When a new box of dolls arrives from Spain, I always take a moment before I unpack it. There is something about the first look - a sleeping face under a little knitted bonnet, a tiny hand curled as if it is holding on. After years of choosing dolls for Cotton Planet, that feeling has never gone away.
So this week I want to share where these dolls come from, and why families across Europe have loved them for generations.
A small town with a long tradition
High in the hills of Alicante there is a town called Onil. It is not large, but it has been making dolls for almost 150 years.
It began around 1877, when a local man named Ramón Mira started making dolls from fired clay. His wife, Petra García, sewed their clothes. Their little workshop grew, others followed, and by the early 1900s Onil had several doll makers of its own.
In the 1950s the first plastic moulding machines arrived, and the town's craft began reaching homes far beyond Spain. Today Onil makes around 80% of the dolls made in Spain, and it even has its own doll museum, home to more than 1,600 dolls from across the years.
Three families, one craft
The three Spanish brands I stock all come from Onil, and each carries the knowledge of the generations before it.
- Antonio Juan began as a small family business in 1958. Three generations later, they still keep all production close to home, so every stage can be checked with care.
- Nines d'Onil was founded in 1985 and works in a truly artisan way. Their fabrics come from small local businesses, and their work is recognised with the Valencian Community's artisan qualification.
- Llorens was founded in 1995, built on skills handed down from grandparents to parents to children. They are also known for their Dolls for All range, created so that more children can see themselves in a doll.
If you would like to know more about each brand, I wrote a longer guide earlier this year - Why Spanish dolls are the best choice for children.
What makes them so loved
Faces full of feeling. Spanish baby dolls are known for faces that look like real babies - sleepy eyes, soft painted lashes, tiny creases at the wrist. Children respond to that. They hold them more gently.
Clothes like real baby clothes. Look closely and you will see the style of traditional Spanish babywear. Knitted bonnets lined with floral cotton, pom-pom hats, little cardigans, smocked collars. Many outfits come off and go back on, just as they would on a real baby.
Made close to home, made to last. Because so much is made in Onil, the makers can watch over every step. The dolls are built to meet strict European toy safety standards, and they are made to be played with for years, not months.
A doll to pass on. Many families keep these dolls long after childhood. A doll that was loved by one child often ends up in the arms of a younger sister, a cousin, or one day, a grandchild.
Meet a few of them
This little one is a favourite of mine. Look at the floral lining of her bonnet and the tiny pink dummy - details you would expect to find on real baby clothes.
And this is Iris, by Antonio Juan. Curly hair tied up with two ribbon bows, a soft bouclé cardigan and corduroy trousers. She has plenty of personality, and she is very easy to love.
For quieter moments, a sleeping baby wrapped in a soft blanket, with a knitted hat, two pom-poms and her own little bottle.
Caring for your Spanish doll
A little care keeps a doll looking lovely for years.
- Wipe the face and limbs with a soft, slightly damp cloth.
- Wash clothes gently by hand and let them dry flat.
- Keep dolls out of strong sunlight so colours stay soft.
- Untangle curly or long hair slowly with your fingers, starting at the ends.
Find yours
Every doll I choose for Cotton Planet comes from makers who care about the same things I do - quality, warmth, and toys that last. If you would like to meet them, come take a look at our Spanish dolls. Each order is wrapped by hand here in Cork, and you can add a gift message at checkout.
With love, Anita
