Dolls that look exactly like newborn babies cost hundreds of millions of dong to help comfort infertile people

Andrea Lee (50 years old, Singaporean) is always asked if she feels scared living in a house full of dolls, and she considers these questions as compliments, because the more vivid and awe-inspiring the work is, the more it affirms the skill of its creator.

As a child, Lee had a passion for realist painting. However, her family did not support her because they believed that art did not bring good income. Therefore, she put her dream aside to focus on her office job and raising four children. It was not until 2021 that Lee had time to pursue her passion.

Lee recalls shedding tears of joy when she held her first baby doll. It brought back memories of when she was a young mother, holding her newborn baby. She said:“Through my art, I bring life to dolls. This is so happy.”For Lee, dolls are not just works of art, but also have many therapeutic benefits.

Jessica Wu, 40, who bought a doll named “Lillie” for less than $1,500 (about 38 million VND), said she has a close relationship with this “baby”. Every morning, she kisses Lillie, strokes her head and gently says:“Hi Lillie, I'm going to work.”

Sometimes she puts Lillie on her stomach before bed and puts a hat on her head to make it look more realistic. Wu said:“My husband and I have been married for 11 years and still have no children. I really love Lillie and am happy with the money I spent.”She regularly follows Lee's sales page and is considering buying more dolls. She raved:“Of all the sellers, Lee's baby dolls look the most natural, detailed, and realistic.”

Many independent studies in the US and Australia have shown that baby dolls can bring comfort and emotional support to women. They are especially effective for people with memory loss and anxiety disorders.

Looking ahead, Lee is excited about the prospect of creating more baby dolls that feature distinct Asian ethnicities. She says:“There are already beautiful, ethnically diverse dolls in the US with darker skin tones, but there are still not many dolls that look exactly like Asian children. I think it will be interesting to see how far artists can push the boundaries of realism.”

Roy Oh, the husband of artisan Lee, has always helped his wife in her entrepreneurial journey. Lee said: “I am very lucky because my husband often goes to the US. I often give him a list of materials needed to make dolls and ask him to buy them for me.”

Because of the logistical challenges of sourcing materials, Lee believes she may be the only person in the area who specializes in silicone dolls. Lee specializes in both vinyl and silicone dolls. Vinyl dolls range in price from $400 to $4,000, while silicone dolls range from $4,000 to $10,000.