Kiyaa dolls for desi kids

A desi doll has entered the toy market as a competitor to the wildly popular Barbie dolls. The Kiyaa doll has already won the hearts of young girls and women with its unique characteristic and appearance. Designed by T Hima Shailaja, who was born and brought up in Vijayawada, the doll named Kiyaa is 100 per cent desi in its look and attire and is selling like hot cakes on e-commerce sites.

Born in Gandhinagar in the city, Shailaja studied at Amali English Medium School. After pursuing an electronics and telecommunications course at Krishnaveni Polytechnic, she went to Mumbai for studying engineering. Later, she landed a job in Hyderabad and got married. Soon after, she moved to the US and worked there in several companies before picking up a course in fashion designing to move into the doll business.

Speaking to the Vijayawada Hans, Shailaja said, “We want our children to grow up to be proud Indians. But we buy them foreign toys and give them a reason to think that the western part of the world is more fascinating. Why should there not be a true desi doll reflecting our own culture and values? This thought made me quit a lucrative IT job in the US and drove me towards pursuing fashion designing. After graduating from ISB, I started working on Kiyaa, the idea of which I first conceived in 2003.”

“Kiyaa was designed to be independent, loving and obedient teenager with the qualities of a lovable daughter, caring sister and a trust worthy friend. Kiyaa differs from Barbie in its distinctive facial features like wide eyes, sharp nose, bindi, long hair with a partition. It resembles an Indian woman. She always wears traditional costumes and jewellery,” said the doll designer.

On future plans of expanding the business and Kiyaa’s family, Shailaja said, “An entire portfolio comprising new dolls, accessories and comics will be launched this year. Kiyaa will go national with exclusive stores that stock dolls, garments and fashion utilities.”

By: Ch Sowmya Sruthi