Malaville Toys' Imani and Alexa

DHL shipping envelope and boxes used for my two Malaville Toys dolls are shown in the above two photographs.

Malaville dolls have been on the market for about three years now. I was not moved to purchase any until the first images of the second wave of dolls were shared online.  The newer dolls use a new (improved in my opinion) head sculpt and were released last year or earlier this year.  Imani (the doll with the deepest complexion) and Alexa (described as Malaville's first fashion doll with albinism) were my two choices of the four new dolls.

My dolls were purchased directly from the Malaville Toys website (find the link at the end of this post) where free shipping is now being offered.  Shipping appears actually built into the price now as the original dolls were slightly less than wave 2 but shipping was extra.

The dolls arrived swiftly from South Africa, delivered by DHL in their cardboard shipping boxes which were inside DHL's yellow plastic envelopes as illustrated in the first two photos.

Imani

Imani is presented in her white Malaville logo'd and personalized box which has the initial of her first name on the side of the box.  The doll and her extra fashion can be seen through the front see-through panel.

The letter "I" is on the side panel of Imani's box.  The meaning of Imani and the doll's story are shared on the back of the box, an image of which is next.

The text on the back of Imani's box includes the meaning of her name, her occupation as a magazine editor, her favorite color, and her hobbies.

Imani's features and fashion

Imani has an authentically textured, rooted Afro hairstyle and brown painted eyes.  Her elbows are articulated; the waist is not.  She has click-bend knees.  She is dressed in a green madras plaid, off-shoulder sleeveless sheath.  A white belt is worn at the waist.

The extra fashion includes a white off-shoulder blouse and skirt made of the same material as the dress.

A closer look at the sheath is shown above.

White T-strap ankle straps with a mock bow on the toe complete this editor of Malaville Magazine's stylish look.

Alexa

Like Imani, Alexa is presented in her white Malaville logo'd and personalized box which has the initial of her first name on the side of the box.  The doll and her art supplies and apron can be seen through the front see-through panel.

The letter "A" is on the side panel of Alexa's box.  The meaning of Alexa and the doll's story are shared on the back of the box, an image of which is next.

The text on the back of Alexa's box includes the meaning of her name, her budding-artist endeavors, her favorite color, and her hobbies.

Alexa's features, fashion, and accessories

Alexa has a blonde rooted Afro, dark painted eyes, white eyebrows, and eyelashes. Dressed in a pink hoodie with the letter A on front...

...Alexa wears cuffed light blue jeans.  Accessories include an easel, paint palette, three tubes of paint, a paintbrush... 

... and an apron.

White mock-lace sneakers complete her casual fashion.

About Malaville Toys

Mala Bryan, a fashion model, born on the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean, is the founder and creator of Malaville Toys.  As described on the back of both dolls' boxes, she is happy to have found her passion in dolls and has a goal of bringing love, joy, peace, and harmony to the world, "one beautiful doll at a time."

This direct quote from the founder of Malaville Toys is included on the back of Imani and Alexa's boxes.

Visit Malaville Toys here.

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Moments in Black Doll History - Eason's Positive Toys for Our Children

"Our Children Need Positive Toys... that's why I made Sun-Man..." reads the above 1986 ad for Olmec's line of Superheros and Superheroines, (the Butterfly Woman collection).  Click the ad to enlarge. 

Yla Eason (pronounced Y-la) received inspiration from her 3-year-old son to create a line of black toys for boys and girls. It was her son’s declaration that he could not be a superhero because He-Man was white that prompted Ms. Eason to make a change in the toy market and in her son's mindset.

Olmec Toys was founded in May 1985. Their line of toys for boys and girls were geared toward the underserved African American demographics. As a parent herself, Eason knew there was a market for her toys because other African American parents also wanted playthings for their children that looked like them. The goal was to promote self-pride.

1992 Olmec Ad featuring Imani and the Hip Hop Kids

There were barriers to Eason's success.  But despite being told by a toy executive that black parents buy white dolls so there was no need to disrupt the “status quo,” Eason’s determination and dedication resulted in a several-year successful line of  dolls and action figures.

Olmec's first fashion doll, Naomi, 1988

The Sun-Man action figure was the company’s first toy. Naomi, an 11-1/2-inch fashion doll, was Olmec’s first doll (pictured above). Using the same head sculpt, the doll’s name was changed to Ellisse one year later and eventually finally changed to Imani.  Imani received a new face sculpt in the early 1990s.

Kente Fun Imani, 1991 with new face

 As an inclusive toy manufacturer, Olmec created action figures and dolls for African American, Hispanic, and Asian children from 1985 through approximately 1997.  A nice selection of baby dolls were manufactured as well as fashion dolls (see pages 5-7 in Yla Eason A-below).

In 1986 Eason joined forces with fellow black toy manufacturers to form the International Black Toy Manufacturers Association. 

No longer in the toy or doll-making business, Yla Eason, who holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, is a professor at Medgar Evers College, CUNY.

View additional pictures here.

Related Online Links:
Making a Difference; A Christmas For Sun-Man
A Black Toy Company Called Olmec
Cool Breeze
Olmec Toys (Facebook)

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