Inside-Out - The Official Topshop Blog: RAG DOLL COUTURE

As soon as we caught sight of Andrew Yang's seriously stylish rag dolls on Tavi Gevinson's blog for POP, we were absolutely smitten. So smitten that we couldn’t contain our excitement and ended up calling half the office over to take a look!

Made by freelance fashion designer and illustrator, Andrew Yang, for the Quebec based magazine, The Block, they make for the most amazing round-up of the spring/ summer trends. Make sure you pick up a copy of their latest issue - it's great!

These handmade beauties may be 27-inch-tall, but they certainly know how to pull off Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Rick Owens, and Ann Demeulemeester! With each of Andrew's rag dolls cut from a pattern, sewn into muslin, and meticulously stuffed and attached by hand, we’re not surprised they look so damn good! Their faces are also hand painted, and each of their outfits is created using luxurious fabrics, and couture sewing methods.

Before becoming dissatisfied with the fashion industry and returning to his childhood fascination with dolls, Andrew was an assistant designer. Growing up in Utah around his mother’s collection of high-end fashion dolls, making his own was always something he’d wanted to do.

So in the summer of 2008, Andrew created his first doll out of scraps of muslin he had lying around his New York flat. And by February of 2009, his 27 Kouklitas - the Greek word for doll - made their debut at a gallery in lower Manhattan. Made with such love and care - each of Andrew's dolls has a name and is given a story - we're not surprised they've caught the art world's imagination.

We’re quite seriously considering having a custom one made. Imagine a Koukilta wearing Topshop SS10!