"The history of fashion in dolls"

“Fashion History in Dolls” - an exhibition of a collection doll from the collection of the personal collection of designer Natalia Alyoshina (Oryol). The collection began in 1994 with a donated Barbie doll, which was subsequently sewn on clothes. Then there was a fascination with the collection doll, to which the attitude was very careful and reverent. Interest in the historical costume prompted the collector to create outfits for dolls. Two of the costumes presented at the exhibition were created by Natalia Alyoshina. These are dolls in the style of “Mary Stuart” and “Tudor”. To date, the collection has about a thousand dolls from different manufacturers. The oldest dolls in the 1978 production collection. Residents of Orel and Smolensk, Kursk and Belgorod, Lipetsk and Ryazan enthusiastically accepted puppet fashionistas. Now this exhibition is in Kaluga!

The exhibition presents 53 dolls of Tonner and Franklin Mint firms - these are porcelain "interior" and articulated vinyl dolls. A doll is not just a toy, but an art whose roots are deep in our traditions, customs and centuries-old culture. In the best traditions of ancient dolls - Pandor (doll-mannequins), modern firms such as Mattel, Tonner, Ashton Drake create their wonderful works. Many of them were worked by recognized master puppeteers, costume designers, who received prizes at international exhibitions. These are Robert Tonner, Bob Maki, Gerda Naubacher and many others. Back in 1935, the first official doll collectors club, The Doll Collectors of America, was founded in New York. In the next decade, local associations of doll lovers continued to emerge throughout America, and in 1949 they all became part of the largest organization of doll collectors in the world - the UFDC (United Federation of Doll Clubs). Thanks to the UFDC, doll collecting is recognized by the general public as a serious and respected adult hobby. In our country, there are also many doll lovers. Thanks to the enthusiasts of their craft, annually in Moscow there are exhibitions of author’s dolls, in which collectors from different countries take part. Superbly made dolls and outfits nurture and develop a sense of beauty. And now the collector is still the same as 80 years ago: he also buys dolls because and only because he just likes them. He likes to communicate with them, play, rearrange, change clothes, discuss them with like-minded people, hunt for rarities, save for dolls, dream about dolls, study them and plan to replenish the collection. At this exhibition you will see what men and women costumes were in different countries in different eras. In addition, we will follow how clothes, hairstyles, hats, jewelry and shoes from different peoples on different continents changed over time.

The owner of the collection, Natalia Alyoshina, was born and raised in Orel. She graduated from a comprehensive school with in-depth study of the English language, and an art school. She was fond of creativity: this is bobbin lace weaving, embroidery. In 2010 she graduated from Orel University with a degree in graphic design and translator in the field of professional communication.

Now he is preparing the opening of his Museum of Collectible Dolls in Orel.

The decision to show his collection did not come immediately, the first exhibition took place when the collection totaled 300 items. The exhibition was a success. The visitors were very different from young children to senior citizens, from ordinary workers to engineers, doctors and theater directors. People left with bright impressions, leaving excellent reviews in the wish book.

Today we invite you to touch high fashion, see wonderful dolls and get positive emotions. In any adult, even deep somewhere, a child lurks, immersed in his fantasies and memories of his childhood. We are pleased to share with you a good mood!

The exhibition "Fashion History in Dolls" will run until October 2, 2016.