What can I apply my patch to?
While the adhesive backing on the patch is designed to stick specifically to wearables (including leather) and other fabric materials, you can also place your patches on non-fabric items such as a laptop, phone case, journal, and so on. However, we only recommend applying patches to those items if you are ok with a permanent application. For these kinds of items remember to apply heat with a hair dryer for at least 10-15 minutes to seal the bond. Of course be sure that the item you're applying the patch to can withstand the heat as well! See instructions below for removing patches from fabric items.
Let us know if you tried to apply your patch to a specific item/material and it didn’t adhere properly. While this is extremely rare we want to ensure we rectify any failed patch application experience.
How should I apply my patch?
If applying your patch to a new clothing item be sure to pre-wash the item beforehand (without fabric softener).
Peel off the paper backing behind the patch and lightly apply it onto your preferred item. You can still move the patch around at this point to get the right positioning.
Once the placement is juuuust right apply firm pressure, preferably using a hard object, to all areas of the patch (especially the edges). Pressure is the key factor for a strong bond!
To seal the bond, blow a hair dryer to the backside of the patch through the fabric for 10-15 minutes, or directly onto the patch if on a non-fabric item. For fabric items you can also throw them in the dryer for 15 minutes on low heat to seal the bond.
Wait 72 hours before machine washing and wash separately from other clothing when washing for the first time. Turn patched garment inside out before washing/drying and do not dry on hot setting.
Reach out if you need any help or have questions regarding patch application.
What shouldn't I do with my patches?
Don’t dry clean a garment you’ve attached patches to as the patches will come off during the process (unless you live in Vermont where dry cleaners don’t use PERC solvent).
Do not sew your patch on, the adhesive material will likely gum your sewing machine. Hand-sewing might work but will be a sticky process.
Since applying my patch, the corners have started to come up, what can I do?
If your patch is on a piece of clothing, your best bet is to press the corner(s) down from the backside of the patch, through the garment, and then apply heat from a blow dryer for a few minutes (use caution).
Generally, with some consistent pressure and renewed heat the corners of the patch should stick back down.
If for whatever reason your patch comes off completely during a wash cycle, the cool thing is that you can re-apply it by following these steps -
1) Machine dry the item of clothing and air dry the patch separately
2) Once both the clothing item and patch are dry, re-apply the patch using firm pressure, especially along the edges
3) Blow-dry or throw the item in the dryer on low heat for 15 minutes
What if I want to remove my patch?
The easiest method is to purchase an adhesive remover made especially for patches and follow the product’s instructions. With strong enough pressure you may be able to eventually rip the patches off the material as well. You can then use an adhesive remover to blot away any remaining adhesive on the fabric.
Something was wrong with my patch, can I get a replacement?
We apologize if you received a defective patch and if that was the case we obviously want to make it right. Patches found defective can be returned for a full replacement of the same or similar design, no questions asked. Simply email us (howdy@outpatch.org) with the email you made the purchase with and return your defective patch to the address below. Once received we’ll send you your new patch!
4800 Dahlia Street, STE B4, Denver, CO 80216
How exactly does Outpatch help me support the communities I care about?
Donations - A portion of our patch sales go to community led nonprofits supporting the place or cause each patch represents.
Awareness - We highlight the work of these nonprofits and other local changemakers in our newsletters and social media to drive awareness and funding to their work.
What does "proceeds" mean for Outpatch?
Short answer - “proceeds” to us means the sale price minus the direct cost to produce the patch
We adopt the commonly acceptable definition of “proceeds” as the sale price minus the direct cost to produce the product, also known as the cost of goods sold. The direct cost includes the materials and production of our patches.
Not factored into our calculation of proceeds are any indirect costs, including our own labor.
How much of your purchase actually gets donated to the nonprofits Outpatch supports?
*Short answer - ~$1 for online purchases.
For online sales, after paying our artists & designers, purchasing materials, manufacturing our patches, and accounting for all of our other indirect expenses, we end up donating $1 per sale.
Exact donation amount may vary slightly depending on variance in the cost of production
How does Outpatch select the nonprofits proceeds are donated to?
When selecting nonprofits to partner with our ultimate aim is to ensure funds end up with the people best positioned to positively impact their communities.
In essence, this means we look for partners that:
- Thoughtfully pursue a well developed, long-term strategy to positively impact their community.
- Possess a deep understanding of the contextual challenges their community faces.
- Have a long history and respected presence working within the communities they aim to serve.
We also verify 501(c)(3) status using the IRS’ search tool.
For our travel based donations - we work to identify nonprofits that meet our criteria operating in the most economically disadvantaged county within each state. "Economic disadvantage" is determined using federal and state income/poverty data.
For our humanitarian and custom order based donations - we identify nonprofits that meet our criteria operating in countries designated by the UN as "underfunded humanitarian crises". This generally means countries where the humanitarian need is dire but there is a significant funding shortfall due to the relative obscurity or protracted nature of the crisis.
How does Outpatch assess a nonprofit's potential for positive impact?
While exact evaluation criteria may change according to context, generally we assess the following:
- Will funding of less than $10,000 result in the accomplishment of a tangible goal that furthers the development of the project/organization’s mission?
- Has the project/organization been in operation within the community for a period of at least one year?
- Does the project/organization have the buy-in of the community it aims to support as evidenced by donations, volunteers, or documented letters of support? This also serves as a proxy for identifying whether the project/organization’s mission aligns with the community’s needs.
- What are the qualifications of the individual(s) leading the project/organization? Have they demonstrated commitment to their community, passion for their mission, and a track record of success?
- Do the individual(s) leading the project/organization plan to remain in the community they aim to serve for the foreseeable future?
- Is the project/organization’s mission a sustainable, long term, and financially viable endeavor?
Do I need to buy a patch to support the nonprofits Outpatch supports?
Nope. You can visit our Impact page to find a specific community you want to support and make a donation directly to one of the listed nonprofits supporting it. These nonprofits have been fully vetted and your donation will truly catalyze positive change!