India, June 26 -- In a world obsessed with designer toys and collectables like Labubu dolls, it's easy to forget how powerful a simple handmade doll can be. I grew up surrounded by them. Long before I'd heard the term "art toy," I was already curating a quiet collection of Indian dolls, most of which still live in corners of my home. They weren't mass-produced or boxed with branding. They were gifts, market finds, or festival staples, objects filled with personality and history.

India's traditional Indian dolls offer more than just nostalgia. They speak of regional identity, slow craft, and stories passed down through thread, wood, and clay. These Indian handmade dolls aren't just pretty things to display. Each one carries a lineage of a...