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DOLL INFORMATION & RESOURCES

THE DOLL MUSEUM

The 2024 Ursa Major Doll Museum is taking place on Saturday, December 7th, 12:00-2:35 PM. If you're interested in participating in the doll-collecting hobby, but not sure how to start, check out our resources below!


Download the PDF version here!

WHAT’S ON DISPLAY?

The dolls, plush, and toys people bring to the Museum can come in a variety of sizes, materials, and styles, but they all can be dressed up or customized. Some examples of popular makers are below:

  • J-fashion brands frequently collaborate with makers of Ball-Jointed Dolls (“BJDs”), a type of large poseable doll made of polyurethane resin, as well as articulated plastic dolls (broadly called “fashion dolls”), which are closer in scale to Barbies.


  • Notable doll companies include Volks and Puyoodoll, who regularly produce lolita-themed BJDs & outfits, and Groove Inc, who have partnered with dozens of J-fashion brands to create thematic characters in their Pullip doll line.


  • Lolita fashion brand Baby, the Stars Shine Bright is well-known for its plush toy character Usakumya, and frequently releases Usakumya-sized clothing that matches human-size designs.


  • Amiguruya is a Japanese artist who frequently exhibits at Gothic & Lolita Market.They crochet & embroider dolls and lolita fashion clothing entirely by hand.


  • Good Smile Company has expanded its toy offerings in recent years with the Nendoroid Doll and Harmonia series, along with lolita, jirai-kei, and cybercore outfits to fit them.


However, enthusiasts aren’t constrained to specific brands or makers: clothing made for a certain type of doll or plush can still be worn by others, and you always have the option of making or customizing your own items!

WHAT DO TOYS HAVE TO DO WITH J-FASHION?

As alternative fashion subcultures have developed over the past few decades, their styles have influenced dollmakers & toymakers to create characters, clothing, and accessories inspired by J-fashion:

  • Brands like Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, Pink House, and h.Naoto have collaborated with Volks Super Dollfie on doll-scale versions of their iconic outfits.


  • Pullip, Blythe, and Momoko have released dolls fully themed around designs from Angelic Pretty, Innocent World, Heihei, 6% Doki Doki, and more.


  • Fashion illustrators like Nakahara Jun’ichi, Sakizo, and Imai Kira have contributed their designs to doll clothing, made doll-themed artwork, or directly collaborated with dollmakers. Mihara Mitsukazu, who contributed dozens of illustrations for the Gothic & Lolita Bible, even had a manga series called Doll that featured ball-jointed automatons dressed in gothic & lolita-inspired fashion.


Dozens of companies and smaller creators around the world have their own original J-fashion-inspired offerings, and collectors and artists frequently customize toys to suit their favorite styles. We love seeing the creativity that J-fashion aficionados show through their outfits, so it feels natural to showcase even more of the ways that people can express themselves creatively.

WHERE CAN I GET J-FASHION FOR MY DOLLS?

Outfit makers include:


Be sure to check body measurements for different outfits to see whether they’re compatible with your doll.

There are also independent outfit makers to discover on sites like Etsy, Instagram, and Taobao!


Toymakers who regularly sell full-set dolls dressed in J-fashion include:


NOTE: When buying dolls, please ensure that you’re purchasing through the brand’s official store, or a store their site lists as an authorized retailer. Counterfeits and scams are extremely common on third-party sites like Aliexpress and eBay, and if a price looks too good to be true - it is!

Brands within this hobby are still, at their core, small artist-run businesses, even when they’re well-known and have an international presence. Buying counterfeit or “recast” dolls affects artists’ livelihoods, and their ability to continue putting their work out in the world for us to enjoy.


Ursa Major is not affiliated with, and does not officially endorse, any of the brands or stores listed here.

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