My Bespoke Doll (Bespoke Head)

Good day,

On 13th August 2023, I ordered my first and likely only bespoke doll.

Why?

Well, I love black ladies, but I've never seen a really convincing and appealing black lady (for me) in the doll world. Also, there's only one manufacturer I've seen that does a decent black silicone, and that's SMdoll, and they don't do any African ladies.

When I say I love black ladies, I don't love all of them, only the fit ones Smile And there is one black lady who I rate above them all - Fatima Diame. So, if I was ever going to go down the bespoke head route, it was going to be her.

I'd been thinking about the black doll for a while. And then in July 2023 I discovered that SMdoll do a bespoke doll service. This set the wheels in motion.

August 13th, doll ordered. A few weeks later the 3D images appeared (if you're not happy with them, to change them costs more money, so you kind of get what you're given, unless you want to keep shelling out money.) And then there's the create the mould for the head, which is where we are at now, which might take 3 months.

Reasons why I went with SMdoll when I learnt they do a bespoke service.

1) They do the best black silicone (probably the only decent black silicone I've seen out there.)
2) I've bought dolls direct from Star @ SMdoll before (Mystique and Jennifer's SM149Bs) and the service was very good.
3) I must like the SMdoll brand, since I have 5 from them.

Star is a good salesperson. I pretty much baulked at the price, but a pay 50% now, and 50% later swayed me into giving it a go. Still, she'll be my most expensive doll. With all the options she's coming out at roughly $6000 (custom head with movable jaw, black silicone SM156A, articulated fingers, weight reduction.)

She won't be exclusive though. I was asked "if you want her to be exclusive it'll cost you $8000 more" ROFL. I don't need exclusivity - even if I did, that's way too much money for me. If she turned out good and other people wanted to buy her, I'd be happy with that (I wonder what the real Fatima would think ... best I try not to mention her name much ... just say she's black barbie ... honestly I think she'll turn out subtlety different to the real person as to be another person, just an inspired by.)

Now the wait.

Will this be an expensive disaster!? Or will she be the most beautiful black doll in the world!?

To be continued...

Kind regards,

Cuthbert

PS When I say black, I mean proper black. Not dark brown. Not cocoa. Black

Well Cuthbert, you certainly know how to spend money. I am intrigued to see how she turns out.

I can see why you like her by the pictures I've seen, she is an absolutely beautiful woman of perfection. I'd put pics here but maybe not a good idea since they will be visible, and we don't want to get into trouble with her if she ever found out! But true, the doll will be a little different I'm sure. Make sure SMdoll doesn't use her name in any promotion of the doll LOL!

Body shape shouldn't be a problem, and Articulated fingers sounds good. Hoping the movable jaw doesn't spoil the likeness too much though?

You'll have to do a shot with her pants pulled up he bum like most of the photos i can see of her LOL

I literally can't wait to see her!

Hello Mr Karlos,

I don't think it sucks at all :)

I look at it that for around $2000 extra (that's pretty much the extra I'm paying for the bespoke head) I get the black doll of my dreams. I think Star (of SMdoll) was quite keen on the idea - it could have been more.

I was expecting a bespoke head to be much more expensive. There's a lot of work that goes into it.

You could say I'm funding 1/5th of the cost of a new doll head development (say it costs $10000 to 3D design, sculpt, and create mould from sculpt of a doll head) with no financial return for my money. That's fine, I'm not in it for the money. If in the future other doll lovers decided to buy this head for free (without the bespoke head premium) I'll be happy to have got SMdoll to make a doll head that others love :)

If they'd asked for $10000 to create a bespoke head, I would not have done it, she'd remain a dream. And, if she turns out good, will SMdoll add her to their lineup!? Nothing would surprise me with the Chinese :)

Kind regards,

Cuthbert

Wow, that's a lot of money :shock: But I googled her and if you mean the Spanish athlete, then yeah; she's beautiful, especially with her hair long and she looks good in a dress or casual clothes :thumbs:

Hiya,

Not sure what happened to Mr Flibble ... Dibble's original post. I'm sure it wasn't anything worth keeping 🤣 . (fixed)

Today we received photos of the draft version of the Fatima head. We think very good already, just the eyebrows should be a bit lower and darker irises.

What do you think?

Lots of love from Miss K,

XOXO

Very interesting Miss K. She's a beauty and the realism is absolute! It's the first time I have ever seen a custom job like this and it's VERY exciting!

I take it you came back from your trip (without getting yourself shot), to this email greeting you?

Nice!
BTW, you can resize pictures by clicking on them in edit mode, and using the handles to drag the corners in and out.

Just to update. I've discovered my bespoke head is now SM Doll silicone head 136:
https://dollforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=173924

Since I did not pay the exclusivity fee ($8000) I was expecting this and totally happy. It would be really cool if other people buy this head and take photos of her.

I can't get over how realistic this head is. Talk about uncanny valley, when these start walking about and talking, we're doomed!

Yes, I did think “that’s a bit quick, I haven’t even got my custom doll yet and they are already advertising her as a new head.” And they didn’t let me know they were advertising her either, I had to stumble across the thread 😂

Wow, 6,ooo$, that might be the doll at the highest price I have ever heard so far. But the head looks good. Hope you can get a doll you dream of. Looking for more pictures of her

Hiya,

Some more pictures of Mr Flibble's custom lady have arrived. I think she looks super :)

Lots of love from Miss K,

XOXO

You said you wanted a black doll, and sure enough. I love the hair. Those nails, wow, take your eyes out they can.
Perhaps one thing they missed, black girls tend to have pinker palms and the soles of their feet? (But not all). Not sure if you are bothered about that? If you are now is the time to tell them?