JpopDolls, a leader in BJD wig designs, now offers collectors the complete package.
Jill Jackson
“I look at the market and imagine what is missing,” says Grace Szczepaniec, owner of JpopDolls, a company long known in the doll world for its amazing wigs. “I then try and create it.” True to her words, Szczepaniec created a huge buzz in the world of ball-jointed dolls (BJDs) recently when she decided to expand her repertoire and take on the production and distribution of BJDs created by Australian doll artist Kaye Wiggs.
Like Szczepaniec, Wiggs, who is more widely known for her introspective one-of-a-kind child dolls, was also searching for a way to expand her repertoire but needed help to make the transition to reproductions.
“I have always loved Kaye’s work,” says Szczepaniec, “and am honored that I am able to help her in this venture. In the tradition of quality for which Jpop is known, each doll is being produced to look and feel as if it was handmade by the artist. Every detail, including the painting, is first approved by Kaye.”
Annabella, Wiggs’ first full-body MSD-sized (Mini Super Dollfie) BJD, was the first doll released this year. The 17-inch (43-cm) tall doll was made available in human and elf versions, with normal and tan skin tones, and was limited to 50 pieces each. Collectors immediately fell in love with the little BJD girl, whose face conveys equal parts shyness, sweetness, and impishness. Annabella was entirely sold out in a matter of days.
Nyssa followed soon after, also 17 inches (43 cm) tall and also offered in both elf and human versions with normal and tan skin colors. Not surprisingly, Nyssa, too, was gone before you could say, “How cute is that!”
A more recently completion is a doll affectionately called “Blue Kitty.” Koneko, loosely translated from Japanese as “cute kitty,” is a childlike fantasy sculpture with features that resemble a kitten. This delightful fantasy child is also MSD sized but is equipped with sweet little paws that can be switched for human hands and feet. She has large eyes, a cat-like nose, and is currently available in tan or the palest of blue skin tones.
But for Szczepaniec, who began making wigs for her dolls years ago while working as a consultant in natural and integrative medicine, wigs and dolls are just the beginning. Her own doll wigs, inspired by Harajuku fashion trends (see sidebar), combine elements of haute couture, romance, and fantasy style with new colors she creates and by mixing uncommon combinations of fibers to develop her own styles. Through trial and error, Szczepaniec has perfected a lightweight, stretchable, wig cap with thin wefts of hair sewn closely together that has resulted in a well-fitting wig with a more natural appearance. The fiber used for the wigs, called Japanese soft fiber or Japanese synthetic mohair, very closely resembles fine human hair. Combine all of this with an intricate cut worthy of a trendy hair salon and the result is a JpopDolls wig.
The partnership with Wiggs and the new dolls being produced also inspired Szczepaniec to launch a line of clothing and shoes for them that will also fit most MSD-sized dolls. “I have always believed in supporting new talent,” says Szczepaniec, “so the clothing line will feature both established and new artists.”
The first outfits have been designed by Connie Lowe of Marbled Halls and Cristy Stone of Xtreme Dolls. Szczepaniec personally designed the shoes for the dolls and will design the outfits. Additionally JpopDolls will offer the work of Mechel Lang of MuseStar, who designs in very small scale using vintage fabrics, and Hiroe Kobayashi, an up-and-coming doll-clothing designer,\ born and raised Kyoto, Japan, who will be creating one-of-a-kind traditional kimonos for the dolls.
Cinnamon is a new doll on the horizon as well. This diminutive 11-inch child sculpt with a wistful, slightly woebegone look on her face is a departure from Wiggs’ first BJD and one she looks foreword to with anticipation. “I have very much enjoyed my doll-making journey,” says Wiggs. “I am so blessed to be able to make dolls, and I believe I have the best job in the world.”
With Szczepaniec’s experience in the Asian doll markets and Wiggs’ adorable doll sculpts, teaming up seemed like the perfect answer. And the result is positively dynamic.
For more information, visit jpopdolls.net or e-mail jpopdolls@aol.com.
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