The group is referring to illegally copied kits that are produced in China, not the legal kits produced there. There are many sculpts that have been illegally reproduced and are being flooded on ebay. Usually the listing says silicone vinyl, which doesn’t exist, being sold from China.
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Yes, ALL manufacturing of kits is outsourced somewhere. The artist making the sculpts do not pour their own kits.
It seems to me that you have not been reborning for very long if you do not know that, and if you are not aware of the pirated Chinese kits.
I just had a quick look on eBay for what you are talking about and all I found is lots of pretty dolls, with some very basic paint, and not all that bad rooting. Actually, there are lots of dolls offered by “real” reaborners that are not 1/2 as nice, and I have seen worse rooting on dolls done by some reborners with lot of experience.
Unfortunately, language is changing, what “reborn doll” meant 15 years ago is not the same nowadays. Maybe we should drop that expression, as it is not relevant to our art
anyway, and come up with new name?
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Many use ARTDOLL now 
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I think I needed clarification. Illegal for us does not mean illegal in another country. I understand pirating in China and for the most part it is almost impossible to stop because the laws are different there. Our Copyright and Trademark laws don’t apply unless they are selling through a US distributer and then you go after the distributer even that is tricky unless you can prove the distributer asked for the stolen design to be manufactured. The only power the consumer has is not to buy from these companies.
Doll manufacturing does happen here and molds are poured here in the US. ( I wouldn’t expect the average sculpture to pour their own molds if they are doing quantity but I did pour my own for a limited run using paper) If the molds are outsourced to China to be poured you have to be careful about where you stand in regards to mass manufacturing.
There are a couple issues.
Mass manufacturing/outsourcing
Black Market or Pirated design
Copy cats (concept thieves)
Misuse of terms like “Handmade, Original, OOAK, Reborn”
I guess it is up to each individual person to decide where they stand. I think its ok not to care also. You are right many of those dolls are pretty. They are rooted by machine.
For me its personal. The artist and crafts person is really feeling the hit. Not just here (forum) but in general. I and some of my art friends have been blatantly ripped off. Hours spent designing only for someone to copy and sell almost overnight. It is hard as an individual to go after big corporations especially ones overseas.
I have been reborning for months…you are right that isn’t long at all but I understand the frustration of artists who are trying to make a living only to be under cut and have hard work stolen.
The title is really just word play but descriptives help buyers. It helps us to. If you change reborn to something else it will get misused again I think.
I have written for Stampington, Art Doll Quarterly, and I think they would consider what we do an art doll since the definition includes the use of manufactured parts.
I am starting to feel this may be hot button and discussed here previously so I won’t bring it up again. If I decide to move forward with CRA I will post at a later date. Thank you again for the feedback, much appreciated.
These are art dolls I made out of paperclip in case someone was wondering what I meant by “paper”
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i’m in great idea
I have been involved in making these dolls for about 7years now, and yes this subject has been discussed many time before, here and on other forums. 
It is usually started by people who only started to reborn recently and think they will make a living selling the dolls. It is not how it works; to start with once you start pumping out so many dolls that if you could sell them you could make a living, it stops being an art. Even that the dolls might have a better details than the ones from China, they are still mass produced. Some very skilled people are capable to make a doll, rooted and all, in couple of days, but I doubt they will be able to sell them as fast for price that would reflect the cost of materials and labor. There was a time dolls were snatched up, and there were bidding wars on eBay, but that was already slowing down by the time I listed my first doll for sale. The market was flooded long before China started to sell completed dolls.
I doubt that the people who do the prototypes are feeling threatened by the many very competent artists that are around, and they should not feel threatened by newbies or some not so competent artists. I read the descriptions in some of the Chinese playdolls and they actually state:
The doll is handmade, Craft work with hand painting. But the emulational degree and workmanship are not as good as artists’ reborn baby doll.So the price is cheap.
But please don’t think this doll is poor in quality. She is very cute. All the photos were taken from the actual product, Please have a look carefully. Most of buyers are very pleased with her.
This is a very good gift for children.
Any sort of certification will mean that potential buyers would assume certain level of skill, whether that was your intention or not.
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What about if we say Lifelike Art Dolls?
OMGosh, these are ADORABLE!!! I love unusual things and these fill the bill!! great job!!
I love these…super cute.I want a paper clip doll.Where are the instructions?lol
Seven years that is a long time…I am sure you have experienced changes in regards to this art form.
Your observations are a little disheartening. I would like to think there is always room for dollies.
I didn’t go into this thinking I would make a living as an artist I have had to wear a lot of hats, this was really an accidental “hobby” that I am hoping will make me a little money if only to pay for this expensive activity. I really like it, its enjoyable and people really do appreciate work that goes into the dolls.
I don’t think anyone should feel threatened by any other artist we all bring something to the table but there is a lack of ethics when it comes to mass manufactured products coming from places like China. As we discussed earlier there is the issue of stealing designs and ideas and misrepresenting your product so you can take customers from people who really are doing the work.
The dolls are not handmade anymore than the computer I am typing on is handmade. The fact that they are stating they are is the reason this discussion exists.
Again its personal, some people don’t mind paying for a cheap doll made in a grimy factory made in an assembly line by underpaid workers who are not treated fairly. The companies that produce this crap are bottom line profit what ever the human cost. Sadly many companies here in the US outsource most everything we use to these companies.
It is hard to avoid China…I work hard at it but even making these dolls, the mold gets poured in I assume China, much of the mohair, eyes, maybe even the paint is manufactured there. Some of the clothes I buy come from Chinese factories.
Maybe there is not difference when you pull it all apart…
I think about the thousands of dolls sold everyday, dolls that have been selling for years, dolls that pop up after a Disney movie, dolls made by factories, by people…as long as there are children (big and little) there will be a demand.
As long as there are artists who want to make beautiful things like carving a doll from wood, sculpting one from clay, making one from a kit then I think they should be honored, protected, they raise the bar, they are giving a little more and what you get is not something you can get anywhere else.
There are no bad doll artists. I have been looking at photos here on the forum and every doll is precious. Some people have more skills than others, but I love that someone who has never done this before is filled with pride and shares what they have done and people here give them positive feedback. Its the way it should be. I have seen those dolls sell on Ebay and the person who gets it is happy.
It isn’t rocket science, its fun, its art making. This conversation is getting a little heavy and serious. Maybe I will just make a badge that says “I love making dolls” and leave it at that.
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Thank you.
Darn I meant paper clay, my auto correct got me. I can totally give you instructions! They are from an article I wrote on paper clay and doll making for Art Doll Quarterly.
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I wondered if you meant “paperclay”, I’ve worked with it a little bit and it is weird!! Really different!! But I really LOVE those little dolls, you did a great job!!
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Thank you, I work with it a lot, you just have to get use to it, but its pretty cool what you can make with paper!