Shopping Are there such things as a fully custom doll?

DIM used to do Minimee heads as long as they got at least 10 people in a group order to go in. I don't know of anyone outside maybe induvial artists, but most were in Russia.

 

It's best not to buy from Russia as we have no protection and PP doesn't except payments to Russia anymore.
This was posted here on DOA after some issues with a Russian seller I think.

Joydolls is opening another pre-order. Joydolls is located in Rostov on don, Russia. Do I think Julia is personally contributing to the invasion of Ukraine? No. However, I still want to warn anyone in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and the EU to think very, very carefully before trying to pre-order a doll. I only have experience with the U.S., but for anyone living in Australia, New Zealand, or the EU - your laws are much stricter.

In the U.S.:
New investment in Russia (which could very well include an expensive pre-order) remains prohibited for U.S. persons. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a division of the U.S. Treasury, regulates transactions between the U.S. and Russia. Before you send money to Joydolls, call them and ask for guidance.

Even if OFAC says you may pay for a doll, you still need to deal with import laws: U.S. persons also need to ensure that any doll they order from Russia will be allowed into the country, which is governed by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

If you receive guidance from both agencies saying you may order a doll (and get something in writing), you still need to tell your bank before you try to send money, and you need to provide that written guidance to them. Banks are becoming increasingly paranoid about sending money to Russia. It's too risky, and if they make a mistake, it's very expensive for them.

What can happen if you don't do these things?
1. Your bank will take your money and hold it basically forever (the transaction will be "blocked").
2. Even if your money gets to Joydolls, the CPB could seize your doll at the U.S. border during the customs clearing process, and you'll never see it. They may very well destroy it.
3. You can get a nasty fine.
4. Your bank will close your accounts and force you to find another bank.
5. You can be criminally charged for violating U.S. laws - which can mean jail time.

Julia's dolls are achingly beautiful, but please think carefully before you buy, and make sure you are within your country's laws when you do so.

 

The no longer operating DiM used to do Minimees heads like @animemom mentioned but I don't think there is anything company-led out there any more. They didn't offer custom bodies, though.

With the times going forward and 3D sculpting + printing becoming more affordable/useful, there are some artisans offering custom modelling services. I've heard of people commissioning custom dolls/jointed figures like that but I wouldn't know to forward you any names, unfortunately. It is pricy, though, and at best you would get a 3D printed doll, if not just a tailor-made print file and you would have to find a caster who would be up to making just a single copy of it (companies/individuals who do resin casting usually have minimums of at least 10 however, it doesn't really make sense for them to make the moulds otherwise).

 

There are some artists on etsy who sell celebrity look alike or custom heads, though they're generally 3-d printed instead of cast resin, so they would be considered off-topic for the forum I believe. Bodies I think you'd have a hard time finding custom, since they're so much more expensive to make.

 

Joint-wise it is probably easier to modify as not every artist who can sculpt a custom body has experience with joint engineering. It would be sad to put a lot of money into a fully custom-made doll only to end up disappointed by the posing and possibilities.

An already opaque part can't be made to look transparent but it's possible to use transparent resin for casting. Resinsoul does customs with transparent resin in various colour tones.

 

I recall there was a BJD company that made custom designed bodies. I want to say Impldoll, they made a female muscular body. Similar to DIM, you could have ten people join the order, to lower the cost per body. I don't know if they do that anymore, not am I certain it was Impldoll. Hope that helps in your search nonetheless. Good luck. (:

 

Nobility doll offered this service as well, for full doll not just a head. Their website is not working for me rn so I am not sure if they're still around or doing that service.

 

For custom heads. I believe "Huli.Dolls" on Instagram. They are located in Italy

For a transparent body, I would go to Resinsoul. I have seen transparent dolls from them before. They do custom colors and their prices are very affordable. You just need to email them with what you would like and they will let you know if it can be done and the price.

 

Namihu does custom BJD, you can find her on Etsy.