News result doll history
The Story of Design a Friend Dolls: Chad Valley's Aussie...
DesignaFriend is an 18-inch doll line marketed under the historic British brand Chad
Valley, whose doll-making history stretches back over a century. This guide traces Chad Valley's early felt-doll craftsmanship through to DesignaFriend's 2011 launch and its arrival in Australia via Big W in 2021.
The Story of Baby Annabell: Zapf Creation's Interactive ...
Baby Annabell was launched in 1998 by German toy company Zapf Creation, built
around the idea of a soft, cuddly companion rather than a gadget-heavy toy. This guide traces her history from Zapf's 1932 founding, through her sound-detecting debut, to the increasingly interactive versions that followed.
The Story of Götz Dolls: German Quality Since 1950
Götz is a German doll manufacturer founded in 1950 in Rödental, starting from
handmade papier-mâché dolls and growing into a major family-run doll maker. This guide covers its pioneering artist-doll reproductions, its role manufacturing the first American Girl historical dolls, and its modern play-doll range.
The Story of Corolle Dolls: French Craftsmanship for Little ...
Corolle is a French doll brand founded in 1979 in the Loire Valley, known for soft-bodied
baby dolls, faces inspired by real children, and a signature vanilla scent. This guide traces the brand's history, its age-and-stage range, and the international recognition it's earned over more than 40 years.
The Story of Disney Dolls: A Princess Heritage Almost 100 Ye...
Disney dolls have been a beloved part of childhood for nearly a century, beginning with the first Snow White doll in 1937 and evolving into today’s detailed Princess and Animators’ Collection dolls. With familiar characters, built-in stories, and beautifully designed outfits, Disney dolls continue to inspire imaginative play across generations. Understanding the different doll sizes helps owners choose the right clothing and accessories, while gentle care - such as avoiding heat, cleaning carefully, and protecting dolls from sunlight - helps preserve them for years. Whether treasured as a play companion, keepsake, or family heirloom, Disney dolls remain a special connection between storytelling and childhood memories.
The Story of Götz Dolls: German Craftsmanship That Lasts Gen...
Götz Puppenmanufaktur is a German doll brand with over 75 years of craftsmanship behind it. Founded in Bavaria in 1950, Götz helped shape the modern doll industry and even produced the original American Girl dolls. Known for quality, durability, and beautiful design, Götz dolls are made to be loved by children and treasured by collectors for generations.
The Story of Wellie Wishers: Five Friends With One Big Wish
This blog tells the story of American Girl’s Wellie Wishers, a doll collection designed for younger children that focuses on friendship, kindness and imaginative play. It introduces the five original characters and their unique personalities, explains how the range was created for ages four to seven, and highlights the books, TV series and accessories that bring their garden adventures to life. The article also explores what makes Wellie Wishers special, from their durable design and diversity to their focus on empathy and being a good friend.
The Story of Paola Reina Dolls: Spanish Charm in Every Detail
This blog explores the story behind Paola Reina dolls, a Spanish-made brand known for its handmade craftsmanship, beautiful details and signature vanilla-scented vinyl. It highlights the different doll collections, including Las Gordis, Las Amigas and Mini Amigas, while showcasing what makes Paola Reina special: hand-painted faces, high-quality materials, diverse designs and a strong connection to traditional Spanish doll-making. The article also explains sizing and why these dolls are loved by both children and collectors around the world.
The Story of Our Generation Dolls: Quality Without the Big P...
This blog shares the story of Our Generation dolls, the affordable and high-quality 18-inch doll range created by Canadian toy company Battat. It explores how the brand grew from its early Collectors Lane Kids dolls into a worldwide favourite, offering children detailed characters, meaningful stories, diverse designs and an impressive range of accessories. The article highlights what makes Our Generation special, including its accessibility, quality craftsmanship, inclusion of boy dolls, and compatibility with popular 18-inch doll clothing.
The Story of Australian Girl Dolls: An Aussie Original
Created in Australia for Aussie kids, Australian Girl has been loved by families for more than 15 years. Founded by grandmother Helen Schofield, the brand was created to offer high-quality dolls that reflect real Australian children and lifestyles. With their soft cuddly bodies, premium hair and trademark thong sandals, each Australian Girl doll is designed to inspire friendship, adventure and imaginative play.
The Story of Baby Born: The German Doll That Changed Playtime
Baby Born is the iconic German doll that changed playtime with realistic features like drinking, crying and using a potty. First launched in 1991 by Zapf, it quickly became one of the world’s most popular interactive dolls.
More than 25 million have been sold worldwide, with the range now including smaller dolls, siblings, pets and accessories. For over 35 years, Baby Born has inspired imaginative and nurturing play for children everywhere.
The Story of American Girl Dolls: How They Started and Who...
American Girl began in 1986 with dolls designed to look like real girls and bring history to life through storytelling. Each 18-inch doll came with books, unique characters and meaningful adventures that children could connect with.
Over time, the brand expanded into historical, modern and Girl of the Year collections loved by families worldwide.
Today, American Girl is known for combining imaginative play, learning and timeless dolls treasured for generations.
The Story of Cabbage Patch Kids: From Hospital Nursery to To...
Cabbage Patch Kids became one of the world’s most famous dolls after sparking the toy craze of Christmas 1983. Created by Xavier Roberts, each soft cuddly doll was designed to be “adopted” rather than bought, complete with a unique name and birth certificate. More than 40 years later, Cabbage Patch Kids remain a beloved childhood classic.
Blog posts
A Day at the Beach With Dolly: Sand, Salt and Sun
A doll at the beach comes home with sand in her hair and salt in her clothes, and neither has to be a problem. This guide covers choosing a doll that can take the day, dressing her in swimwear rather than an outfit, rinsing sand off before it dries, keeping vinyl off hot sand and out of parked cars, why a doll hat does two jobs, and packing a bag for the wet things.
Bringing a Forgotten Doll Back Into Play
A doll goes out of favour long before a child is finished with dolls, and it is usually fixable. This guide covers cleaning her up before anything else, why one new outfit does more than a new doll, giving her an event to attend, letting the child do the choosing, moving her back into view, and knowing when the interest has genuinely finished.
Outgrown Doll Clothes: What to Keep, Pass On or Sell
Doll clothes accumulate long after the doll has stopped being played with. This guide covers sorting into three piles in one sitting, keeping one keepsake rather than twenty, what actually sells second-hand and what does not, washing and photographing before listing, passing pieces on within the family, and the pieces worth simply throwing away.
Moving House With a Doll: Keeping the Familiar Thing Findable
A move is the most common way a comfort doll goes missing, and the fix is deciding early that she never goes in a box. This guide covers keeping her with the child rather than in the truck, packing one clearly marked bag of her things, keeping sleepwear out on the first night, using the doll to walk the new room, unpacking her corner before anything else, and expecting a few unsettled nights either way.

