- Frequently Asked Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Get answers to all your RareHaus questions—shipping, returns, products, and more. We covered everything (hopefully). If we missed one… please pretend we didn’t.
General Questions
Who owns RareHaus?
RareHaus is run by a small, close-knit group of designers, artists, and creative misfits. We don’t lead with names or faces because we want the work to speak louder than the people behind it—and because anonymity protects our personal lives in a world where speaking truth can cost you.
Why the anonymity?
Freedom of speech is under threat.
We protect our team by keeping our names private. We speak up for artists, for students, for safety. Being anonymous is not about secrecy—it’s about survival in a world that punishes truth-tellers.
Why is your business address in Wyoming if you’re in Virginia?
Wyoming provides the best protections for small creative businesses. It’s legal, ethical, and common practice for founders to separate where they live from where their business is registered—especially when protecting their rights, finances, and security.
Yes, We’re a Real Small Business
RareHaus is built by real people—with real skills, degrees, and creative grit.
We partner with professional fulfillment teams for production, but every design, brand decision, and customer interaction comes straight from our tiny, overachieving crew. No shortcuts. No scams. Just a small business doing big work.
RareHaus is a registered business with legal structure, tax compliance, and product pipelines—but it’s also a protest, a safehouse, a design lab, and a future studio. Passion is the foundation.
Why do you talk so bluntly?
Because we don’t have time for fluff. We’re not a brand trying to sound nice. We’re a brand trying to stay real. Our tone is raw, funny, emotional, and occasionally profane—but it’s always from the heart.
What’s the deal with your weird product names?
We’re artists. We’re tired.
And frankly, we’re bored of products named “Essential Cleanser #5.”
Our naming is a mix of chaos, humor, and creative pain. It’s intentional. It’s weird. And it’s how we cope.
Where are your products made—and are they ethical?
All RareHaus products are fulfilled by vetted third-party partners, primarily in the U.S. We prioritize USA-made goods when possible, but some items are sourced globally. Regardless of location, we only work with partners who follow ethical labor practices.
As we grow, our long-term goal is to bring production in-house—creating jobs, residencies, and fair-pay opportunities for students and artists directly through RareHaus. Quality, sustainability, and ethics aren’t negotiable.
What is RareHaus trying to do long-term?
Build a physical RareHaus facility—a 12-studio art space with a gallery, event space, retail storefront, and permanent showcase for our student artists and collaborators. We’re building infrastructure for creative community, not just sales.
Are you hiring?
Not yet. But as we grow, we’ll post any openings on our socials. We’re hoping to build the kind of company that pays creatives well and keeps things weird. See mission page for long term numbers and goals.
What is RareHaus?
A humanity-first creative platform for students, misfits, and artists building a life outside the systems that failed them. We make products, infrastructure, and opportunity—for people the world tried to overlook.
Why don’t you do limited drops?
Because urgency shouldn’t be a sales tactic. We release collections based on readiness, not FOMO. And when students are involved, they deserve time—not pressure.
Is RareHaus just merch?
Not even close.
Merch is the doorway—but the mission runs deeper. RareHaus is media, mentorship, infrastructure, protest, and preservation. We’re building a physical facility—a real one—with artist housing, studios, a gallery, and a creative pipeline that protects artisan trades, construction techniques, and functional design often left behind by modern culture.
This isn’t just about what you wear.
It’s about what we preserve, what we build, and who we build it for.
This is the prequel.
Where is RareHaus based?
We’re rooted in the Appalachian South—specifically, the triangle between Boone NC, Princeton WV, and Bristol TN. This matters. Building something like RareHaus in a region often overlooked by cultural and economic trends isn’t just a choice—it’s a statement.
We’re not coastal elites. We’re landlocked, local, and committed to making this work right here, in the place we were born and raised. Most of us call Southwest Virginia home—and we’re proud of it.
This is where we build. This is where we create. This is where we thrive.
Product Care (Sublimation Items)
To keep your item looking bold and beautiful, treat it like it means something:
•Hand wash or use gentle cycle only
•Avoid high heat (no microwaves or dishwashers unless explicitly stated)
•Absolutely no alcohol-based cleaners or wipes—they’ll break down the ink and literally erase the design over time
Sublimation bonds art directly to the surface—but harsh chemicals will undo that magic faster than you can say “whoops.”
Be kind to your gear. It’s meant to last, not to be scrubbed with vodka.
Applies to: phone cases, printed tote bags, art mugs, tumblers, mouse pads, and anything else with all-over artwork heat-pressed to perfection.
Apparel Care (Read This If You Like Your Clothes)
This applies to all RareHaus cotton + sublimated apparel:
T-shirts, hoodies, joggers, crop tops, tanks—if it goes on your body, treat it right.
• Wash inside out to protect the artwork from fading faster than your hope for humanity.
• Regular settings are fine—warm or even hot water won’t kill it. We’ve tested prints through 80+ washes and cotton dry cycles over 3 years. Still wearable. Still loud.
• Do not iron the artwork. Ever. Unless you’re into distortion and melted chaos.
For sublimated items or anything with polyester, elastic, or blended fabric, avoid overdrying—high heat can mess with the fibers and age your gear faster than necessary.
Bottom line? Wash like a human. Dry with a little care.
Your clothes—and your closet—will thank you.
Our Views
What are your values as a brand?
• Humanity over profit
• Artists over algorithms
• Expression over perfection
• Resistance over silence
• Purpose over performative branding
Is RareHaus a political brand?
We’re not bipartisan. We’re pro-human.
RareHaus believes in freedom of expression, equity, safe communities, and resistance to authoritarianism in all its forms. That includes fascism, racism, homophobia, corporate greed, and the silencing of artists. If that’s too political for you, we’re probably not your people.
Why are some of your products political?
Because being alive is political. Choosing empathy is political. Refusing to stay silent is political. We don’t believe in neutrality while people suffer. Our merch speaks loudly, and we stand by it.
Why do you use the color red if you’re antifascist?
Because red belongs to resistance too. Propaganda doesn’t get to own it. We use red intentionally—to confront, reclaim, and subvert. It’s not their color. It’s human blood. It’s power. And we’re taking it back.
Why don’t you use black in your design system?
We refuse to rely on default “edgy” black to prove we’re serious. Our rebellion is more nuanced than that. Our aesthetic doesn’t need black to be bold. We use deep purples, acidic brights, and contradiction instead.
What does “purple identity” mean?
It means we don’t play for Red or Blue. Our politics are human-first, not party-first. We’re not here to toe a line—we’re here to draw a new one.
Are you LGBTQIA+ friendly?
Very. Loudly. Publicly. Permanently.
RareHaus is a safe space for queer artists, allies, and weirdos of all types. If you’re here to shame, exclude, or debate basic human rights—this isn’t your place.
Do you use AI-generated art?
Some early sketches may involve AI-assisted renderings. But every final piece is completed, revised, and approved by real human designers and fine artists. In student collections, AI use is restricted. We protect legacy design skills for future generations.
Is this a queer brand?
Queer-coded, yes. But we don’t label people or slap rainbow on things for profit. RareHaus exists for everyone who’s ever felt too weird, too soft, too loud, or too real. No binary. No box.
Why are your prices what they are?
Because we believe in affordable pricing without exploitation. Every product helps fund real artists, students, and creatives—while staying accessible to the people we actually care about serving.
We cut fluff, not corners. No inflated margins. No luxury markups. Just honest pricing that supports humans, not oligarchies.
Why is there so much to read on your site?
Because we believe in brains. In stories. In people getting smarter just by showing up.
Every page, every product, every essay is designed to make you think—not just scroll. We write like this on purpose: to help rebuild attention spans, to sharpen comprehension, and to remind people that reading still matters.
This isn’t filler. It’s infrastructure. Keep reading. It’s making you smarter already.
Are you religious?
No. And we’re not sorry about it.
We don’t care what god, goddess, absence, or cosmic chaos you claim—if your humanity shows up first, you’re welcome here. Our founders come from all over: ex-evangelicals, Christian national escapees, agnostics, philosophers, people still unpacking the damage.
We believe in people. Not dogma. Not fear. Not moral superiority dressed as salvation.
At the end of the day, we’re insects on a flying rock in a void. The only thing that matters is how we treat each other while we’re here.
Too real? Good. It’s time to grow up and give a damn.
Can I support RareHaus without buying anything?
Absolutely. If you’ve got conviction, you’ve got currency. Share what we’re building.
Boost student collections.
Send a link to someone who needs to know they’re not alone. That’s impact.
Follow the founder’s journey on Substack.
Follow us everywhere that still has a soul—Instagram, Threads, YouTube, Bluesky, LinkedIn.
Just not X.
We don’t support platforms that reward fascists.
This is bigger than product. It’s cultural survival... And we can’t build it without you.
Order Info
Why is shipping sometimes slow?
Because we’re not a warehouse cult with drones and tax breaks. We print on demand or ship in small batches to reduce waste and stay lean. We care more about impact than speed—and always aim for transparency.
Why the plain packaging?
Because climate change is real—and we’re not adding to the problem just to look cute with custom printed boxes and bags. We keep packaging minimal to reduce waste and lower our carbon footprint. As we grow, we may explore custom options that can be done internally—but sustainability comes first. Always.
How do returns work?
Most RareHaus items are made just for you when you order—so we don’t hold warehouse inventory or do mass production. That means returns are limited to issues like defects or fulfillment errors.
If something arrives damaged, incorrect, or clearly not up to standard, we’ll make it right—no hoops, no hassle. Just contact us within 7 days of delivery with a photo, and we’ve got you.
Do you ship internationally?
Not yet. Right now, we only ship within the United States.
As we grow, our goal is to expand globally—sharing RareHaus with other regions and communities who believe in rebuilding culture, craft, and care. We call it Renaissance 2.0, and we’re just getting started.
International friends: we see you. We’re coming.
Collaborators
Do you allow student submissions?
Yes. Our entire brand was built with student oversight in the beginning. We accept student-led collection applications throughout the year. If selected, you’ll be featured as a RareHaus collaborator with commission pay, mentorship, and exposure. (Full details available on our Student Collections page)
How do student collections work?
Students apply with an example and concept pitch. If accepted, they’re featured in a 4-month merch cycle. RareHaus handles logistics, marketing, and fulfillment—students earn commission, receive mentorship, and leave with portfolio content, coaching, and a recommendation letter.
Applications open three times a year:
•Fall: Apply in June → Launch in July
•Spring: Apply in October → Launch in November
•Summer: Apply in February → Launch in April
Royalties are paid when the next collection drops, timed to support students as the next semester begins.
What happens after I graduate if I’m a student artist?
You’ll receive a 1:1 coaching session to review your portfolio and get guidance on freelance, branding, and entrepreneurship. We also host your bio and work on our site for 12 months post-graduation. Bonus: We don’t ghost you. We check in. We help launch.
Can I be a collaborator?
Yes! Whether you’re a student, emerging designer, or established artist, we offer open calls and collaborations throughout the year. Follow us on socials or reach out via our contact form.
Can I sell my art through RareHaus?
If you’re a student, yes—via the Student Collection program. Otherwise, we occasionally open applications for artists, collaborators, or residencies. Check out the Haus Intel page for updates.
Why do you care so much about students?
Because we’ve been those students—broke, brilliant, invisible. And because many of us have worked inside higher ed at top public institutions. We’ve seen what happens when creativity gets caged by curriculum, when talent is reduced to GPA, and when young artists are told to shrink their work to fit someone else’s narrative.
We don’t buy that.
RareHaus exists to remove those constraints—to give students space to explore curiosity before it’s traded for compliance. Whether that leads to entrepreneurship, a job with purpose, or a path no one’s written yet—we’re here to make sure creativity doesn’t die in the classroom.
We don’t just want students to survive.
We want them free.