FAQ

Q1: Are you the original artists who designed the dolls or outfits?

No — we are not the original artists.
 Orbiting Heart is a North American studio working with multiple trusted suppliers and partnered manufacturers in China.

All artwork used in our plushies and outfits comes from three licensed sources:

1) In-house design staff (Manufacturer)

  • They create concept art for plushies, accessories, and outfits.

  • They are internal designers, not public-facing freelance artists.

  • For privacy reasons, their names are not displayed.

2) Independent artists whose full commercial rights we purchase

  • These designs are fully licensed and authorized by the original artist.

  • We verify that artwork is not AI-generated and that rights are purchased from the original creators.

  • We purchase full commercial rights before production.

  • We never use unlicensed artwork or fanart.

  • We do not claim to be the artists ourselves.

3) Open-market designs with no traceable artist (“common stock”)

  • Some older or viral designs have circulated in the Chinese doll ecosystem for years.

  • Multiple factories have reproduced similar patterns.

  • The original creator can no longer be identified.
     Even in these cases, Orbiting Heart conducts quality checks and selects reputable suppliers.

 

 

Q2: So are your dolls “knockoffs”?

No — our products are not knockoffs.
 All designs come strictly from the three official sources listed above.
 We do not use stolen, traced, AI, or bootleg art.

 

 

Q3: Why do some doll outfits look similar to items sold by other shops?

Because the Chinese doll accessory industry functions differently from Western art culture:

  • Clothing patterns circulate among factories

  • Many makers reinterpret the same popular styles

  • Attribution gets lost over time

  • Copyright documentation for doll clothing is informal

This is an industry-wide structural issue, not intentional copying.

Orbiting Heart is also developing more original outfits to increase differentiation.

 

 

Q4: Some new outfits resemble in-game costumes. Is that allowed?

These outfits are inspired by in-game designs in the same way cosplay is.
 If in-game inspiration were prohibited, cosplayers, prop makers, and cosplay outfit shops would all be affected.

This falls under commonly accepted global fan-creation norms.

 

 

Q5: How does Orbiting Heart work with manufacturers?

Orbiting Heart handles:

  • Sample review

  • Quality control

  • Pattern refinement

  • Approving designs before production

  • North American logistics, shipping, and customer service

Partner manufacturers handle:

  • Production

  • Materials

  • Sewing and assembly according to our approved specifications

We are not a dropshipper.
 We are involved in every step of the production chain.

 

 

Q6: Do you resell products from other stores?

No — we never resell.

We only produce or distribute:

  • In-house designs

  • Licensed artist designs

  • Legitimately commissioned or contracted works

  • Open-market/common items without traceable creators

We do not resell items purchased from other shops.

 

 

Q7: Who are your collaborators? Are they the original creators?

Our collaborators include:

  • In-house concept staff

  • Independent artists who license their designs to us

  • Partner manufacturers who follow our approved samples

We are the studio that commissions, licenses, reviews, and sells —
 not the original creators.

 

 

Q8: Why don’t you list artists’ names on every product?

Because:

  • In-house designers prefer anonymity

  • Licensed artists may choose not to be publicly credited

  • Full-rights transfers often include anonymous terms

  • The Chinese doll ecosystem does not consistently use public credit

When artists request credit, we include:
 “In collaboration with @____”

We do not hide artists.

 

 

Q9: Why is it hard to identify clothing designers in the doll community?

Because:

  • Patterns circulate across factories

  • Attribution is rarely documented

  • Designs evolve over time

  • Copyright norms in this niche are informal

  • Many early designers did not sign their work

This is an ecosystem-level issue, not something caused by any single studio.
 While it is impossible to trace older designs backward, OH is committed to moving forward with licensed and original products.

 

 

Q10: What is Orbiting Heart’s exact role?

Orbiting Heart is:

  • The North American sales & QC partner

  • The studio handling design approval and refinement

  • The team ensuring items are properly licensed

  • The liaison between suppliers, artists, and customers

We take responsibility for transparency and community trust.

 

 

Q11: Why are your prices different from large platforms like Amazon or mass sellers?

Orbiting Heart is a small studio, not a large-scale factory seller.
 Our pricing reflects the reality of boutique production rather than high-volume operations.

Large platforms can reduce costs because they:

  • Purchase in massive quantities

  • Have lower per-unit production costs

  • Pay reduced international freight rates

  • Do not handle licensing or artist rights

  • Often skip sample refinement and QC steps

Orbiting Heart covers everything large sellers usually don’t:

  • Import and export duties

  • International shipping

  • Domestic U.S. transport

  • Warehousing and storage

  • Sample revisions & prototype improvements

  • Artist rights and commercial licensing fees

  • Ongoing quality control

  • Small-batch production costs

  • Community support, staffing, and customer service

As a small studio, we cannot scale prices the way major platforms can.
 But we commit to:

  • Transparent licensing

  • Hands-on quality assurance

  • Better materials and detailing

  • Reliable customer experience

  • Supporting artists whenever possible

Our pricing reflects the care, labor, and responsibility behind each item —
 not mass production.

 

 

⭐ Our Commitment

Orbiting Heart’s mission is simple:

To respect artists, stay transparent, maintain clear licensing practices, and bring the best-quality products to the community.

Thank you for supporting our work. 💫