Upcycling the Forgotten: Tree Change Dolls™
To the ladies (and the few men!) out there, remember when we used to play with Barbies or Bratz dolls when we were little ones? Do you know what happened to them? They probably were sold during a summer yard sale or just tossed away, forgotten.
I was browsing through Facebook (like I always do) and came across a link titled “Mom Wipes Makeup off Bratz Dolls, Wins Internet” a few weeks ago. If you’re familiar with those websites that uses titles such as “So and so does this, you won’t believe what happens after!” just to gain clicks, this was what I assumed this web link was as well. However, a Youtuber that I follow on Facebook actually shared this exact link and I finally decided to see what this was all about.
Before and After!
The “mom” in question is Sonia Singh. She is an artist who recycles, repairs and upcycles forgotten and discarded dolls from places such as secondhand shops. Singh removes the make-up and repaints the doll’s faces. Singh’s mother also hand-knits new clothing that are more down-to-earth and humble.
Tree Change Doll.
These refurbished dolls are coined “Tree Change Dolls™”. The term “tree change” originates from Australia and it means to move from the city to the country for a more relaxed lifestyle. Singh had a few other names, but ultimately found that this was the best fit for her dolls.
What I absolutely love about this is not only the creativity put into these dolls, but also the fact that they are practically rescued from the landfill! Without even realizing that she is doing so, Sonia is creating a cradle-to-cradle cycle with these old dolls. Moreover, because these dolls are so timeless and unique, the probability that these dolls will be in the landfill after use will be lower than before!
References:
Pellot, E. (n.d.) She Takes Off A Doll’s Face With Nail Polish Remover. When You See The Result You’ll Want One! Little Things. Retrieved from http://www.littlethings.com/mom-gives-dolls-makeover/?utm_medium=fb_share
Radulova, L. (January 20, 2015). Th mother who rescues Bratz dolls from their ‘trashy’ lifestyles and gives them a ‘makeunder’ before sending them outside to play ‘the way kids should’. Daily Mail. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2919108/Trashy-Bratz-dolls-undergo-make-mother-photographs-earthy-scenes-playing-outside-way-kids-should.html
Singh, S. (n.d.). FAQ. Tree Change Dolls™. Retrieved April 8, 2015 from http://treechangedolls.tumblr.com/FAQ
Hi Katie,
Yes, I’m guilty of having a cart full of Barbie dolls when I was young! And honestly, I do not remember what happened to all of them. A lot of them probably ended up in the trash too. I realize that when I was younger, I did not really care about the environment, about proper disposal or recycling. I guess at the age of 4 to 10, not a lot of kids would be very aware of these things yet. This is why i like the idea of upcycling and fixing discarded dolls. One, the mere fact that the artist takes of the doll’s heavy make up and dresses her with simple normal clothes is inspiring. The dolls will have a social cause too. It teaches children to be less materialistic and more simple, selfless, and humble. Two, you gave a great example of how to extend the product life of an object.
These “new and improved” dolls could also be a great gift for at risk children and young girls. The dolls portray a good message to be content with your natural self!
It would be nice to see if this can sort of be implemented by large toy companies like Mattel, to be able to gather used dolls and recycle them again.
-Szascha