Casual Fridays: Lulu from Karito Kids

Oh little Lulu I love You-lu just the same~

I have not forgot about Casual Fridays. I have just been not doing them. Bad Neth. Time to pick things back up and then keep them up--there's so many dolls and things in my collection that I can and will be happy to take pictures of. Get to work, Neth! Let's take this back to importance with a doll I adore: Lulu of Karito Kids. Lulu--full name Lulu Rehema Kibwana--is from Nairobi, Kenya and specifically of the Kikuyu tribe. 

Karito is an Esperanto word meaning "charity"--I once studied the language for a brief time in high school but got bored with it since it wasn't as universal as it claimed. I'd like to have linked to the official Karito Kids website, but the company folded in 2011.¹ There were six major characters: along with Lulu, there was Ling from China, Pita from Mexico, Zoe from the USA, Gia from Italy, and later Piper from Australia. The dolls were sold in various toy boutiques and from the site directly for about $99, and had additional outfits as well. I'd seen some in a local toy store, but they were charging an arm and a leg at about $120. At the original time of purchase, dolls came with codes that allowed for a donation to various causes; however, the codes can't be used anymore as the site is down. The line was later liquidated through Tuesday Morning at 67% off, and nowadays on eBay and secondary markets, they can go for anywhere from 30 bucks to over $200. A doll buddy of mine had Lulu and sold her to me at a respectable cost for 40 bucks with the shipping (and included an extra made outfit for her!) and another doll buddy sent me the book and the orange socks out of the awesomeness of her self.

Let's talk more about Lulu below the cut.