Sunday May 31, 2009

Charming Japanese dolls

By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ

Want to make a statement with your gifts? Then check out the Kimmidoll and Precious Moments’ range of cute collectibles.

CUTE and adorable, Japanese dolls have been popular as gifts throughout the ages. In fact, some of these Japanese dolls are so well known for their ethereal looks that we often make references to them when commenting on an individual’s smooth and charming appearance.

These pretty dolls have also inspired many creations in the fashion and beauty industry.

In fact, it was also a type of Japanese doll that gave Australian greeting card and gift company The Aird Group (TAG) the idea to create their Kimmidoll brand.

Cute appeal: The Kimmidoll range features dolls, stationery, coin purses and other collectibles.

Kimmidolls are based on the Japanese Kokeishi dolls, traditional handmade, wooden dolls with a simple trunk and an enlarged head decorated with a few thin, painted lines to define the face.

The body has floral designs in red, black, and sometimes yellow, and is covered with a layer of wax. Its distinct character is the lack of arms and legs.

They were originally handcrafted by peasant farmers and given away as tokens of love and friendship.

Kimmidolls are just like Kokeishi dolls but the designs are more contemporary and they are available in a range of characters, each conveying a specific message.

For instance, there’s Kioko, a plump, dark-haired doll in a red floral kimono with a pink flower on its head. Kioko portrays happiness.

Then there’s Aya the “Colourful” with its turquoise costume decorated with bright orange and pink lotus flowers, its black hair adorned with matching flowers.

Two others are Chou and Etsumi. Chou, meaning “Butterfly”, represents beauty and has pink hair and a brown kimono patterned with blue butterflies and bold pink flowers. Etsumi is a delightful wide-eyed, red-haired figurine whose message is “delight”.

These dolls aside, there are also other products in the Kimmidoll range including greeting cards, bags, stationery, homewares, jewellery boxes, luggage tags, coin purses, key chains and cosmetic pouches. There are also wall clocks, backpacks and aprons for the hard-core fans.

“These dolls are irresistible. Customers who are avid collectors of Kimmidolls make sure they always check out the new arrivals,” says April Ong, general manager of Designer Greetings at Mid Valley Megamall, which carries the brand.

Lovely figurines (from left) Makoto, Yume and Kioko.

“In the beginning, we brought in the products in small quantities but we expanded after looking at customers’ feedback. It is easy to fall in love with the dolls,” she adds.

The outlet also sells Precious Moments figurines, a range of hand-painted porcelain bisque figures in warm, muted colours with their characteristic “teardrop” eyes and personalised messages.

With these endearing messages and their distinctive details, these figurines are great gifts to celebrate love, weddings, anniversaries, friendship, births and graduation, among other occasions.

There are also those with inspirational and Christian messages that would be perfect as gifts for baptisms and holy communions.

The label also carries a range of other products such as mugs, albums, cardholders and stationery.

“A gift that comes with a message or words of encouragement means a lot. That’s what we are trying to promote with these products,” Ong says.