Jewish World Review March 14, 2001/ 19 Adar 5761
http://www.jewishworldreview.com --
MONICA GARCIA wants to make a modest profit. Or a profit modestly.
The mother of a 2-month-old daughter recently started a line of
handmade clothing for Barbie and like-sized dolls that she and other
Orthodox mothers can feel comfortable giving to their daughters.
Her firm’s name is Ms. Modesty, and it features some 20 dresses and
shirts and skirts designed according to the traditional precepts of
tznius, or modesty: high necklines, low hemlines.
“For parents who want modest and moral doll clothes for their
children,” the Web site states.
Garcia, a native of Mexico who lives in Irvine, Calif., and works as a
longshoreman, recalls having an old Barbie. “I didn’t like the way they
dressed Barbie — she was not dressed very modestly.” Barbie,
probably the best-selling doll in history, has always reflected current
fashions; today that means showing a lot of skin. Or in Barbie’s case, a
lot of plastic.
“I didn’t want my baby playing with a Barbie who’s dressed like a
prostitute,” Garcia says.
She sewed clothing for her own dolls years ago, and thought to do it
for herself and other frum, or religious, mothers.
Garcia’s line — for Barbie and other dolls 11 inches tall- is sold online,
at a Jewish gift shop in Los Angeles and at
her Irvine synagogue. “It’s basically all word of mouth,” says Garcia,
who was raised Catholic and converted to Judaism three years ago.
Doll garb that reflects adult fashions “is important for [children’s]
adjustment,” says Debby Caplan, an Orthodox resident of the Lower
East Side and the mother of a 3-year-old daughter. “It makes her feel
better about herself.
“For my daughter to dress a certain way but be exposed to people” —
or dolls — “who dress a different way could make her feel
uncomfortable,” says Caplan, a doctoral student in psychology. Her
daughter doesn’t have a Barbie yet. “I could see getting [Ms. Modesty
creations] if she is interested in a Barbie.”
“All the people, Baruch Hashem,[ thank G-d] have been very enthusiastic,” Garcia
Bottom line is the neckline
By Steve Lipman
Steve Lipman is a staff writer with the
New York Jewish Week. Send your comments by clicking here.
