🌸 How wonderful is it that we can offer you beautiful, quality, and fun products that are made to order (MTO)!
MTO products are made after an order is placed.
This opportunity, as with many things in life, comes with responsibilities shared primarily among three participants:
- You, the customer who purchases our products.
- The carrier handling your shipment—selected by you where carrier choices are offered.
- Us, the creators of the products.
Raw materials vendors also play a part in the MTO process. Here, however, we focus on the relationships and responsibilities between you and us.
OVERVIEW
We are quite selective in choosing our raw materials suppliers and other vendors. Quality, honesty, accessibility, and accountability guide those choices. 🌸
Without quality raw materials, we are unable to offer MTO products.
Unlike pre-made personal products, our MTO personal products have noticeable differences in processing and, most importantly, production time.
All of these things are components of the MTO fulfillment process.
To make it a bit easier for you, see the diagram below showing what happens from the moment you press “Pay” with your chosen payment provider to the moment your MTO product arrives at your chosen destination.
1. MTO Fulfillment
See the above diagram to better understand the process.
Processing and Production Time
Processing and production times vary by product.
Fulfillment Time: (Day 1) begins the first business day after the order is placed. The day you place the order is (Day 0) and is not calculated in the fulfillment timeframe. Standard fulfillment usually takes 3–7 business days. Shipping time is separate and begins after fulfillment.
Your delivery destination and selected shipping method also affect delivery time. Review any processing or production estimates provided with your selected product, along with the shipping options and delivery estimates available at the checkout where you place your order.
Business Days & Shipping Estimates
Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding US federal holidays, including their observed dates. Saturdays, Sundays, and these holidays do not count toward our stated processing and shipping estimates.
2. Production Characteristics
🌸 This section provides a general overview of differences you may notice in a finished MTO product and what to consider when caring for it. These characteristics vary by item; they do not apply to every MTO product. Please refer to the respective product detail page for information about the item you are purchasing.
Product Details & Care
For information about your selected product’s materials, features, and care, please refer to its respective product detail page. Care needs can differ according to the fabric, printed design, or embroidery. Follow the care instructions supplied with your item as well.
The information here is a general overview, not one set of washing or ironing instructions for all MTO products. Please review the details for the specific item you are purchasing.
Print Placement & Seam Alignment
Minor variations in print placement can occur because people are involved in the production process. Where a design extends across separate fabric panels, patterns and images may not align perfectly from front to back or where panels meet at seams.
The extent of a printed design varies by product. Areas not covered by printed artwork show the underlying fabric.
Color & Fabric Appearance
Depending on the item’s fabric and design, dark colors may appear lighter when the fabric stretches, and the base fabric may show slightly at seams and folds. In double-layered areas, such as pockets, details from the inner fabric layer may subtly show through.
Depending on the item, white or transparent areas of a design may take on the underlying fabric’s color, particularly where darker inner layers are present. Black fabric and areas printed black may not match exactly.
Cotton Products: Appearance & Care Overview
🌸 Cotton is a (natural) material and primary fabric in our MTO offerings. Cotton products can differ in fabric composition and appearance, so the details and care instructions for your selected item matter.
Design & Feel Expectations
Depending on the cotton product, slight color differences may occur between batches, and very bright or neon shades may not reproduce as expected.
Vibrancy & Finish: On applicable cotton products, the print has a smooth, matte finish. Colors may appear slightly muted, and fine details may look softer than on synthetic fabric. Pre-colored black fabric and areas printed black may not match exactly. On larger printed surfaces, black may appear slightly gray.
Print Feel: On applicable cotton products, printed areas may feel textured.
Initial Stiffness: Large or dark printed areas on some cotton products may feel slightly stiff at first and soften after the first few washes.
Washing & Care
Some cotton products may experience fading after repeated washing or slight fabric shrinkage after washing. These are possibilities, not a statement that every cotton product will fade or shrink in the same way.
Please refer to the respective product detail page for its fabric composition, appearance information, and care guidance, and follow the care instructions supplied with the item. This overview does not replace those product-specific instructions, nor does it replace the care instructions on the product’s garment tag, where applicable.
Fabric Substitutions
For applicable sewn products, if fabric stock is low, comparable fabric may be used. Any substitute will be as close to the original fabric as possible.
3. Order Concerns & Helpful Links
Despite our best efforts, we understand that mistakes happen in creation, printing, sewing, inspection, shipping, and even delivery.
Some parts of this process are under our control; others are not.
Inclement weather, machinery malfunctions, and other disruptions may affect production or delivery times.
Our responsibilities are shared. When you place any order with us, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to abide by Hokkyoku Arashi™’s site terms, including those for MTO products.
We expect honesty and good faith from customers, just as we expect quality and accountability from our vendors and ourselves.
Our goal is to resolve valid concerns fairly and maintain customer relationships built on honesty and good faith. Should a concern arise about the status of your order, including a missing, lost, damaged, or undelivered item, we endeavor to address it promptly and fairly. When a concern requires further review, we have measures in place to help resolve valid concerns.
For guidance on your concern, please use the links below. They explain how to submit a claim, when to report it, what photographs are required, and what to do if your order has not arrived or tracking shows delivery but you have not received it.
- Return & Refund Policy
- Claim Reporting Deadlines
- Photographs Required For Claims
- Order Has Not Arrived
- Tracking Marked Delivered, But Package Not Received
4. How We Approach (MTO) Claims
We review claims on their facts. We assess the issue, the circumstances surrounding the claim, supporting documentation, images, and other evidence.
If we consider a claim valid, we will proceed with an equitable resolution.