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Counterfeiting in the reborn doll community is a serious and growing issue that impacts artists, sculptors, collectors, and the integrity of the art form. Here's a detailed look at what it is, how it happens, and why it's harmful What Is Counterfeiting in the Reborn Doll World? Counterfeiting refers to the unauthorised reproduction and sale of sculpted reborn doll kits without permission from the original sculptor or manufacturer. These fake kits are often mass-produced, usually overseas, and sold at a fraction of the original price—typically on large online marketplaces like eBay, AliExpress, Amazon, or social media shops. They’re sometimes called: Knockoff kits, Dupes or Fake sculpts. These counterfeit kits are made by illegally copying a real sculpt (often using a mould made from an authentic doll) and then producing them in bulk using inferior materials. How Counterfeit Reborn Kits Harm the Community 1. It hurts the Original Sculptors; Reborn sculptors spend months creating original baby sculpts, often using 3D scans or clay, Counterfeiting: Steals their intellectual property Takes away income they rely on Discourages artists from creating new work When counterfeit kits are purchased, the sculptor receives no compensation, despite the design being theirs. 2. Devalues the Art, Reborns are handmade art pieces, not mass-produced toys. Knockoffs: Undermine the integrity and value of reborn artistry, Lead to a flood of cheap, low-quality dolls that confuse buyers and Cause collectors to question the authenticity of reborns. This damages the reputation of the entire community, especially for legitimate artists. 3. Lowers Quality and Safety Counterfeit kits are usually made with inferior vinyl or silicone that: May have toxic materials or odours, Can be poorly shaped, shiny, or warped, Might not be safe for children These fakes can lead to disappointment or health concerns for customers expecting the quality of an authentic reborn. 4. Confuses and Misleads New Buyers New collectors or parents buying their first doll may not realise they’re purchasing a fake. These knockoffs are often marketed using stolen photos of authentic dolls, which is misleading and unethical. It leads to: Scams and lost money Frustration with the entire hobby Fewer sales for real artists How to Spot a Counterfeit Reborn Kit Too-good-to-be-true prices (ex: £50 for a kit that usually sells for £120+) Listings that don’t name the sculpt or artist Vague product descriptions or stolen images Sellers with no presence in the reborn community "Reborn dolls" that come fully painted for cheap—real reborns are usually £300+ How to Protect Yourself and Support the Community Buy from trusted dealers like: MacPherson Arts & Crafts Bountiful Baby Truborns I Art Reborn Or directly from sculptors like: Cassie Love Nikki Johnson Or reborn artists such as myself who only support authentic kits. Always research the kit before buying and support original sculptors and artists by purchasing authentic kits and spreading awareness. - The Reborn Anti-Counterfeit Movement Many artists and collectors are now: Sharing lists of counterfeit-friendly websites to avoid Creating social media campaigns and groups to educate the public Sculptors are marking their work with COAs (Certificates of Authenticity) and secure packaging Artists watermark their photos to prevent image theft. In short, counterfeiting not only steals from artists—it threatens the future of the reborn doll hobby. Buying authentic kits helps preserve the integrity, quality, and beauty of this unique art form.

Alessandro painted by Jacqueline Hall of Paint Pot Babies What are reborn dolls? Reborn dolls are highly realistic baby dolls that are handcrafted to look and feel like real human babies. The goal of a reborn artist is to make the doll as lifelike as possible—right down to skin tone, veins, hair, eyelashes, and even features like a heartbeat or breathing motion in some cases. These dolls are often created from vinyl or silicone “kits,” which come with unpainted parts (head, arms, legs) that artists then transform into a finished, realistic baby doll using meticulous techniques. How Are Reborn Dolls Made? Creating a reborn doll is a detailed, time-consuming art process. Here's a step-by-step breakdown: 1. Starting with a Reborn Kit: Artists use blank vinyl or silicone kits that include a head, limbs, and sometimes a torso. These are sculpted by artists and sold under names like “Bountiful Baby” or the sculptors name. 2. Painting: Artists apply multiple translucent layers of paint often using Heat Set Paints or air-dry alternatives to build realistic skin tones, mottling, blushing, veins, and undertones. This process can take dozens of layers and many hours of work, each artist has their own unique style and members of the reborn community can often tell who has painted a doll simply by looking at it. 3. Hair Rooting or Painting: High-quality mohair or alpaca hair is individually rooted into the scalp using a fine needle (micro-rooting), the hair has been purposely processed for reborning making sure it is not too fine or too course and is soft enough to resemble the hair of a real baby, some artists choose to paint hair on the doll and this in itself is a skill that takes years of practise to get a realistic look. 4. Assembly and Weighting: The doll is assembled with a soft cloth body and filled with materials like polyfill and glass beads to mimic the weight and movement of a real baby. 5. Details Added: Lashes, magnetised pacifiers, baby scents, and even breathing mechanisms or voice boxes can be added for realism. Why Do People Buy Reborn Dolls? People are drawn to reborn dolls for various reasons: 1. Collectible Art ~ Each reborn is a unique, handcrafted piece of art. Collectors value the artistry and uniqueness of each doll, especially OOAK (One of a Kind) creations. 2. Therapy & Comfort ~ Reborns are often used in grief therapy for those who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Others find comfort from them during anxiety, depression, dementia, or Alzheimer’s care. 3. Realism for Roleplay ~ Some buyers enjoy dressing, caring for, and posing reborn dolls as a form of hobby or lifestyle roleplay. They may take them out in public in strollers or share them on social media. 4. Gift-Giving ~ They make special, memorable gifts for children typically aged 8 and up, especially those who love nurturing play. Types of Reborn Dolls Vinyl Reborn Dolls are the most common type, offering good realism and easier maintenance. Silicone Reborn Dolls are more flexible and soft, these are highly realistic but more delicate and expensive. Partial vs. Full-Body Reborns, Some have cloth bodies with vinyl limbs, while others are fully silicone/vinyl. Anatomically Correct Reborns, These have full body parts for added realism, often chosen for realism or roleplay. Popular Reborn Terms Reborning : The process of creating a reborn doll. Reborn Artist: The person who paints and assembles the doll. Reborn Kit: The blank sculpt used as a base. Rooting: Inserting individual strands of hair into the scalp. Realborn: A reborn kit created using 3D scans of real babies and copyrighted to Bountiful Baby Box Opening: Extra accessories an artists sends to the buyer with the reborn doll, such as clothes toys and small baby items.

An interview with Inge Cools about her reborn dolls and the community 1. Can you tell us how you first became interested in reborn dolls? In December 2019 I saw an add in a TV Magazine about a Linda Murray doll that she had made for Ashton Drake and it caught my attention. I didn’t buy it but I looked into these dolls online. My online search took me to Amazon, where not knowing any better, I bought a ‘silicone vinyl’ reborn doll. It was not a Chinese copy, but it was obviously not an authentic reborn baby either, I’m happy to say this doll from Amazon has ‘left the building’ shortly after I bought her. I actually posted a video about this topic. In this video I’m showing my first authentic reborn baby made for me by an authentic artist, while I talk in all honesty, about my introduction to the reborn world. 2. What was your very first reborn doll, and why did you choose it? My first authentic reborn baby was Abigail Smiling by Laura Tuzio Ross, I did a Google search and stumbled upon a very kind and helpful artist from Norfolk, Norwich. I told her I was looking for a reborn baby with open eyes, a little bigger than newborn size, I had seen some pictures on her Facebook page of a baby she had painted and rooted, Abigail (not Smiling) by Laura Tuzio Ross, that I really loved. Unfortunately that kit was sold out, Little did I know reborn kits are limited editions and sell out rather quickly. She suggested 3 kits to me that were available at that time, one of them was Abigail Smiling, and that’s the one she reborned for me. 3. How long have you been collecting reborn dolls? I welcomed my first authentic custom reborn baby, Abigail Smiling by Laura Tuzio Ross, in April 2020. 4. What do you enjoy most about collecting reborn dolls? What I seem to enjoy most about collecting reborn babies, is buying baby clothes, dressing them up, and taking them for a walk, I don’t really hold them all the time, even though they feel very nice and cuddly to hold. 5. How many dolls do you have in your collection? Right now I have 2 reborn babies, Quinbee by Laura Lee Eagles and Alexis by Cassie Brace. I’m expecting my 3rd baby, Irys by Joanna Kazmierczak. Normally having 2 reborn babies would be more than enough for me, but I just couldn’t resist buying a blank Irys kit, so she can join my other reborn babies. 6. How do you decide which dolls to add to your collection? I see photos on Facebook or I watch a video on YouTube, and all of a sudden there’s this spark. I fall head over heels for a particular sculpt, and I just buy the blank kit and send it to an artist that I choose very carefully. 7. Do you have a favourite artist or sculptor whose work you particularly admire? Why? At the moment my favourite sculptor is Joanna Kazmierczak, She has quite a few sculpts that grab me. Romie Strydom would be my favourite silicone babies sculptor and artist. These babies have the sweetest faces, and Romie’s silicone sculpting seems second to none. 8. What features or characteristics do you look for in a reborn doll? The features and characteristics I admire are a peaceful and serene little face, and closed hands. I just love babies (real and reborn) that are peacefully asleep, I love to take my babies out in a pram and I think they look more realistic with their little hands closed. 9. Have you connected with other collectors in the reborn doll community online or in person? By posting YouTube video’s, I got in touch with quite a few other reborn collectors, one of them lives about only 30 minutes drive from me, She and I met quite a few times, we went to our first doll show together in 2021, Another reborn friend of mine lives in Scotland. My partner and I went to visit her and her family, and we had a wonderful time together. 10. What role does social media play in your collecting experience? Social media is very important to me and my collecting experience, I am subscribed to lots of reborn YouTube channels, and I’ve joined lots of reborn Facebook groups, It’s beyond lovely to share pictures of our beautiful babies, and to read posts related to our reborn hobby. 11. Many collectors find emotional value in their dolls. What does collecting reborn dolls mean to you personally? I have always loved buying, quite realistic looking, baby dolls for my daughters when they were little. I also loved to buy lots of baby clothes for their baby dolls (from baby clothes stores),I was the one who loved dressing up their baby dolls, as strange as it may seem. I remember when I got my first reborn baby, my first thought was ‘I can buy baby clothes again’ ! It gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Sometimes I think the emotional value for me lies in being able to buy baby clothes again, which really feels quite nice, I remember when my daughters were babies, I wasn’t even remotely interested in buying clothes for myself, I didn’t need any, I was only drawn to baby clothes stores and I’ve been feeling exactly the same way since I started collecting reborn babies, in 2020. 12. Do you have a specific reason or motivation for collecting—such as nostalgia, therapy, or artistic appreciation? I’ve always had a quite low self esteem, I happen to live about 10 minutes walk from an outlet shopping centre, The shop assistants working at the baby clothes stores know me quite well by now, They love seeing my reborn babies and we always have a lovely chat about my passion for reborn babies. I feel like, even if they only like me for my reborn babies, at least they like me … It makes me realise why I always loved being pregnant. It helped my self esteem grow. Buying baby clothes for my daughters when they were babies, felt almost therapeutic, People saw me buying baby clothes, or saw me pushing a pram, which made me more likeable and more valuable, in my opinion. 13. What are some common misconceptions people have about reborn doll collectors? I have never had any negative comments myself, from anyone, apart from my daughters. They have a feeling reborn collectors have some mental issues, so I just avoid the subject when I talk to them, But then again, my daughters live in Belgium, and the reborn hobby is not exactly a well known concept over there. 14. How do you respond to criticism or judgement regarding your hobby? I just ignore criticism or judgement coming from my daughters, I understand and accept it’s a strange idea to them, a grown up woman pushing a pram with a reborn ‘doll’ inside, My mother is 83, and I have shown her some pictures on Facebook of gorgeous reborn babies, She’s actually more understanding and accepting than my daughters. 15. Have you faced any challenges as a collector, and how did you overcome them? I guess the only challenge I faced was, when my daughters came over to England, to visit me and my partner, I wanted them to like my reborn babies, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. They slept in the spare bedroom, where I had a chest of drawers with only a small part of my baby clothes, The next morning they sort of berated me for having ‘so many’ baby clothes for ‘just a doll’, I thought to myself, I better not show you what’s inside the wardrobes in the other bedroom. 16. How do you see the reborn doll community evolving in the coming years? I don’t really think about how the reborn doll will evolve in the coming years. I’m curious to see how it will evolve, but what will be, will be. 17. What trends or changes have you noticed in the reborn doll industry recently? The only trends or changes that have noticed, are the scammers out there. I didn’t really hear about them a few years ago, Luckily I have never been scammed myself, but you read about it all the time in the posts on Facebook. 18. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their journey as a reborn doll collector? The advice I want to give to people new to the reborn hobby is, go to doll shows, if possible together with someone who already has a few reborn babies. Join Facebook groups that only allow authentic reborn babies. If you’re unsure about a seller, ask advice from trustworthy members of trustworthy Facebook groups. And don’t get addicted to buying baby clothes for your reborn babies, They won’t grow out of them, and the piles of baby clothes just get bigger by the minute 19. Do you have any future goals or aspirations related to your collecting, such as creating a nursery or showcasing your collection? I don’t really have any major goals or aspirations related to my reborn hobby. I would like to have a nursery room, but even in a 4 bedroom house there’s no space I would like to have a silicone baby from Romie Strydom or Joanna Kazmierczak, but that’s definitely not a priority. I like their silicone babies. I even love them a little, but I’m not obsessed with them. 20. And finally, If you could have any reborn doll realistic or fantasy what would it be and why? I think the ultimate reborn baby for me would be one that melts into my arms just like a real baby. And the closest thing to this is a very high end silicone baby. Maybe some time in the future. But for now I’m perfectly happy with my beautiful vinyl reborn babies. You can follow Inge's YouTube channel here https://youtu.be/BKT67a5JlEc?si=kp34-GigSNIK6SGo Inge Cools two reborn dolls

Every day within reborn groups on social media I see posts from collectors asking how to tell family about their doll collection, posts from ladies wanting to take their dolls out in public but are afraid of what other people might think, these posts makes me very sad that these women are not free to do what makes them happy through fear of being laughed at, but why are they ridiculed? As a mother I can remember telling my now grown daughters that they were getting too old for dolls when they asked for one at the age of 11, I don't know why I felt the need to say that and to encourage them to choose something more "mature" instead, I guess I was telling them the same as what my own mother told me, I was wrong and I regret it! The reborn doll community has grown significantly, attracting collectors from all walks of life. However, despite the joy and fulfilment these dolls bring to many, there is still a stigma attached to adult women who choose to collect them. This judgement often stems from misconceptions about what is considered an acceptable hobby for adults, particularly women, Us women are expected to grow up and act our age while men can continue to do as they please without that same judgement. It ’s time to challenge these stereotypes and embrace the right for everyone to collect what they love, just as we do with men's hobbies, such as model railways, remote control cars and video games. Reborn dolls can be incredibly realistic and crafted with great attention to detail. Many collectors appreciate them for their artistic value and the craftsmanship involved in creating lifelike babies from vinyl parts. For some, these dolls offer comfort, companionship, and even therapeutic benefits, helping to alleviate feelings of loneliness, grief or anxiety. Despite these positive aspects, some people view adult doll collectors with scepticism, often questioning their motives or maturity. One of the primary reasons why it’s frowned upon for women to collect reborn dolls lies in the double standards surrounding hobbies. For instance, collecting toy soldiers & figurines are widely accepted pastimes for men. These hobbies often involve a significant investment—both in time and money—and they are celebrated for their creativity and technical skills. Men are admired for their dedication to building intricate train setups or their vast collection of comics & tin cars, yet women who display a similar passion for reborn dolls are met with judgement and ridicule. This discrepancy raises an important question: why do societal norms dictate what is acceptable for one gender but not the other? Hobbies should not be gender-specific; they should be a reflection of personal interests and passions. Just as men find joy in their collections & hobbies, women should be able to revel in their love for reborn dolls without fear of negative perceptions. Collecting is a deeply fulfilling hobby for many individuals. It provides an opportunity to connect with others who share similar interests, encourages creativity and allows for personal expression. For many women, reborn dolls serve as a way to connect with their nurturing instincts, or simply a means of enjoying a unique form of art. By collecting reborn dolls, women can partake in a rich community that shares their passion. These communities offer support, friendship, and a sense of belonging—elements that are crucial for emotional well-being, especially in a world where social connections can sometimes feel fleeting. To shift the narrative around adult women collecting dolls, we must start by recognising and challenging the stereotypes that perpetuate that judgement, we need to stop telling our little girls that they are too old for dolls while their brothers continue to enjoy their toys into adulthood, We need to encourage open conversations about the benefits of this hobby and help others understand that collecting reborn dolls is not only acceptable but can also be a source of joy and fulfilment, how it helps with anxiety, mental health & grieving. We should celebrate the diversity of interests that individuals pursue, regardless of gender and advocate for the freedom to collect what brings us joy—whether that’s reborn dolls, model trains or Pokemon cards, adults should be able to embrace their passion without facing judgement or stigma, after all, hobbies are meant to enrich our lives, and everyone deserves the right to pursue what makes them happy. As an artist I have met so many ladies within the reborn doll community, those who collect them do so for different reasons, some of my customers display their dolls in glass cabinets and are confident to show them off to visitors, others have whole nurseries set up for them behind a locked door with antique looking bassinets and prams, they have poured so much love into these rooms and yet they are kept secret from any non dolly friends through fear of being thought of as weird! Some of my customers treat them as real babies, changing their outfits daily, taking them for walks in the park with other reborn mummy's and others just sit and cuddle them when they are feeling a little low and although I do not personally collect dolls I see none of these collectors as odd, I just see passionate human beings who want to be able to enjoy their hobby without the misconceptions. These ladies I have met all have something else in common, they are all very easy to get along with, they are compassionate, empathetic and kind and I'm lucky to now call them friends.