are not just toys, said Lucie Follett, cofounder of Arklu, the small Londonbased company that makes the dolls. they have overly sexualized bodies they can have damaging impacts on girls self image. and Australia.



Arklu started with very different projects: the Kate Middleton engagement doll and royal wedding figures. Following that, Arklu spent 18 months developing Lottie after Follett came across research about dolls and body image. The Village Toy Shop. The store will take phone orders for elsewhere in Canada, where they sell for $19.99.



In the Silly Goose Kids toy store on Danforth Ave., coowner cheap ugg bailey button boots Shamie Ramgoolam said parents are interested in alternatives to traditional dolls. She said there are some already available to Canadians, but parents will probably like the idea of expert consultation in Lottie development.



are going to talk about it . . . she not wearing threequarter length tops and miniskirts, Ramgoolam said.



Arklu worked with two academics to work out the exact proportions of an average healthy 9yearold. The scaleddown dolls don have breasts or super skinny waists, although their heads and eyes are enlarged.



Follett said ugg bailey button boots that was intentional. So was dressing the six dolls in bright clothes and putting most of them in outdoorsy scenarios.



is a doll that at its core is fun. But it not overly wholesome, Follett said about the difference to other alternative dolls.



Dove Canada mentioned Lottie dolls on its Facebook page last week, asking people to like the status if they thought the dolls would make a difference in girls feelings about body image. It got more than 1,400 likes.



More traditional companies also think about selfimage and have created alternative dolls, said Laura Wiese, spokesperson for the Canadian Toy Association. She pointed to ones that don resemble humans, including Monster High and Lalaloopsy dolls.



a fine line between associating dolls and girls body images, we have to be careful, said Wiese, who is also vicepresident of marketing at MGA Entertainment Canada, which makes popular dolls including Bratz.