Tuesday, May 23 2023
Based on some feedback received (2nd photo), there may have been some misunderstanding about my recent message concerning the Smart Doll frontline collection of cocoa skin tones. I took the opportunity to provide further clarification.
<clarification>
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for your commitment to creating a diverse doll collection. Indeed, inclusivity means considering everyone, and that is at the heart of our mission.
Our current lineup, with its focus on cocoa dolls, is not intended to exclude lighter skin tones. Rather, it’s our effort to counterbalance the long-standing trend in the doll industry where darker skin tones have been underrepresented. We aim to provide dolls that reflect all skin tones and encourage diversity.
I understand your wish to have more cinnamon dolls available, and I want to assure you that we have not discontinued them. We release them in manageable quantities, taking into account our production capacity and the wellbeing of our small team.
While we do our best to cater to diverse needs, it’s also worth mentioning that we encourage consumers to explore not only our offerings but those from various other manufacturers. The doll market is broad and rich with choices, and we believe that it’s through this collective effort that we can truly foster an inclusive doll market.
Inclusivity does mean everyone, and that includes providing dolls in lighter skin tones like cinnamon and tea. It also means making a stand for representation where it’s been lacking, and that’s what our focus on cocoa dolls seeks to address.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we navigate this path towards broader representation.
</clarification>
But I realized I didn’t address their issue regarding the photography of cocoa dolls. For those who may find this challenging, many camera apps allow users to adjust the exposure settings. I use @halideapp for my iPhone - it takes RAW photos and has effectively replaced my DSLR during travel.
Here are some of my cocoa girl photos taken on the iPhone - both indoors and out.
#smartdoll