Black Artists, Designers, and Makers of Black Dolls

Dolls by African American artists/manufacturer: Lorna Miller Sands, Lorna Paris, Gloria Young Rone, Floyd Bell, Goldie Wilson, Shindana Toys

This is not an all-inclusive list of current and past Black artists, designers, and makers of black dolls, so if you know of other Black artists who make black dolls, please leave their names or company names in a comment.  The names are in alpha order. Additional names provided by Karen Oyekanmi have been added with the doll artist's email address only.

CURRENT BLACK ARTISTS/DOLL MAKERS

ABBDA 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weloveblackdolls/

Email: weloveblackdolls@gmail.com

Afrikashyne
Medium: Vinyl
Website: https://afrikashyne.com/product-category/dolls/ini-dolls/

Angel Hugs 4 All (Angela Huggins)

Medium: Cloth

Website: https://www.angelhugs4all.com/

Beautiful Blessings
Medium: Vinyl (full-figured 12-inch fashion dolls)
Website: https://www.iamabeautifulblessing.com/

Beed, Dr. Linda - author, children’s minister and dollmaker - lindaonassignment@yahoo.com

Bell, Floyd
Media: Wood, resin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floydbelllosangeles

Email: belledolls@sbcglobal.net

Bell, Makeda, MakeDaArt - Makedaart@gmail.com

Beloved Reborns (Tiarra Shante Venter)

Media: Vinyl and silicone reborns and reroots

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mylovesreborn.nursery.7/

Email: belovedreborns@yahoo.com

Biankha and Friends Dolls (Based in the UK)
Medium: Vinyl (13.4-inch fashion doll)
Website: https://www.biankhaandfriends.com/

Black, Lillian - lblackdolls@gmail.com

Bloodworth, Marilyn

Media: Cloth, Liquache

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.Dollmaker

Bourgeois, Anna - annabourgeois42@gmail.com

Bradley, Vickie - vickiebradley1@verizon.net

Brains and Beauty Dolls

Media: Vinyl and cloth 18-inch talking dolls for children

Website: https://www.brainsandbeautydolls.com/

Brooklyn Dollworks (Valerie Gladstone)

Media: Mixed media art dolls

Website: http://www.brooklyndollworks.com/index.html

Bryant, Shawn and Simpson, Phyllis - sjawnb017554@gmail.com

Buckley, Cheryl - cheryl-buckley@att.net
Carr, Daisy

Medium: Cloth art dolls

Email: dc123dolls@yahoo.com

Coleman-Cobb, Patricia

Media: Cloth and resin art dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.colemancobb?ref=br_rs

Colette, Vivian

Medium: Cloth art dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivian.colette

Coloured Goodies (The Netherlands)
Medium: Vinyl
Website: https://www.colouredgoodies.nl/?fbclid=IwAR36mmCm_2uzPsQd8dKE0VHBgyGk8sJuCBQujBt9xVfHrWGve5r-QBeL4I0

Creations by Ba'ucham (Ra’chel Ba’ucham)           

Media: Yarn (crochet), porcelain, cloth  

Facebook: 

Email: Unekleyme1010@gmail.com

Cuddle Me Soft (Fay O’Neal)

Media: Vinyl and silicone reborns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cuddlemesoft

Website: https://www.cuddlemesoft.com/

Dean, Tiffani

Medium: Cloth art dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffani.dean.5

Deborah Grayson Studios

Media: Mixed media art dolls

Website: https://www.graysonstudios.com/

Dolls by MonTQ (Tanya Montegut)

Medium: Cloth art dolls

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DollsByMonTQ

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/obbie333/dolls-by-montq/

Dolls Just 4 U (Scharynne Holmes)

Medium: Cloth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dolls-Just-4-U-403079739740286/

Ekkens, Pamela - pamekkens@gmail.com

Ellis, Mabel - truedevotions@yahoo.com

Expressions of Color (Jean Henderson)

Media: Mixed media art dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/expressionsofcolor/

FableDollHouse

Medium: Natural Fiber Art Dolls with a Whimsical Flair

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FableDollhouse?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1027845542

Fomby, Tosh

Medium: Cloth art dolls

Website: https://toshfomby.com/products/rebel-cloth-doll

Fort, Patricia - patriciasdolls@hotmail.com
Fresh Dolls and Positively Perfect Dolls
Media: Vinyl and vinyl and cloth
Website: https://thefreshdolls.com/

Fusion Dolls
Medium: Vinyl
Website: https://www.fusiondolls.com/

Gant, VonZetta - dollsandfashion@gmail.com

Godfrey, Sahara - slgvibinge@earthlink.net
Green, Marie

Media: Cloth dolls, jewelry, and clothing

Email: bemarie257@yahoo.com

Hall, LaVerne
Holiday Festival of Black Dolls
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LaVerneHolidayFestivalBlackDolls/

Handmade Dolls by Twissi

Medium: Cloth art dolls

Email: twissidolls55@gmail.com

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Twissi

Harris, Patricia - dhpal2626@gmail.com

Harris, Sherelle - sdjharris63@yahoo.com

Healthy Roots Dolls
Medium: Vinyl 18-inch doll with natural hair
Website: https://healthyrootsdolls.com/

Herstory Dolls (Canada)
Medium: Vinyl (articulated 17-inch dolls)
Website: http://www.herstorydoll.com/

Hillian, Vanessa - hillianvanessa@gmail.com

Holoford, Lillian - lilhol@sbcglobal.net

Hubbard, Pamela

Medium: Cloth art dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamm.dollindiva

IamU Dolls (Stacey McBride-Irby)

Medium: Mass-produced 12-inch vinyl fashion dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Iamyoudolls/

Ikuzi Dolls
Media: Vinyl, cloth (18-inch dolls)
Website: https://www.ikuzidolls.com/

Imagination Dolls (Debbie Hilson)

Media: Mixed media art dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008792774056

Iwyatt Imagist (Wyatt Hicks)

Medium: Polymer clay

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009005759318 

January, Kor

Medium: Wood

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kor.january.9

Joffee Diva Dolls (Joy Griffis)

Media: Polymer clay and cloth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoffeeGeones/

Kappia, Rita (lives in England)

Medium: Cloth art dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.kappia

Kissing Kousins Dolls (Karen Oyekanmi)

Media: Felt, porcelain

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.oyekanmi

Email: kissandk@gmail.com

LaGras, Stacy - stacy.legras@gmail.com

Lee, Gail and Tate, Candace - gall2000.gl@gmail.com

Lively Folks by Tracy Perry 
Medium: Cloth

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LivelyFolks

Instagram: SeamsLikeTracy

Email: Contact the artist through the Etsy shop contact link

Malaville Toys (South Africa)
Medium: Vinyl (fashion dolls)
Website: https://www.malavilletoys.com/

Massa's Servants Collectibles (Gloria Y. Rone)

Media: Polymer clay, cloth

Email: Gloriayoung5511@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/massasservants/?tn-str=k*F

MayOla’s Kidz - dhpal2626@gmail.com

McMurray, Crystal

Media: Nylon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystal.mcmurray.9

Melandolly
Medium: Polymer clay
Website: https://melandolly.com/portfolio-2/

Melanites
Medium: Vinyl (17-inch boy doll)
Website: https://www.brownboyhood.com/products/jaylen-action-pal

Montsh, Abenaa Rukiya

Media: Polymer clay

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abenaa.montsh

M'simbi Dolls (Zambia, Africa)
Medium: Vinyl (18-inch dolls)
Website: https://www.msimbidolls.com/

Neal, Mary - mary@tnealcps.com

Neal, Mary K. - dollsdesignerlady@gmail.com

Original Dolls by Goldie Wilson

Media: One-of-a-kind porcelain and cloth

Email: goldiewil@msn.com

Osborne, Anita - aloe2ya@gmail.com

Our Brown Boy Joy (talking plush doll to empower brown boys)

Medium: Plush

Website: https://www.ourbrownboyjoy.com/

Paddlefoot Dolls (Debra Pounds)

Medium: Cloth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paddlefootdollsdotcom/

Paris, Lorna

Media: Leather, cloth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lorna-Paris-169461809744621/

Pretty Brown Girl
Media: Vinyl, cloth
Website: https://prettybrowngirlshop.com/

Reed, Gwendolyn - almeta1512@sbcglobal.net

ROGERSs Originals

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/rogerssoriginals 

labizlady@aol.com

Ruiter, Bing - Frekels Doll Company- frekels@ymail.com

Sands, Lorna Miller

Media: Silicone lifelike dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorna.millersands

Website:  http://lornamillersands.com/

Sankofa Doll Artistry                                                    

Media: Mixed textiles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SankofaStudio/

Sharon Pittman Art Dolls

Medium: Polymer clay

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharon.pittmanart.5

Sharon E. Tucker Original Designs

Media: Mixed media art dolls and clothes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharon.tucker.7374

Sibahle Collection (South Africa)
Medium: Vinyl
Website: https://sibahlecollection.com/

Small, Sylvia

Medium: Cloth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sylvia.small.71

Sonadolls (Frantz Brent-Harris)

Media: Resin, silicone

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sonadolls-408867669203180/

Website: http://sonadolls.com/all_about_the_doll.html

Stacelina Monique Dolls and Miniature Accessories

Medium: Customized Barbie/fashion doll repaints, miniature accessories for playscale dolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacelinamoniquedolls/

Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls (Rachel McCullough Sherrod)

Media: Felt, cloth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Starkeys-Daughter-Cloth-Dolls-235494519849107/

Studio XOXO (Cleveland Wycoff aka Cj Starz)

Medium: Resin (16.75 and 12-inch fashion BJDs)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cj.starz.7
Website: https//www.studioxoxodolls.com/

Sumner, Stephen

Doll Artist/Designer formerly designed for Hasbro and Mattel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephen.sumner.125

Swann, Alice

Medium: Wood, clay, cloth

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/aliceswanndolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swanntailor

Thimble & Doll (London, England)
Medium: Cloth
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/thimbleanddoll/?tn-str=k*F

Trinity Designs, Inc.

Media: Vinyl (16-inch sorority-inspired dolls)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrinityDesignsInc/

Urbidolls (France)
Medium: Vinyl
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/Urbidolls
Website: https://urbidolls.com/

Williams, Trish

Media: Mixed textiles (art dolls)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fiberartisttrish.williams

Wilson, Goldie (see Original Dolls by Goldie Wilson above)

Wilson, LaVera - luvwills2@yahoo.com

Witherspoon, Dr. LaVerne - v2k02@hotmail.com

World Girls
Medium: Vinyl
Website: https://www.teamworldgirls.com/collections/all

Young, Angela

Media: Cloth and reborns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angela.young.90663

PAST BLACK DOLL DESIGNERS MAKERS/MANUFACTURERS OF BLACK DOLLS

Annie Lee

Berta Bell Dolls (I. Roberta Bell)

Big Beautiful Dolls, Inc. (Audrey Bell-Kearney and Georgette Taylor)

Candi and Candi Girls (Helena Hamilton)

Double Dutch Dolls by K. Charles

Ethidolls

Golden Ribbon Playthings (Huggy Beans)

Grandy, Gloria (soft-sculptured artist of OOAK dolls)

Here Comes Niya and NiyaKids (Darla Davenport-Powell)

Keisha Doll Company

Lars, Byron (designed the Byron Lars Barbies for Mattel)

Lomel Enterprises (Baby Whitney)

McBurrows, Annuel (sculpted the Brown Eye Doll series for Remco)

Moss, Leo (late-1800s to early 1900s doll maker)

Olmec Toys (Yla Eason was the founder).

Perkins, Kitty Black (former fashion-doll designer for Mattel)

Prodigyrls Dolls

Shindana Toys, Inc.

Welch, Marcella

Wright, Beatrice

Again, if you are a Black (African or of African-descent) doll maker or know someone who is, please add the artist's name or the company's name and contact information in a comment to this post. Thank you in advance!

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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
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Check out what I am selling here. 
Check out my eBay listings here.
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Where to Buy Black Dolls

This post includes a list of companies and websites in alphabetical order that sell black dolls and other dolls of color suitable for children.  These companies either sell black dolls exclusively or they have an inclusive doll line (with at least one doll of color included in their current lines).  The dolls will vary in price.  Trinity Dolls Inc. carries dolls made for adult collectors but will soon have dolls made for children.  Bookmark their website.  Names followed by an asterisk (*) are not US-based companies/sellers  Names followed by two asterisks (**) sell handmade dolls that are suitable for children.  AAC (denotes dolls suitable for adult collectors and children are available). The initials NH denote dolls with natural hair (all or some are sold at the site).

A Girl for All Time (Bex)* NH

A Girls*  (NH)

Adora Dolls 

Adora Dolls Amazing Girls Sienna (an Amazon exclusive)  (NH)

Afrikashyne  (NH)

All About the Doll (*)

American Girl (Addy, Create Your Own Doll, Gabriela, Melody, Truly Me; 18- and 5-inch-mini-dolls)

American Girl Wellie-Wishers

Barbie (some w/NH)

Beautiful Blessings (12-inch full-figured fashion dolls with a touch of elegance)

Brains and Beauty Dolls (NH)

Creations by Ba'ucham (hand-crocheted dolls)**

Coloured Goodies* (NH)

Detroit Doll Show occurs annually the 2nd Saturday in November  (AAC)

Festival of Black Dolls Show and Sale occurs annually the 2nd Sat. in Nov. in Oakland, CA (AAC)

Fresh Dolls and Positively Perfect (NH, 12-inch fashion dolls, baby and toddler dolls)

Fusion Dolls (NH)

Harperiman (NH) Makers of Black cloth dolls "that help reinforce how beautiful our children are by providing them with positive affirmations of themselves through dolls that they can actually identify with."

Healthy Roots Dolls (NH)

Hearts for Hearts (multicultural dolls, NH)

Herstory Doll* (NH)

I am U Dolls (by Stacey McBride-Irby)

Ikuzi Dolls* (NH)

Journey Girls on Amazon

Kenya and Friends (some w/NH; see 2nd comment for retailers)

Lottie Dolls (Kid Activist Lottie has NH.)

Madame Alexander  (very limited dolls of color offerings)

Makedaa Dolls* (NH) (the link to the website has been removed because it is broken--I am not sure if this company is still in business.)

Malaville Toys* (NH)

Melanites (Jaylen, Action Pal)

Msimbi* (NH)

My Doll Best Friend

My Life As (a Walmart-exclusive 18-inch doll line, also some mini dolls, some w/NH)

My Salon Doll (Dolls with stylable human hair)

Our Brown Boy Joy (talking plush dolls designed to empower brown boys)

Our Generation Dolls (Target-exclusive 18-inch dolls and accessories)

Pattycake Doll Company (a variety of multicultural dolls for everyone, NH); for mobile and tablet users, visit Patty Cake Doll Company's new site.  

Pretty Brown Girl

Salam Sisters* (NH)

Sibhale Collection (NH)

Queens of Africa (NH)

Starpath Dolls

Starkey's Daughter Cloth Dolls**

Tomorrow's Girl's Crochet Dolls by Pat McLean

Trinity Designs, Inc. (higher end, collectible sorority-inspired dolls, some w/NH)

Urbidolls* (NH)

Worldgirls

Search Results for "African American Doll" at Amazon, Target, and Walmart:

Amazon

Target

Target also has a Just Like Me link where you can search for dolls with specific characteristics, e.g. skin tones, eye color, hair color, hair texture, etc.  I tried one skin tone category, but a variety of skin tones resulted.  Maybe this is still a work in progress.

Walmart  

(Earn cashback with qualifying purchases from the above three retailers and many others by joining Rakuten and navigating from Rakuten to their websites before your purchase is made.)

You can also search Etsy for "African American" or "Black" doll; read descriptions carefully as some dolls may not be suitable for children.

The 2017 article, "Where Are All the Black Dolls in Toy Stores?" by Antoine Speaks offers additional black-doll-buying sources and valid reasons why black-doll representation matters.

**********

If you know the names of other companies that sell new black and brown dolls suitable for children, please add those names in a comment and I will revise this post with those names.

Disclaimer:  This list was compiled as a courtesy for those who have had difficulty finding black and brown dolls.  Please note that while I own dolls by many of these companies and/or know others who do, I am not affiliated with any of the companies or brands listed.  

dbg


There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for following, commenting, and sharing using the share button below.

Check out what I am selling here. 
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!