Meet k.d. Domoto | Black doll maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with k.d. Domoto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi k.d., we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I’ve been making and selling Black rag dolls for seven years. The risk I took? I’m not Black, I’m Asian. I was not sure that how people would feel about a non-Black person selling Black dolls which are very clear cultural identity items.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The uniqueness of my dolls is the HAIR. Most rag dolls have hair made of yarn or fabric, but I tried to make the hair more realistic.

Designing, finding the right material and teaching myself the technique to use it. This was and still is a challenge.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In fact, most of my friends who come to New York City ask me to show them Harlem. I take them to a nice cafe (Harlem Cafe or Ginjan Cafe), a clothing store with a black culture theme.

But the best part is just walking the streets of Harlem. They can see beautiful, historic old buildings and very nice people.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It all started with the experience of working at the Harlem YMCA after school program. I spent a lot of time with the kids and community people of Harlem, which is the reason I started making dolls.

All the people in Harlem that I see and talk to every day are the inspiration for the dolls.

Harlem Makers Collective, a Harlem-based pop-up group (sadly defunct) that gave me my first vending experience.

Harlem Local Vendors Program (HLVP), supported by Columbia Business School (thank you, Ms. Pat!) and Nikoa Evans, Marketing & Business Development Strategist, who selected me to participate in the program.

Brooklyn Pop-Up, whose pop-up shops at Brooklyn Museum that I join regularly. The customers there are a treasure to meet.

Finally, the legendary Harlem milliner, Evetta Petty, the owner of Harlem’s Heaven Hats. I admire not only her beautiful and gorgeous hats, but also her warm and friendly personality, and hard work.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/kdDolls

Instagram: @kdDolls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kdDollsHarlem/

Image Credits
Credit: k.d. Domoto