The experience of rearing a baby is a rite of passage for many families. The early years of parenthood are said to be the toughest however the benefits of a new addition to the family are believed to outweigh the long nights, diaper changes and teething troubles. Maria Trigg has found an answer to this, for which she has found internet fame. The Florida-based woman, who goes by the namesake Mama Coly on social media, has created a business which delivers the cuteness and cuddles similar to a newborn baby, without the messy bits like potty training and burping sessions. Mama Coly is the CEO of a business named DreamShyre, which creates lifelike silicone dolls.
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In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Coly spoke about learning the ropes of doll-making at a young age. First, her sculpting was in clay and later, it progressed to paper and fabric. However, the almost human-like appearance that silicone lent changed the game for her. It was in 2010 that she became a creator of 'Reborns', which are a term used to describe hyper realistic dolls that resemble infants. Besides the appearance, reborns are created to resemble human babies right down to their weight, nails and hair texture.
Mama details several steps to create her reborns; from hand sculpting to molding to adding hair and painting on features. Her final touches include a diaper and a new outfit for the doll. The tedious process of creating each doll can take many months and costs thousands of dollars. The purchase of reborns is termed as 'adoption' and though it's the same term used for human infants, adopting of reborns is definitely a shorter, swifter and more straightforward process compared to that of actual adoption.
After teaching herself the skills required to make silicone dolls from YouTube, Mama began selling her dolls in 2020. She said that the prices for her miniature silicone dolls begin at $45 (approximately Rs 4,000) and larger dolls can go up to $1,500 (approximately Rs 1,25,000).
Many question the purpose of creating and owning such reborns but its clientele are quite diverse. Mama said that though they are dolls, they are far too delicate to be treated as toys and mainly appeal to doll collectors. However, she also said that the purchase of reborns are helping many on their journey of healing, if they've suffered a miscarriage, lost a child or even struggle with mental health disorders.
Who would have thought that the world of lifelike dolls could be this fascinating?
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