Island Dolls to showcase on Mother’s Day

Right on the heels of Island Dolls preparing to host its showcase at The Pegasus hotel on Mother’s Day, creator Beverley Robotham-Reynolds got some great news. The Miss World organisation featured her dolls on their Instagram page on Thursday with the headline ‘Miss World 1976 Cindy Breakspeare honored with a handcrafted doll at Fashion Elevation showcase in Jamaica’. Sourced from a Gleaner article, the post shows the picture of a smiling Cindy Breakspeare holding her look-alike doll from Island Dolls, as well as a picture of her when she won Miss World 50 years ago.

“I am speechless. I am ecstatic. I can’t believe that, out of this event, the dolls have been receiving so much attention,” Robothan-Reynolds told The Gleaner, adding that it was Fashion Elevation organiser Weston Haughton who sent her the link.

Sharing the genesis of the Island Dolls Mother’s Day series, she recalled doing a show at The Jamaica Pegasus over 20 years ago, and it was a success.

“The show was well received, and I sold quite a bit. Last year, I called The Pegasus and they were thrilled to have me again at their Mother’s Day Brunch. This year, I was welcomed again with open arms,” she said.

This year, she is introducing the Career Dolls to the collection but, up until now, the most popular dolls in the series are the schoolgirls “as they remind mom of her days at school”. The most popular schools are Immaculate, Holy Childhood and Wolmer’s Girls. Last year, though at the brunch, a bus came in with patrons from Mandeville and quite a few wanted Hampton High, and I only had two. So, they (dolls) went,” she said.

As the creator, Robotham-Reynolds does have a favourite.

“My favourite dolls are my crochet dolls, because of the intricate work done by my crochet lady. I love the schoolgirls also because they bring back memories,” she said, adding that the dolls are fancied by all age groups.

“I have dolls made of cloth like my Renee dolls which are huggable and they are so loved by children. Renee has been in the collection since inception and is the second best-selling doll. The most popular are the fashion dolls dressed in different costumes like the flag colours, bandana and Rasta. Some are in haute couture designs. The fashion dolls are small like a Barbie doll and very easy for tourists to transport. The fashion dolls are loved by adults. From time to time when individuals are being interviewed on television, I can see my dolls in the background on shelves or on individual desks,” she shared.

She also pointed out that men buy dolls, too, and told a story of a gentleman who purchased a Campion College doll years ago at the Devon House Craft Fair.

“After the purchase, we engaged in conversation, and I [asked] which form his daughter is in. He smiled and responded “She [is] just one year old, but this dolly a go inna her room for her to admire. This a the school she a go.”

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com

CAPTIONS:

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Beverley Robotham-Reynolds of Island Dolls is all smiles during the presentation of dolls to respective queens at the recently held Fashion Elevation.

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‘My Mama, the Greatest Farmer’ doll, part of the Career Doll collection, salutes mothers who are farmers.

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This doll celebrates mothers in journalism. The Career Doll collection honours mothers across a variety of industries.

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The most popular in the Island Dolls series are the schoolgirl dolls.