Questions or FAQOSWI

We've compiled a list of what we anticipate will become frequently asked questions (FAQ) or so we imagine (OSWI).

If you can't find your question here or are unhappy with the answer we've given please drop us a line at enquiry@coolthermal.co.uk and we'll do our very best to answer your question.

Why are you out of stock on so many items?

More likely than not it's because we have sold out of those items and are trying to replenish our stock as fast as we can. One way to avoid disappointment is to click on the 'notify me by e-mail when in stock' icon against the items you like and you'll be the first to know as soon as we have them back in stock.

How warm are your knitted tee shirts?

Really we can make them as warm you like but our research has shown people wear thermal clothing for an impossibly wide variety of reasons. For the launch range we’ve settled upon what we think is a happy medium between an ‘under the shirt in the office’ base layer and a ‘walk to the North Pole’ base layer. You won’t melt but, by the same token, in the coldest of conditions you may want to wear a second top – sort of over the top over the top underwear! We have a great looking high performance base layer in the pipeline for 2007 and, if funds allow, we will also extend the knitted range of fabrics to offer different fabric weights and thermal ratings.

And on the subject of warmth...

Thermal clothing is the original eco clothing. Pop on a Coolthermal top, turn your thermostat down a notch or two; save on fuel bills, save fossil fuels and save the planet and stay toasty all at the same time! If you want to find some more energy saving tips and advice click here.

Where are Coolthermal clothes made?

All over the world. The development of each item of Coolthermal clothing has been and continues to be a long process. Once the design is finalised we begin the search for the manufacturer most capable of delivering the highest quality garment. Cost has never been a factor in the sourcing decision; a lower cost invariably means compromising quality and that's one thing we are not prepared to compromise on. Occasionally certain countries are pre-eminent in a particular type of garment, for example China for silk clothing and Nepal for our knitted sweats, but we have found pockets of expertise across the whole world and we currently have clothing in development within Germany, the U.S., Peru, Turkey and India as well as in China and Nepal.

Is Coolthermal a front for a multinational conglomerate?

Yes. No. Just joking. Nope, not us. It does happen a lot and we've been amazed by how many hip and happening 'independent' clothing brands we admire are fronts for more well known mainstream corporations.

Is Coolthermal Ethical?

Yep. We're doing business in a different way though ethical trading isn't just about how we conduct ourselves when trading overseas it also extends to how we treat our local suppliers, our co-workers, our customers and how acquit ourselves in the community. We have a set of unshakable core beliefs and values which adhere themselves to every aspect of our external dealings. We have a good working relationship with all of our suppliers and we do everything we can to ensure these suppliers operate to the highest ethical standards.

Where can I buy Coolthermal clothing?

At first only through this website but we are currently exploring the possibility of supplying a limited number of stockists across the UK and Ireland. If you are a retailer and want to join in the fun or just to find out more about our clothing please drop us a line at imwithya@coolthermal.co.uk

Do Coolthermal thermal tee shirts bobble?

Bobbling is the pilling that occurs on most thermal shirts due to the composition of the fabric. The easy ones first: the silk collection will not bobble, silk is immaculately well behaved. The knitted tees have a traditional polyester/viscose blend lining for additional comfort and warmth which is prone to bobbling but because the knitted tee has a cotton top layer this effect is greatly reduced to the point it is possible to apply designs to the shirt and it acquire the appearance of a regular tee shirt, something not possible with traditional thermal underwear.

Why don't you reply to my e-mails?!!!

We always reply to e-mails without fail. What can happen on occasion is that our e-mails are intercepted by your spam filer and moved into the junk file for deletion. Check your filter and add us to your safe senders list then everything should be fine. If in doubt drop us an e-mail at care@coolthermal.co.uk and we'll talk you through it.

Do I have to be careful with the designs on the front of the bi-knit tee shirts?

No more than for any other tee shirt. You’ll probably notice that the fabric of the knitted tee is very stretchy; this is a function of the thermal construction and it provides for your added comfort and insulation. Most of our designs are applied using pigmented dye which means they give with the fabric as it is stretched and pulled. Clever stuff.

What's in the pipeline?

Lots of exciting stuff. When you're on a mission, as we are, it's hard sometimes to contain your ideas and enthusiasm. Please keep coming back, tell your friends, add us to your favourites or register your details with us and we promise some exciting new developments over the years to come. Also, we're always open to new ideas so if you think there's something we should be doing that we're not doing or even something that we should be doing differently then please drop us a line at myidea@coolthermal.co.uk.

If I sign up for the quiz will you pass my details onto anybody else?

Absolutely not. We don't like unsolicited spam either. The quiz is a bit of fun to brighten up Monday mornings. We enjoy setting it as much as (we hope) you enjoy tackling the questions. If you register for the quiz we will never pass your details onto a thrid party nor will we ever send you stuff of our own unless you've specifically asked for it via the newsletter. So sign up and all you'll receive is the quiz every Monday morning and, if you get tired of receiving that, simply click on the unsubscribe button and your Mondays will return to normal.

What type of photo can I send into Cold Snaps?

So long as there is a connection, however tenuous, with cold weather and as long as it's not too bizarre then we'll display your photo in our online gallery for the whole world to see. As far as the prizes go everybody will get something so we'll keep that bit quiet but it's just a bit of fun and we're ready to be amazed by what a jolly, weird, thoughtful, energetic and artistic lot you are. Unfortunately we won't be judging the competition so we can't tell you what the judges are looking for!

When does the Cold Snaps photo competition close?

All entries will be judged on the first day of spring and the winners will be notified shortly after that.

Are the colours of the clothing displayed accurately on this site?

We've tried to display the colours correctly and the swatches have been created using Adobe colour matching but we cannot guarantee that the clothing will match exactly the photographs. This may be for all sorts of reasons: the manufacturing process can vary, the lighting conditions can vary depending upon when the photos are taken, the post production can alter the colours etc etc. We hope you won't be disappointed but if you're less than satisfied we operate a full, no quibbles refund policy.

I live overseas. Can I buy Coolthermal clothing?

To begin with we can only accept payment via the web in GBP/pound sterling. If you live outside of the UK and are interested in purchasing something from this site, please drop us a line at sales@coolthermal.co.uk and explain your requirements to us.

Who are the friends of Coolthermal?

The friends of Coolthermal are people and places that feature us and our products in return for reciprocal links. Reciprocal links are important in raising awareness of each other's sites as well as improving each other's position in search engines without needing a huge marketing budget. Think of it as a community. Click here to meet our friends.