Via E Dolls and Racism

Via E has just outed itself as a racist, out of touch doll company.

They make a line of 18 inch dolls that are from different countries. The dolls are supposed to be waterproof I think, so you can take them in the pool with you.

I never cared for the way the dolls look, and today I am glad of that.

Because of this.



This is a pattern released by the Via E company, for the Via E dolls.

And it is so racist and so wrong.

Native American regalia can be sacred, depending on the tribe. It requires a lot of research and sensitivity to get it right.

I have really come to the conclusion that unless you belong to a tribe and are making doll clothes that are for yourself and that represent your tribe, you should not make doll clothes representing Native American regalia.

I have written several blog posts about this.

Here is a post that I have written in the past on this topic: Sewing Native American Doll Clothes

It is really obvious that Via E did not do any research on this at all.

They played into every braids-and-buckskin stereotype that ever existed, and they decided to cash in on it.

And they randomly made the clothes pattern off the shoulder as well, just to make the clothes sexy as well.

This is made by a company for its dolls.
This is how they want to earn money.
This is how they want their dolls to be appareled and played with.

I am so glad that I don't own any of these dolls and that I never wanted to.

I am revolted.

The Importance of Language

I love sewing doll clothes. They come together so quickly, and there is such a thrill to see an idea in your head become reality.

I have multiple favorite pattern designers who design beautiful doll clothes.

Unfortunately, sometimes there are doll clothes patterns that are problematic and I have to call them out.

You can read my protests against racist doll clothes here and here and here.

I have a different protest this time.

Nanea, Kanani and the Hula

I know that everyone is excited about Nanea! I am too! But when we make clothes for Nanea or envision the collection we want to create for her, we need to treat her culture with respect.

Nanea is Hawaiian, and most people associate that with hula.

The article "The Dancing Hawaiian Girl, at Your Service" by Lisa Wade gives a very good look at the history of hula.

Hula was originally a religious dance, and it was performed mostly by men. It was a form of story telling.

Hula was transformed and women became the primary dancers when tourism to Hawaii became more widespread. The women were objectified and exotified. Hula was usurped by the tourist trade and became a commodity.

You can read more about it in the article "The Evolution of Hula" by Sarah Neal.

Because of the religious origins of hula, you should be very careful and respectful in creating hula-type outfits. Treat the culture with respect and do your homework.

Molly McIntire didn't realize it, and I didn't realize it as a child, but she was disrespectful in dressing up as a hula girl for Halloween.

I do not feel that the Forever 18 Inches Aloha Hula Accessory Pattern does a good job at treating the hula with respect or portraying it in an accurate manner.


The pattern description suggests, "Make an item each night while viewing your favorite chick flick!"
 This does not offer any respect at all for Hawaiian culture. It makes me feel icky.

I am myself not an expert in hula or what hula dancers wear. I just believe in respecting cultures and not stealing their clothing or other cultural components because it is fun.

I feel that better options are the Eden Ava Hawaiian Pa'u Hula Outfit or the Eden Ava Hawaiian Muu Muu Dress. I trust this pattern designer to do her research before designing clothes.

One good resource for researching hula is the Hula Preservation Society. Another is the Hula Dance Headquarters. 

Also, something that not everyone may be aware of is that not all hula is Hawaiian. Tahiti also has traditions of hula.

Here are some phrases that can help you search for images of more authentic Polynesian clothing for Hawaii, Tahiti, and Aotearoa. 


Maori – “Kapa Haka”
Tahitian – “Tahiti Fete”, “Ori Tahiti”
Hula – “Merrie Monarch”, “Liliuokalani keiki”

Lolatai at American Girl Collectors shared the following thoughts:

"There is a middle group between serious hula and performances for tourists. Whole classes of local school kids will perform a short hula during local holidays that warrant school/community gatherings (think May Day), and the parents just run out to the local hula supply store to grab some costumes and lei in bulk. Of course, many kids just dance in regular clothing, but that’s often an issue of money. Where mainland children may sing a song at school performances, perhaps with hand movements, etc., local kids in Hawaii will do some version of hula – ranging from the very basics to rather serious where the kids have to audition or be advanced dancers in order to perform. As I am typing, I am also thinking perhaps this is one of those things that’s okay when locals do it, but comes across as insensitive when others do the same thing? What do you think?"

I think that she may be correct in saying this.

Please treat hula with the respect it deserves!

Doll Clothes with Dignity

Nethilia from American Girl Outsider was kind enough to send me a book of doll clothes patterns!
It's so sweet of her and I am thrilled.

When I looked inside the book, though, it made me angry enough to want to write about it.
It's not that I am not grateful for the book. However, some things should not be, and we are going to talk about them.

The book is Doll Costume Dress Up by Joan Hinds.

The book is very pretty, and it uses actual American Girl dolls in the illustrations. This is not common due to copyright concerns.

It has a lot of the costumes that you would expect. Some of them you can see on the cover- Southern belle, mermaid and fairy. Others include ballerina, ball gown, ladybug and super hero.

But like I said, it has problems.

Sewing Native American Doll Clothes

Sewing for Kaya is very difficult. Respect needs to be shown for Kaya's Nimiipuu tribe. They are a real people with history and culture. You cannot just sew a lot of fringe on something and call it Native. The tribal clothing has meaning.

Respect, respect, respect. I can't repeat this too many times.

Different tribes have different attitudes towards their clothing. Some tribes are happy to show others how to make non-ceremonial clothing.

Other tribes consider their clothing to be sacred. Therefore, it is considered blasphemous for someone not of that tribe to wear or manufacture their clothing.

Moreover, it is illegal under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act to market anything, such as a pattern, an outfit or other craft, with the name of a specific tribe unless you have permission from the tribe to do so.