With the help of Tasmanian artist Sonia Singh, secondhand Bratz dolls transform from modeling high fashion with attitude to showcasing the beauty of simplicity. The artist rescues castoff dolls from thrift shops, repaints their faces, restyles their hair and dresses them in outfits that her mother knits. “My sisters and I grew up playing with second-hand dolls and homemade toys in the beautiful Tasmanian natural environment,” she says on her blog. “I love the satisfaction of repairing and reusing discarded items to give them a new lease on life.”
But this project is not only about repurposing cast-off items. The doll makeovers also offer interesting commentaries on natural beauty and healthy childhood. As the dolls' exaggerated makeup and styled hair are wiped away, sincere expressions and genuine personalities are revealed. When re-dressed in modest, handmade skirts and sweaters, the dolls are posed outdoors to show off their new, simplified looks. “Here are the Tree Change Dolls (ex-Bratz dolls) playing outside the way kids should, after their radical make-unders,” says Singh on her blog.
