The Iconic Dollcast

This week on the Iconic Dollcast I’m joined by doll and toy designer Cimmi (@thedollhead) for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the toy industry.

Cinni worked for Play Along, Mattel, Hasbro and more — helping create dolls tied to major pop culture icons including Hannah Montana, The Cheetah Girls, Taylor Swift and many other unforgettable toy lines from the 90s and 2000s.

We discuss how she worked her way up in the industry, the reality of designing dolls and toys to fit strict budgets, and what it was like seeing her creations hit store shelves for the very first time. We also talk about her work on brands like Cabbage Patch Kids, Polly Pocket, Baby Alive and My Little Pony, along with the evolution of toy design from hand sculpting to 3D printing and scanning.

If you’ve ever wondered how dolls actually get made or what it really takes to build a career in toy design, this episode is packed with nostalgia, insider stories and behind-the-scenes insight.

USE CODE "ICONIC" at seaglimmers.com for a 10% discount on the BRAND NEW Seaglimmers eco friendly plush dolls!
Follow me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@britneyspearscustomdolls⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@iconicdollcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Iconicdollcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on the Iconic Dollcast, I’m joined by Jenna (@heyyalldolls) for a fun and nostalgic conversation all about the joy of doll collecting and the memories attached to it. We dive into the dolls from our childhoods that somehow disappeared from memory until we rediscovered them years later—and why those finds can feel so emotional and special.

We also talk about the luxury (and chaos) of having a dedicated doll room, how the perception of adult doll collecting has evolved over the years, and the huge role social media has played in bringing collectors together from all over the world. There’s something really special about finally “finding your people” in the doll community, and we get into how that sense of connection has changed the hobby for both of us.

Of course, we couldn’t skip American Girl. We discuss our favorite historicals, the best places to hunt for dolls, why there are far more adult AG collectors than people realize, and why restoring and refurbishing American Girl dolls is weirdly therapeutic and satisfying. We also share some of our best thrift store finds, thoughts on the newer modern AG dolls, and plenty more doll collector rambling along the way.
Follow me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@britneyspearscustomdolls⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@iconicdollcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Iconicdollcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on The Iconic Dollcast
I’m joined by Paige (@thenostalgiatoybox) for a deep dive into the toys that defined our childhoods—from the late 90s into the early 2000s. We’re talking everything from Strawberry Shortcake to Polly Pocket, Barbie to American Girl—and the unforgettable playsets (yes… the toy food!!) that made these worlds feel so real.

We get into Paige’s personal collection growing up, what made these toys so special, and how the quality compares to what we’re seeing on shelves today. Plus, we break down the essential toys of the era, shout out some seriously underrated gems, and revisit icons like Doodle Bears, Furby, and Water Babies.

And of course—we couldn’t ignore the massive nostalgia wave taking over toy aisles right now. Is it living up to the hype?

Follow me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@britneyspearscustomdolls⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@iconicdollcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Iconicdollcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on The Iconic Dollcast, I’m taking you inside the Denver Doll & Toy Super Show! 🛍️

Come along for a vlog-style day as I break down my budget, wishlist, and expectations before hitting the floor—then I take you through some of the most unique vendors and standout finds of the show. As well as some classic and random favorites! 

Spoiler: Britney was nowhere to be found 👀
Barbie and Star Wars completely dominated—and American Girl was noticeably missing.

Plus, I’m showing you what I bought, what I probably shouldn’t have bought, and the items I regrettably left behind! 

If you love dolls, collecting, and the thrill (and regret) of the hunt… this one’s for you.

This week on The Iconic Dollcast, I’m joined by Riccardo (@lonely.doll_) for a fun and honest conversation all about our doll journeys and the pieces that mean the most to us—especially when it comes to Barbie.

We dive into what it’s really like collecting outside of the U.S., including the rising challenges collectors are facing worldwide and how tariffs have impacted the accessibility and pricing of dolls across the globe.

We also get into the current state of the doll industry—why Monster High continues to be a major competitor to Barbie (and shouldn’t be underestimated), plus a little My Scene nostalgia and how the new releases compare to the originals.

From the growing normalization of doll collecting to the creative (and sometimes painful) process of customizing and rerooting, we cover both the joy and the reality of the hobby. We also explore the evolving role of AI in the toy industry—what it could mean moving forward, for better or worse.

Plus, we share our personal grail dolls, recent purchases, and so much more.