Australian artist Sonia Singh is giving second-hand Bratz dolls “radical makeunders” to make them look more like the children they’re designed for. Now, her Tumblr images of these “Tree Change Dolls” are going viral and showing the world just how inspiring a doll that looks like an actual child can be!
Singh finds her Bratz dolls in second-hand stores in Tasmania and then repaints them, moulds new feet and shoes, and restyles them with easy-maintenance hair and organic-inspired fashions. She writes on her Tumblr page that “These Lil fashion dolls have opted for a ‘tree change,’ swapping high-maintenance glitz ‘n’ glamour for the down-to-earth style.” To emphasize the dolls’ outdoor-loving appearance, she photographs them posed as if they are climbing trees or swinging on swings — “playing outside the way kids should.”
Singh plans to create an Etsy store for her made-under dolls shortly. For now, she hopes that her Tree Change Dolls will encourage people to think about the messages that toys send to children and about the value of putting old toys to new use. “My sisters and I grew up playing with second-hand dolls and home-made toys in the beautiful Tasmanian natural environment,” she writes. “I love the satisfaction of repairing and reusing discarded items to give them a new lease on life.”
To view more of Singh’s dolls, visit the Tree Change Dolls Tumblr page and you can also watch for new creations on her Facebook page at Tree Change Dolls.
Courage is Stunning To See – Quote