By Stephanie Finnegan
The JAMIEshow dolls are a breath of fresh air. Their amazing ability to conquer the runway and to make themselves ambassadors of both historic beauty and opulent contemporary costuming is a laudable superpower. The luxury fashion dolls have been mesmerizing collectors for more than 15 years now, and their high-end clothing, wigging, jewelry, and accessories continue to promote visual and tactile accomplishments.
The dolls made their debut on Sept. 18, 2009, and since then, the creative team, the designers, the production and distribution managers — all the people who comprise the brand — have banded together to make sure customer expectations are not only met but exceeded.
The three main branches of the company are in capable and caring hands: Owen Su is at the helm of creative and design; Jamie (she goes by a solo name, à la Madonna or Cher) handles production; and George Gonzalez is the man behind distribution. These three powerhouses work to establish JAMIEshow as a doll line that embodies fabulous fashions and a cosmopolitan, jet-setting itinerary. Imagine the legendary TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. These dolls are indeed living “champagne wishes and caviar dreams,” as the program’s host, Robin Leach, used to declare.
According to the JAMIEshow team, “When someone asks what we do, we tell them we create fashion dolls. We may use Barbie as an example of a fashion doll, but then we point out that our dolls are the Rolls-Royce of fashion dolls, since like a Rolls-Royce, our dolls are completely made by hand.”
It’s not an exaggeration to say the dolls are reminiscent of an extravagant, affluent, and sartorial existence. When asked what the dolls would do if they were alive and aware of their 15th anniversary, the answer is immediate: “They would throw a large party with a runway show in Paris during Fashion Week, at the Petit Palais.” Yes, the dolls certainly know how to enjoy themselves and revel in their glamorous reputations.
Beyond their aesthetic achievements, JAMIEshow also strives to build an aura of professionalism, courtesy, equality, and empathy. Creative guru and designer Su is pledged to those tenets. “Bringing beauty and joy to our customers has always been our primary goal. Adorable design, consistent high-quality and professional craftsmanship, and excellent service — these three elements are indispensable, and we have maintained them for 15 years. Regardless of age, skin color, or gender, everyone has a right to pursue beauty. Different customers can always find a doll they resonate with in our various product lines.”
In fact, the relationship between collector and company is foremost in Su’s mind. “The life of a doll is a shared creation between the designer and the customer, which is also a form of emotional connection,” he said.
Honoring their fans and their own legacy, JAMIEshow looked back at their archive and decided to release a 15th-anniversary edition of the Black and White Swan designs: “The Black and White Swan introduced many people to JAMIEshow for the first time. The Black and White Swans represent the duality of human nature and the acceptance of one’s imperfections. The Swan ballet is beautiful, not only as a tribute to the past but also as a yearning for the future.”
In addition to this Swan design, which speaks to music, dance, and the potency of a woman as both muse and model, the 2024 collections demonstrate the company’s commitment to highlighting the wide variety of gorgeous garments that have defined fashion over the centuries. Su oversees the brand’s connection to clothing and how it defines an era and an individual. He said, “Our themes range from ancient Roman and Greek to rococo, from Western to Eastern, from the prosperous fashion era of the 1950s to today.”
Su has been the company’s designer for nearly five years now, and his efforts have been highly praised. It’s been stated by his colleagues that “his talent is boundless and he has brought a rebirth to our dolls with the introduction of the 12-inch Muse dolls.”
For Su, Jamie, and Gonzalez, their relationship with the dolls continues to broaden and expand with each new collection and release. They never perch on their laurels; rather, they are always advising one another and conferring about what they can imagine, dream about, produce, and unveil to the marketplace. To avoid becoming repetitive or stale, they push for fresh ideas and brand-new execution. They said, “Our dolls are not defined and are diverse. Our different series and styles can give them different looks and feelings, but they are always related to fashion because we are, after all, fashion dolls. We also have many collectors who collect male dolls, as well as collectors who collect both. Almost every series of Muses releases both male and female dolls simultaneously, along with corresponding outfits and accessories.”
Su’s tenure at JAMIEshow has been a resplendent one. His outpouring of designs has dazzled old and new collectors alike. Gonzalez and Jamie, who have been there since Day 1, are impressed and grateful for his talent. Gonzalez also has kind words and huge praise for Jamie, the woman responsible for the company’s name and existence.
“She is the most unsung hero and less-known person. Jamie owns the factory and has always manufactured all the dolls. Fifteen years ago, I met her at a coffee shop near the Canadian border. She had contacted me as the owner of Angelic Dreamz about a doll she wanted to produce. It was love at first sight!” Gonzalez said. “We began there with our premiere collection. Without Jamie, there would be no JAMIEshow Dolls.”
In the early stages of the company, Gonzalez was more involved with the creative, but his role has transformed over the past 15 years. He said, “Since Owen came on board, the creative has been left to him. Although we do discuss the collections, he has full design responsibility. I mainly now focus on sales, distribution, and customer service.”
As the person who interacts the most with the public, Gonzalez is gratified to be in his current role. He is especially touched by all the verbal bouquets he receives from the JAMIEshow fans: “I hear this very often, and it always makes me very happy. Customers tell me how much joy the dolls bring to them in times of peril or sadness. The dolls lift their spirits and help them carry on. That is a beautiful feat.”
Learn More about JAMIEshow at https://jamieshow.us/
