FAQs
Dirty Little Secrets
What is a Dirty Little Secret?
A Dirty Little Secret is a small surprise message hidden inside your T-shirt, usually near the hem or sleeve. It might be informative, cheeky or downright rude, filthy and completely unhinged — and you won’t know what yours says until it arrives!
What kind of message might I get?
Anything from informative, cheeky and sweary to filthy and offensive. Every message is chosen at random, so part of the fun is not knowing which Dirty Little Secret is hiding inside your tee until it arrives.
Can I choose the message?
Nope — that would spoil the surprise! Dirty Little Secrets are picked at random, so you won’t know which one you’ve got until your order arrives
How offensive will my Dirty Little Secret be?
Expect strong swearing, rude humour and the occasional filthy or wildly inappropriate phrase. We’re not shy about bad language, but we don’t tolerate racist, homophobic or discriminatory content — so you won’t find anything like that hiding inside our tees.
Sizing and Fit
How do I choose the right size?
Use our Detailed Sizing & Fit guide for garment-specific measurements and fit advice. Each product also links directly to the relevant section of the guide where available
Are your T-shirts unisex?
Some are, some aren’t — fit varies by garment style, so always check the relevant sizing information before ordering. But don't be limited by labels...if you're a male that likes a more feminine fit, check out the women's collections.
Do different garment styles fit differently?
Yes. A classic unisex tee, women’s fitted tee, crop and performance top can all fit very differently even when the size label is the same.
What if I’m between sizes?
Check the garment measurements in our Detailed Sizing & Fit guide and compare them with a similar item you already own.
Glow/UV Reactive Clothing
What does UV reactive mean?
UV reactive means the design reacts under ultraviolet or blacklight, making the colours appear much brighter and more intense. It doesn’t mean the design glows on its own in complete darkness — it needs UV/blacklight to activate the effect.
Will the UV Reactive designs glow in the dark?
Not by itself. UV reactive designs need a UV or blacklight source to produce that intense glow effect. In normal darkness without UV light, they won’t continue glowing like glow-in-the-dark pigment.
What lighting makes the colours glow?
UV or blacklight works best. You’ll usually find this kind of lighting in clubs, raves, festivals and other nightlife venues, which is exactly where these designs really come alive.
What will the colours look like in normal daylight?
They’ll still look bright and vibrant in normal light, but the dramatic fluorescent glow effect only appears under UV or blacklight.
Are all of your Glow Collection items UV reactive?
Yes — items in our Glow Collection are designed specifically to react under UV/blacklight. The exact effect can vary slightly depending on the colour, material and lighting conditions.
Will every Glow item look exactly the same?
Our Glow Collection pieces are made to order by us using specialist UV reactive heat-transfer materials.
We make each item carefully, but because many pieces are made by hand, there may be tiny variations in placement or finish. These are normal and part of the nature of individually made garments.
Design, Printing & Production
What printing methods do you use?
We use a mix of printing methods depending on the garment and design, including heat transfer vinyl and Direct to Garment (DTG) printing. The method used is chosen to suit the design, fabric and finish we want to achieve.
What is DTG printing?
DTG stands for Direct to Garment. It uses specialist printers to apply ink directly onto the fabric, a bit like an industrial inkjet printer for clothing. It’s ideal for detailed, full-colour designs and gives a softer finish because the ink becomes part of the fabric rather than sitting heavily on top.
What is heat transfer vinyl?
Heat transfer vinyl, or HTV, is a specialist material that is cut into the design shape and then permanently heat-pressed onto the garment. We use it for our UV reactive Glow Collection.
What is print-on-demand?
Print-on-demand means an item is produced specifically for you as you order it, rather than being held as finished stock. Our designs are made this way either by specialist production partners for DTG items or handmade by us for our Glow items.
Are all products made by Acid Drop Design?
Many of our garments are cut, pressed and finished by us in-house. Other products, particularly some specialist or all-over printed items, are produced for us by trusted print-on-demand partners. The product page will tell you if an item is made differently. Whichever production method is used, every single item is designed personally by us.
Who designs Acid Drop Design clothing?
Every Acid Drop design comes straight from our own slightly twisted imaginations. We don’t buy in ready-made artwork, use stock design templates or outsource our clothing designs to outside designers. Every concept is created by us, for Acid Drop, from scratch.
Why do some products feel different from others?
Different garments, fabrics and printing methods naturally have different finishes. A DTG print may feel very soft and integrated into the fabric, while heat transfer vinyl has a more noticeable surface feel. This is completely normal and doesn’t mean one method is better than another.
Why can colours look slightly different in real life?
Colours can vary slightly depending on your screen settings, the fabric they’re printed onto and the printing method used. We aim to represent colours as accurately as possible, but small differences between what you see on screen and the finished garment are normal.
Why might the same design look slightly different on different T-shirt colours?
Some of our DTG designs have separate versions for light and dark garments. Dark fabrics often need certain colours, highlights or details adjusted so the design prints clearly and looks its best, while lighter garments may use a slightly different version. This means the same design can look a little different depending on the T-shirt colour you choose.
Caring For Your Garments
How should I wash my T-shirt?
Wash your garment inside out at 30°C on a gentle cycle with similar colours. Turning it inside out helps protect both the fabric and the design during washing. Use a mild detergent. Avoid anything too harsh, as strong detergents can shorten the life of the fabric and printed or heat-applied designs. Avoid both bleach and fabric conditioner, as they can also affect the fabric, colours and printed or heat-applied designs.
Can I tumble dry my T-shirt?
No. Hang dry only. High heat from a tumble dryer can damage or shorten the life of printed and heat-applied designs.
Will the print fade or wear over time?
All printed garments can gradually show signs of wear with repeated washing and use. Following our care instructions will help preserve the colour, finish and design for as long as possible.
Orders & Production Times.
How long will my order take to make?
Production times vary depending on the item and how it is made. Handmade and made-to-order pieces need a little extra time before they are ready to dispatch, while some print-on-demand items are produced by our external print partners.
Are items made to order?
Most of our products are made to order rather than sitting on a shelf waiting to be posted. This helps us offer more designs, colours and sizes while reducing unnecessary waste. Some items are also produced through our print-on-demand partners after your order is placed.
Can I change my order after placing it?
If you need to change something, contact us as quickly as possible. We’ll always try to help, but once an item has gone into production it won't be possible to change the size, colour, design or other details.
Can I cancel my order?
If you want to cancel an order, please contact us as soon as possible. If production has not started, we may be able to cancel it. Once a made-to-order or personalised item has entered production, cancellation may no longer be possible.
What happens if I order handmade and DTG items together?
Your order may arrive in more than one parcel. Handmade items are produced and dispatched by us, while DTG products are made and shipped separately by our production partners. If this happens, you may receive separate dispatch notifications or tracking details.
Shipping, Returns & Exchanges
How long will my order take to ship?
All of our items are made to order. Most orders are processed and shipped within 5–7 business days, although some specialist products and busy periods may take a little longer. Delivery time is separate from production time.
Will I receive tracking?
Yes. Once your order has been shipped, we’ll send you a confirmation email with tracking information.
Can I return or exchange my order?
Because our items are made to order, we don’t generally offer refunds. However, eligible items can be returned for an exchange or store credit if you contact us within 14 days of receiving your order and the item is returned unworn and in brand new condition.
What if my item arrives damaged or faulty?
Please contact us straight away at hello@aciddropdesign.com with photos of the problem and we’ll help get it sorted.