Faithless
03-11-2005, 10:11 PM
Interesting concept for this reason -- not your typical mixes (at least I don't think):
In the current line, Tillary is the daughter of an African-American mother and Caucasian father; Willough is the daughter of a Caucasian mother and Hispanic father; Quincy is the daughter of a Caucasian mother and Asian father, and Remsen is the daughter of an Asian mother and African-American father.
Real Kidz dolls bring ethnic blend into mix (http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/wkp-news-fave25southcit.html)
February 25, 2005 * BY DENISE I. O'NEAL Favorite Things
It's a different world. Manufacturers are creating more realistic products that accurately depict the world in which we live.
Molloy Toy Inc.'s Real Kidz Biracial Dolls takes even greater steps with its line of ethnically mixed dolls, filling a niche that has long been vacant.
In the 1960s, a handful of African-American dolls emerged. By the 1970s, African-American versions of best-selling dolls like Barbie were created. The 1980s gave voice to more culturally inspired ethnic dolls like American Girls.
African-American dolls came into their own in the 1990s. Most lines, including popular favorites such as the Bratz, included African-American dolls with their own identities.
Now Real Kidz, like real-life offspring of a mixed marriage, come in a variety of combinations.
"The world has come a long way. I think that children are the greatest gift in the world and I wanted to create dolls for someone special," said Courtney Helm, co-founder of Molloy Toys and creator of the Real Kidz dolls. "Mixed-race babies are still shunned in our society."
There are five dolls in the line, with more in the works.
In the current line, Tillary is the daughter of an African-American mother and Caucasian father; Willough is the daughter of a Caucasian mother and Hispanic father; Quincy is the daughter of a Caucasian mother and Asian father, and Remsen is the daughter of an Asian mother and African-American father.
Goodwin, the only boy in the line, is the son of a Caucasian mother and African-American father.
"In a sense, the line was launched backward; most lines launch with a girl and later introduce a boy," said Helm.
The soft-bodied dolls with hand-stitched features were created by Helm after the birth of her nephew, Cameron.
"The birth of my nephew Cameron gave me a whole new perspective on biracial children. He has been a great inspiration in my life. I felt a need to create something, which they [biracial children] could identify," said Helm.
Helm also attributes her inspiration to her community.
"Living in Brooklyn has had a strong influence on my creativity. I constantly see children that inspire my characters," said Helm.
Each doll was given its own personality and comes with a hang tag that reads, "My parents are from two different ethnic backgrounds, they created me out of love, and I'm a perfect mixture of both."
The dolls are dressed in colorful attire and are designed to reflect of today's trends.
Real Kidz stand 17 inches tall and are created from new rather than recycled materials and are machine washable ($14.99).
In the current line, Tillary is the daughter of an African-American mother and Caucasian father; Willough is the daughter of a Caucasian mother and Hispanic father; Quincy is the daughter of a Caucasian mother and Asian father, and Remsen is the daughter of an Asian mother and African-American father.
Real Kidz dolls bring ethnic blend into mix (http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/wkp-news-fave25southcit.html)
February 25, 2005 * BY DENISE I. O'NEAL Favorite Things
It's a different world. Manufacturers are creating more realistic products that accurately depict the world in which we live.
Molloy Toy Inc.'s Real Kidz Biracial Dolls takes even greater steps with its line of ethnically mixed dolls, filling a niche that has long been vacant.
In the 1960s, a handful of African-American dolls emerged. By the 1970s, African-American versions of best-selling dolls like Barbie were created. The 1980s gave voice to more culturally inspired ethnic dolls like American Girls.
African-American dolls came into their own in the 1990s. Most lines, including popular favorites such as the Bratz, included African-American dolls with their own identities.
Now Real Kidz, like real-life offspring of a mixed marriage, come in a variety of combinations.
"The world has come a long way. I think that children are the greatest gift in the world and I wanted to create dolls for someone special," said Courtney Helm, co-founder of Molloy Toys and creator of the Real Kidz dolls. "Mixed-race babies are still shunned in our society."
There are five dolls in the line, with more in the works.
In the current line, Tillary is the daughter of an African-American mother and Caucasian father; Willough is the daughter of a Caucasian mother and Hispanic father; Quincy is the daughter of a Caucasian mother and Asian father, and Remsen is the daughter of an Asian mother and African-American father.
Goodwin, the only boy in the line, is the son of a Caucasian mother and African-American father.
"In a sense, the line was launched backward; most lines launch with a girl and later introduce a boy," said Helm.
The soft-bodied dolls with hand-stitched features were created by Helm after the birth of her nephew, Cameron.
"The birth of my nephew Cameron gave me a whole new perspective on biracial children. He has been a great inspiration in my life. I felt a need to create something, which they [biracial children] could identify," said Helm.
Helm also attributes her inspiration to her community.
"Living in Brooklyn has had a strong influence on my creativity. I constantly see children that inspire my characters," said Helm.
Each doll was given its own personality and comes with a hang tag that reads, "My parents are from two different ethnic backgrounds, they created me out of love, and I'm a perfect mixture of both."
The dolls are dressed in colorful attire and are designed to reflect of today's trends.
Real Kidz stand 17 inches tall and are created from new rather than recycled materials and are machine washable ($14.99).