Vineeta Rao
Auckland, April 4, 2025
If you are in the market for a doll, whether for your own child or to offer gifts to other children, put down the Barbie and read this story!
Barbie has done it all! From being an astronaut to a cat burglar and a Presidential candidate, Barbie has enjoyed many careers and outfits.
But perhaps the most enduring criticism of the Mattel doll has been the unrealistic body and beauty standards she portrays to young girls and the problematic issues of race and colour.
It was not until 1981 that Asian Barbie made her appearance and even then had the same cute button nose and skinny frame as her blonde and Latina sisters.
But there is a bigger problem with Barbie and all other plastic dolls that has been overlooked in the furore over the other many (and there are plenty) of problems that the doll industry presents.
Barbie and her many friends across most brands are made out of fossil fuels and a cocktail of chemical additives known to cause a variety of serious health problems. Children who chew on plastic toys risk absorbing dangerous chemicals, including lead, into their bodies.
Nilah and Friends
That is the bad news. So what is the good news? Nilah.
Nilah is the Indian equivalent of Barbie but not quite as plasticky or polished. She is made of upcycled fabrics and no dangerous plastic. She even comes with a back story and some adventures available on the maker’s website.
In 2018, Bengaluru-born Suhas and his Bengali wife Sunita gave up high-paying corporate jobs and moved to the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, with their young son, to live off-grid. They set up the Indian Yards Foundation (Agai IY Foundation) to help local indigenous communities generate sustainable livelihood. Nilah was born as the fusion of the craft skills of Sunita and Suhas and the labour of the local women.
The Good Doll’s product range can be classified as rag dolls, but as they are hand-made, with upcycled fabrics, are body positive and colour inclusive, they’re a far cry from the plastic world of Barbie. The dolls come with a pretty extensive wardrobe and can glam up or wind down, depending on the mood of their owner.
Since each doll is hand crafted, the doll comes with a small card introducing you to the artisan whose creativity made the doll come alive.
Set up and Infrastructure
Set up in a facility that spans over 6000 square feet, The Good Doll boasts of inventory storage facilities, an office block, training center, a community kitchen, dining space and washrooms.
The artisans work between four to five hours a day from home. This means earning a livelihood does not impact their traditional ways of living or interfere with any household duties they may have. The Good Doll believes in generating an equitable income by generating more value for their time rather than forcing the artisans to work longer hours.
So far, The Good Doll has repurposed 15000 kilograms of textile waste, provided $168,000 in income, impacted over 300 lives and generated over 95 jobs. Since the textile waste is ethically sourced from within the region itself, it does not generate a huge carbon footprint.
Even the packaging that the dolls come in is completely biodegradable and plastic-free. They are good for the planet and have all the certifications to prove it.
Impact on people
Sunita and Suhas have even been featured on Shark Tank India to raise funds for their venture, hoping to scale up and positively impact more lives.
As social enterprises go, this one seems to be hitting all the right notes. From an appealing and well-crafted product, a deserving back story, and values that every environmentally conscious parent, desperate to steer their little one away from crass commercialism, can espouse.
If you would like to purchase a doll from The Good Doll or would like to know more, please visit https://thegooddoll.in/collections/children
Vineeta Rao is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Auckland.
