THERE IS 'Miss Lou' a doll dressed like the cultural icon in a bandanna and apron, hooped earrings, beaded necklaces and clinking bangles on its hand.Then there's the 'Sunshine Girl' a black Barbie-like doll dressed in the black, green and gold uniform of the Jamaica senior netball team, and braids beaded in similar colours.And the 'Reggae Dolphin' a bright yellow, red and green stuffed dolphin, trailing Rasta 'locks', and sporting a colourful tam and huge sunglasses.
These are three new characters being launched by Island Dolls Plus Collections, expected to be available in stores islandwide next week. They will also be on display (and sale) at the 'Kumbba Mi Yabba' craft fair scheduled for December 19-21 at Devon House in St. Andrew.The three join the line of popular dolls being produced by Beverly Robotham-Reynolds since 1992.
The collection includes fashion dolls, Rasta dolls, 'Soccer Teddy', 'Soccer Lady', Miss Jamaica dolls, schoolgirl dolls, as well as stuffed toys, and cuddly little 'beanies'.
It is a successful operation today, but her doll-making business began quite informally for Mrs. Reynolds. In 1991, when she lived in the United States, her employer, financial giant JP Morgan, staged a holiday doll-dressing contest for workers. For the occasion, Mrs. Reynolds dressed a doll in a Jamaican bandanna outfit, and, although it did not win the contest, the doll attracted much interest.
"Afterwards, I toyed with the idea that I could start dressing dolls for sale, especially to Jamaicans living in New York.", she related. But the idea of business was only seriously considered after her mother took some dolls to the hospital where she worked and they quickly sold 'like hot bread'. Later, when she visited Jamaica on vacation, more
interest was sparked among local shops, hotels and craft outlets, and Mrs. Reynolds was launched as an entrepreneur.
"Mind you, as I was still employed to the bank, I did not go full-time at once," she told The Sunday Gleaner in a recent interview. "But after a year of absence (during which time I filled orders and made sales), I did not go back to the bank. And, now, my hobby has became my business. Big business."
The popularity of the dolls is due to the void they fill for indigenous toys locally, competing against traditional expensive varieties such as 'Barbie'. But, as with most big businesses,
