Traditionally, African dolls were carved out of wood or made out of fabric offcuts. This plastic doll, known as Clonette, was born during the colonial era and was made in Ghana. It was the first mass-produced doll in Africa and it still can be found on markets nowadays.
Ironically, this doll looks nothing like African. (On a side note, many of us grew up with Barbie and... ahem... we don't exactly look like Barbie.) The Clonette doll has been quite popular in France for a few years since she started appearing in design shops. I guess her retro style speaks to all of us: she's a sweet reminder of our lost childhood. Since I got started with Ada's blog, I've been asked many (and I mean MANY) times where I bought her and how to purchase one of her sisters.
I tried to get in touch with Filles du Facteur, the organization selling them but my emails went unanswered. I don't know if they ship internationally and their shop is only in French. So here's a little tutorial for those of you who'd like to buy one of these dolls.
* Visit Filles du Facteur.
* Select a colour:
* Visit Filles du Facteur.
* Select a colour:
♡ red - rouge
♡ pink - rose
♡ purple - violet
♡ green - vert
♡ black - noir
* Click on 'j'achète' (via PayPal)
* Click on 'j'achète' (via PayPal)
If you have any trouble, get in touch with contact@fillesdufacteur.com
♡
Wait!
I have one of these dolls for you!
To enter, leave me a comment telling me what name you would give her and which colour you would like her to be. The give-away will end on February 20th. Spread the word, spread the love!
♡
The Give-Away is closed.
Oooh. What a great giveaway! I'd love a rouge one and I'd name her Harriet. PS I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteRavie de voir que tu n'es qu'amour ce soit mon joli petit bouchon :)
ReplyDeleteCa fait plaisir !!
Encore un bel article, avec une dimension spéciale pour celui-ci. J'aime pas j'adore !
Et toi aussi je taime <3
If I was lucky enough to win a green one I would name her... Martini (that way we would both be named after some sort of alcohol/drink).
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, this is an amazing giveaway! i just love seeing the dolls in their arms, thinking this is their barbie :) how SO VERY COOL!!!
ReplyDeletei would name a red one lola which means "grandmother" in filipino.
oh Adeline you are too sweet. If i was to be so lucky I would get a rose one and name her Gwendolyn.
ReplyDeleteAh! I seriously yelped when I saw this post. Wishing, hoping, and praying. <3
ReplyDeleteIf I was so lucky to win one of Ada's sisters, I would hope her to be violet, and I would call her Carey (I love the name and I also have a major girl crush on Carey Mulligan) :)
Awesome giveaway, Adeline!
oh my goodness!
ReplyDeleteadeline this is crazy!
i would love one in purple and name her sylvia.
I can imagine carrying a little red Frances around in my bike basket :D So enjoyed reading the history of Ada and her sisters.
ReplyDeleteHey I didn't get credit for helping edit this post!!! Ha
ReplyDeleteI'd name that doll Captian Jillian Morganstern the V, I'm not entering for this giveaway btw.
Hahaha Cesar has the best name ever! I'm not entering, but I want to add my two cents! I would name him (notice he'd be a dude) Winston Snuffbottom & he'd a very definite shade of purple!
ReplyDeleteHi Adeline! this is a very sweet give-away!
ReplyDeleteI'm totaly in love with Ada and her sisters!
I'd love a pink one (of course!!) and I'd name her Clementina :)
kisses
erika
I'm shamelessly gonna try my luck! After having the opportunity of hanging out with Ada, damnnn, these dolls really know how to lift spirits.
ReplyDeleteI would choose the green one and name her, Matilda.
Wow, how interesting to hear she is originally an African doll :)
ReplyDeleteJ'aimerais une clonette sil vous plait!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd choose maybe a pink or red one, but they're all really cool so it doesn't matter.
Oh, and the name! Right. Something like ... Lilu, or Lulu probably.
ReplyDeleteoh my adeline you are amazing!! Its so interesting to learn more about Ada and her sisters.
ReplyDeleteIf I won I'd love the violet one and I'd call her Poppie which means doll in Afrikaans apparently - I asked my south african friend :)
You are soo sweet for doing this! If I win the pink one I would name her Francie.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a nice giveaway! I'd love a red one and I'd name her Marlene-
ReplyDeletedefently the red one!and she is RORy!
ReplyDeletei cross my fingers!!!!!!!!
First, yes I did receive your letter! You always bring a smile to my face and you're long long overdue for a package from me to you.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I knew you had a collection of these. Now you've posted a little marketing and buying history I'm completely enamoured.
AH! I almost forgot. Violet. She would be called, Ghost Girl.
ReplyDeleteOMG I'm really excited about the
ReplyDeletepossibility of winning!
I choose the color red and would call Gemma. ♥
I would choose a black one and name her Violet.
ReplyDeleteA white one named Nieve!
ReplyDeleteJ'adore this giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteIf I won, I should love a RED one that I would call, "Violet" with her bunny, "Cupcake".
The purple one is adorable I would name her Shara, Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOrange would be quite a fetching complexion I think, and I would christen her Alaia.
ReplyDeleteOr you know I could actually read all of your post and then I would have said green OOPS!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have the doll in red and I would name her Elise. x
ReplyDeletei'd name her Kensington ( kennie for short) and she'd be violet :)
ReplyDeleteI would choose a Violet One and name her Abeba, which is African origin and means 'flower'
ReplyDeleteSuuuuuuper late but I comment!
ReplyDeleteMy colour would be red (I think this is spanish by default) and name her Thelma :)
Ooh, just stumbled across this...fingers crossed I'm not too late!
ReplyDeleteMine would be green and go by Tegan.
Who's the winner ?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteWho are you?
I missed the giveaway but I love the post Adeline... wonderful to learn more about where Ada came from and the history behind her.
ReplyDeleteI actually followed the directions, paid via paypal and never received the items. Clearly, not your fault, but it was quite frustrating. I tried contacting the seller @ Filles du Facteur and they said they would look into it and never got back to me. I tried reaching out several times after that and my emails went unaswered. Worst of all, I was never refunded my money.
ReplyDeleteDear abrooklynite,
ReplyDeleteif you happen to read this, please get in touch by email.
xoxox