Last Updated on 19th December 2023 by Caroline Haye
How to knock spots off last year’s festive shopping
As this is the season for giving and receiving gifts, I decided to see what vitiligo toys and merchandise I could find online that might make great presents for friends and supporters. And I was pleasantly surprised at the choice. (This is not a sponsored blog, by the way. Just me getting into the festive spirit!)
It’s the first time I have ever done a search like this. So I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew that various charities and individuals produced t-shirts with vitiligo slogans on. And I was aware that a few dolls had recently appeared on the market, proudly sporting vitiligo patches. But the selection of merchandise available exceeded my expectations and I’m guessing it may surprise you too. Here are some of the items I found…
Vitiligo dolls
Probably the most well-known vitiligo dolls are Mattel’s Barbie and Ken Fashionistas. A vitiligo version of Barbie was launched back in 2020 and made it into the top five Fashionistas best sellers in the U.S. that year. And, following her success, Vitiligo Ken made his debut earlier this year (2022). Both dolls are widely available online, including through The Vitiligo Society’s shop.
Occupying the opposite end of the commercial spectrum from the big toy makers like Mattel are the individual artisans. Like Crystal Kaye (a.k.a. Kay Customz), for example, who creates customised, hand-painted dolls that display the diversity of real people. (See video above)… And Pidgin Doll creator Joshua McKenny, whose bespoke dolls have also featured vitiligo, as the video below demonstrates…
… Not to mention Joao Stanganelli Jr. the Brazilian grandfather who crochets dolls with vitiligo (on a non-commercial basis) to help children who have the condition improve their self-esteem… And various other individuals who sell their hand-crafted vitiligo dolls on platforms like Etsy.
I especially like the Etsy store called ToysFromHappyMom where you will find an impressive range of hand-knitted and crocheted vitiligo dolls, made by Maryna from Ukraine. (See some examples above.) I contacted her before publishing this blog to see if she is still able to produce her wonderful dolls, given current circumstances in her homeland. And, happily, the answer is yes. Maryna managed to get out of Ukraine, along with her children, and is in Brazil for the time being, until it is safe for her to return home. So she tells me that, although most of her stock is stuck in Ukraine, she is still making toys to order and shipping them from Brazil. You can contact her via her store on the link above or on Instagram and Facebook at MTM_handmade.
Other vitiligo toys
Back to mainstream toy manufacturers now, Lego recently released their first minifigure representing vitiligo. It comes as part of their Table Football set, which features more diverse skin tones and facial types than previous Lego figures. Meanwhile, Fisher-Price also launched a set of inclusivity figurines depicting vitiligo, among other conditions and disabilities. The set is called Little People People Kind.
Or, if your preference is for cuddly toys, the best of the bunch, in my opinion, is My Vitiligo Bear. Not only because he is so soft and gorgeous, but also because each purchase helps raise funds for The Vitiligo Society’s work. (Click on the image below to find him in their shop.)
Vitiligo apparel
The Vitiligo Society has a great range of casual clothing, sportswear and accessories too. And their prices include a 15-40% donation to support those with vitiligo and help create more awareness about the condition. So you can get cool casual wear for kids and adults alike, knowing that you are helping the vitiligo community into the bargain.
They even have a newly-launched range of Christmas jumpers, featuring My Vitiligo Bear and available in a choice of 11 different colours.
Just click on the image below to take a look…
Alternatively, you will also discover plenty of vitiligo-themed garments and accessories from a variety of artists and designers at RedBubble. And if you like fun slogans you’ll have plenty to choose from… for example, It’s called vitiligo. You can stop staring now. đŸ˜‰
Vitiligo art and other gifts
Other vitiligo-related gifts at RedBubble and in The Vitiligo Society shop include hip bags and backpacks, water bottles and mugs, beach towels and totes. And, if you are looking for stocking fillers, how about these Loving The Skin I’m In notepads?
Or, if art is your thing, then the options online range from fine art to framed prints (like the stylish one pictured below) to printable, instant art downloads.
So, as you can see, the choice of vitiligo-related merchandise available online is quite extensive. It is encouraging to see the condition being more widely represented by advertisers and retailers. And that has to be a positive thing in terms of raising awareness. But raising awareness is just part of the story. At least as important as that is the benefit to the individual. Simply owning and showing off everyday items that depict vitiligo can make children and adults alike feel less isolated, boosting their self-confidence and helping them feel more comfortable in their own skin… literally.
Happy shopping!
Finally, if you are looking to buy some vitiligo-themed gifts this year, I think it’s worth bearing in mind that this marketplace is no different from any other. Some sellers, like the high street toy shops, have purely commercial aims (and that, after all, is why they are in business so this is not a criticism). Others, though, come into the category of niche, artisan or labour-of-love. And yet others are not-for-profit or charity-based.
As with any other gift shopping, your key consideration is probably going to be how much you think the recipient will like the item and whether you feel it represents good value for money. Of course, the real value in any present is the pleasure it brings to both the recipient and the giver. But if, in the process, it can benefit others too, by helping to fund support and research, then its value increases even further.
On that note, I hope I have given you some useful ideas for your festive shopping this year. So, now I’ll shut up and let you get on with it. All that remains for me to do is to wish you and yours a blessed and joyful holiday season… Plus the most valuable gifts that any of us could hope to take with us into the new year: love, peace and the best of health.
