located, your order should arrive within 3 to 5 days. If you live in California, you may receive your order in 1 or 2 days; customers anywhere in the U.S. will receive their order within approximately 5 days. Orders going to Canada will take no more than 5 to 10 days to arrive. Shipments to Europe, Australia, Japan and any other area of the world may take a bit longer but should arrive within 2 weeks.
How much does shipping cost?
The standard cost for shipping is $5 for orders up to four shirts. Shipping for 5 or more shirts is $10.
Can I buy COTAM shirts in bulk or at wholesale rates?
If you are interested in purchasing 12 or more shirts, please contact us directly at sales@cotam.org and we’ll be happy to discuss our wholesale rates with you. Stores who might be interested in carrying our line can also contact us here; we work with retail shops on wholesale and consignment terms.
Can COTAM provide me with shirts to sell at my own fundraiser?
Certainly; call or email us to work out the specifics. We are happy to accommodate you with some sort of consignment arrangement. In these cases, though, please contact us enough in advance of your event (at least 2 weeks before, preferably 3 or 4 weeks).
In fact, you can even keep some of the proceeds raised from the shirts depending on what organization your fundraiser is supporting. The only cost you’ll be responsible for is shipping. This is actually a really great way to raise some extra funds for your cause or organization.
Is shopping on your site secure? What is your privacy policy?
Yes, shopping on our website is secure. COTAM is committed to ensuring your privacy. We do NOT share or sell personal information about our online visitors or our customers to any third party. Hey…that’s the government’s job, right? We want you to feel good about shopping with Clothing of the American Mind and be comfortable knowing that your privacy is being protected.
What forms of payment do you accept? If I don’t want to purchase via the Internet, is there another way I can make a purchase?
COTAM accepts most credit cards via our website. When you pay with a credit card through our site, your order is processed by PayPal. At this time, we are unable to accept your credit cards over the phone.
If you’d like to pay with a check or money order, we’ll be pleased to accommodate you. We know that not everyone is comfortable purchasing online. We will process and ship your order as soon as we receive your payment. If you want to do this, please call the office at 213.481.2004 or email us at sales@cotam.org and we’ll take your order and provide you with an invoice for your total purchase. All checks should be made out to Clothing of the American Mind. You can also fax in an order to us at 213.481.7075; please be sure to include your contact information should we have any questions regarding your order.
How do your shirts run size-wise?
Most of our shirts do run a bit on the small side. Many of our designs are printed on American Apparel-brand t-shirts, which do run a bit small and we recommend to our customers that they size up. Our new organic shirts do run more true to size and it is not necessary to size up with those.
What size do your shirts go up to?
Many of our designs are available up to size XXL.
Do your shirts shrink?
Only our organic shirts are pre-shrunk; the others will shrink upon first washing them. Basically, in terms of shrinkage, COTAM garments fall into one of the 3 following categories:
100% cotton will shrink 5%
cotton/poly blend will shrink slightly (less than 5%)
100% organic cotton will shrink slightly (less than 5%)
How long will it take for my order to ship?
After you complete your purchase, your order will ship within the next 1 – 2 business days. If an item you purchase is back-ordered, it will ship within 4 weeks, unless you are contacted otherwise. We will contact you directly via email or phone if your shipping time will differ.
Just like all of our promotional materials, Clothing of the American Mind uses packaging that is environmentally friendly and recycled (77% recycled paper fibers, 62% post-consumer). All of our promotional materials are printed on 100% recycled paper with environmentally safe (water or soy-based) inks.
Can I exchange or return my t-shirt?
We are happy to do exchanges for you. If your t-shirt doesn’t fit comfortably or you’d like to exchange it for a different size, please do one of the following things:
Send us an email at orders@cotam.org
Call us at 213.481.2004
Snail mail us at: 1284 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
Be sure to let us know what SIZE & STYLE you’d like to exchange your shirt for; please also include information on how to reach you and where to send your new merchandise. COTAM will cover the costs of one exchange and the shipping of your new items. We want you to love wearing this shirt and be comfortable in it.
While we are happy to exchange your items for you, we cannot accept returns.
What are the benefits of organic cotton?
Our t-shirts that are made with certified 100% organic cotton are made without using any harmful chemicals. Most cotton is sprayed with pesticides during the growth process. In fact, in the developing world, 75% of all pesticides sprayed on agricultural crops are sprayed on cotton. This undoubtedly leads to farm worker illness, water, soil and air pollution and many other unavoidable environmental hazards. In the U.S., in cotton-producing states and areas, cancer rates are found to be higher due to the pesticides being sprayed on cotton that sink into our soil and water supply. What this means for you – the consumer – is that when you buy a new garment made of cotton, there is a chance that some of the pesticides are still lingering in those fibers and will be exposed to your skin.
In the growth of organic cotton, there are NO pesticides or harmful chemicals used, hence no pollution or sickness. The best part about it is that COTAM’s organic shirts are just as soft and comfy as our others! Plus, these shirts will never shrink or fade due to their unique design process.
Who is behind COTAM?
Caitlin Blue is the founder of Clothing of the American Mind as well as our head designer. Carly Miller runs the day-to-day operations as well as media and celebrity relations, retail, sales, events, etc. First and foremost, Caitlin and Carly are both political activists. Clothing of the American Mind is a vehicle to spread a progressive message as well as to fundraise for the organizations that are working for political and social change. We’re just two women doing our part to change the world…one t-shirt at a time. COTAM is based in lovely Los Angeles, California.
How can I help COTAM?
We have countless volunteer opportunities, regardless of where you live. Perhaps you know of some stores in your area that would be interested in carrying our gear? Perhaps you want to raise money for your local Democratic club or other group? Perhaps you just want to volunteer your time? If you would like to help us out in some way, please contact Carly Miller directly at carly@cotam.org.
How can I contact Clothing of the American Mind?
You can visit our contact page anytime and send us an email or give us a call. We love to hear from you. Just keep in mind that we’re on the west coast. You can usually catch someone in the office at 213.481.2004 between 11am and 6pm PST. If no one is there to answer your call, simply leave a message and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours or so. You can also email us 24/7 at info@cotam.org. You can expect responses to your email inquiries within a day as well.