What's Up With That? - Number 39 of 2023 Collecting Cycle

The last time Integrity Toys collectors got together for a convention was prior to Covid 19 at the 2019 NY Fashion Week Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.   I actually attended that convention and am very glad to be blessed to have the experience.   All conventions since that time have been on-line, including the 2023 7 Deadly Sins scheduled for this weekend.  

To test the waters for in-person meetings, Integrity Toys held a "Pop Up Event" this summer in Washington DC.   There was a W Club lottery for tickets for this one-day event.  There was also a mini-collection entitled "Curated".  Here is how the Pop Up Event was described in IT's own words:

"Curated", an exclusive in-person unveiling event, hosted by Integrity Toys has just ended and we are thrilled to bring you this short informational recap of the stunning works of art that were masterfully created by the Integrity Toys design team!

Attendees got to view these masterpieces in a chic gallery setting. Then, after the gallery viewing, at a nearby second location, the attendees got to shop, nibble on appetizers, and mix and mingle. To finally be back together in person was priceless!

Since there were no room sales, salesroom, classes, or style lab, I decided to sit this one out.   Like many other collectors I watched from the sidelines as information was made available.  The curated dolls were:

Representing NuFace: Mixed Media Thiago Valente.  This is the second time we've seen this sculpt.  Last year's Monsieur Thiago was very popular with collectors.  Many people who know the designer, Jessy Ayala, commented on this doll's likeness to him personally!   LOL!  It really does look a lot like Jessy.  

For Poppy Parker fans, there was Silver Cloud Poppy Parker.  According to designer David Butry, this dolls was inspired by Andy Warhol Muse Edie Sedgwick.  

It was refreshing to see a representative from the Meteor line!  This is Behind the Curtain Zuri Okoty.  I really like the ensemble a lot.  It included a skirt so you could change out the pants for something more formal.  

Fashion Royalty, representing IT's mainline, had two dolls revealed.  Classically Surreal Isha Kalpana Naryanan.

And Modern Renaissance Binna Park.  This mold was actually used for Nuface model Ayumi Nakamura 2.0 (released in only three, very sought after, versions).  

I've been asked by several collectors how I felt about this event and the dolls represented.  Since I was unable to attend the event, I don't feel it appropriate to print my personal opinions.  I know attendees were broken up into two groups to manage time; one group's experience seemed different from the other's.  Apparently there was a lot of waiting outside in the sun for one group and individuals were complaining that the venue was part of a bowling alley?  I have some doll friends who attended that had a wonderful experience, especially in that they got to visit with other collectors face-to-face for the first time in three years.   I had other friends who expressed disappointment.   Although each of these dolls are quite nice, I didn't feel compelled to own any of them NRFB.  I'm not sure how I would've felt had I paid for airfare and hotel accommodations for an event that only offered five dolls.  If you were local, it may have been worth the registration.  

I did pick up a nude Binna Park at an extremely reasonable price.  I think she redresses quite well and I am pleased with adding her to my collection..

Number 39 of my 2023 Collecting Cycle is Modern Renaissance Binna Park.

Style Notes Isha

Integrity Toys (IT) introduced the Fashion Royalty line in 2001-2002 with two characters - a white doll named Veronique Perrin, the owner of an acclaimed fashion house, and her black supermodel friend, Adele Makeda.  These were the only two characters until 2004 when we met Veronique's sister, Vanessa, and Veronique's fashion competitor, Natalia Fatale, who had an Asian model named Kyori Sato.  In 2005, we received SE Asian superstar Isha Kalpana Narayanan.  I think this cultural diversity was a driving force for collectors who wanted dolls who represented all races internationally.

There were three separate editions of Isha in 2005, and two versions of a single edition in 2006.

IT decided to do something it had never done in 2007.  They changed the skin tone on a mold and gave collectors a separate character.  The white version of Isha became Luchia and turned out to be more popular with collectors than the SE Asian counterpart.  There were three Luchia dolls produced that year and only one Isha.  This happened again in 2008 with three more Luchia dolls and only one Isha.

In 2009 Isha disappeared altogether and Luchia appeared solo in two editions.  The mold did not make a showing at all in 2010.  In 2011 Luchia became a different mold altogether and has only appeared twice (but somehow showed up at the convention with the original Isha mold).    In 2011, IT decided that Isha could be any color they produced, but just not the SE Asian skin tone as they retired that color.  Confused yet???

This summer, collectors received their very first FR2 Isha, Style Notes.

I love the dress (especially the little black panels under the arms).   The accessories included were a great pair of stiletto pumps and cream purse.

She has a lovely screening.

Here is a comparison with Age of Opulence Isha in the original SE Asian Skin Tone.  I think she's lost some of her ethnic identity.

But she is still a very beautiful doll and I like having her in my collection.  I've seen photos where collectors have taken her hair down and she looks phenomenal.