Bratz x Mowalola Drip Gawds Collection: A Lookin' Bratz Review!
Bratz x Mowalola Felicia and Jade
Hey Angelz!
The Bratz releases this Fall don’t stop with the Girls Nite Out and Series 2 dolls! Bratz has not one—but TWO—designer collabs this Fall, one with Cult Gaia and the other with Mowalola. While the Cult Gaia dolls came out back in October (review coming soon), the recently released Mowalola dolls have had Bratz fans brimming with excitement as the UK-based designer brings an edgy flair to two fan favorites characters: Jade and Felicia! The Bratz team at MGA Entertainment was kind enough to send both Mowalola dolls to me and I’ve been dying to share my thoughts about this major collab! Keep reading for a detailed review on the Bratz x Mowalola dolls, including tons of pictures plus details on the dolls’ hair, faces, accessories, and more!
the packaging
Bratz is known for using interesting geometric silhouettes with their packaging and the Mowalola collection is a testament to that. Unlike the typical trapezoid shape that most Bratz dolls employ, the Mowalola dolls have an asymmetrical box in which one half of the trapezoid is shorter than the other, with the other half being taller; the character names printed on the plastic shell of each box start off large on the shorter end, then progressively get smaller as they continue up to the packaging’s tip. The plastic shell also features the character artwork placed on the opposite side of the doll in the box, as well as the Bratz and Mowalola logos at the bottom; the character artwork and logos are also featured on the sides of each box. Jade’s box features a red and green color scheme, while Felicia’s box features a red and white color scheme. There is a fabric handle to match each girl’s colors. Each doll is displayed on the clear side of the packaging, where the sunglasses and “Big Bundle” bags are displayed. Behind the character artwork, the second outfit—which is fitted to the iconic Formal Funk mannequin stands—and Certificate of Authenticity are displayed. As someone who loves Bratz packaging and believes that packaging can truly add value to the fashion doll experience, I am in love with the Mowalola packaging and have to admit it may be some of my favorite doll packaging ever. However, the boxes are huge and are much taller than a typical Bratz doll. I definitely recommend opening these boxes carefully and preserving the packaging as they can make for really unique display pieces—if you have the space for them, that is.
the dolls, fashions, ‘n’ faces
The Bratz x Mowalola dolls feel unlike any other Bratz doll I have experienced before. Both dolls are dressed in high-quality designer fashions and have unique facial features. The Mowalola dolls are definitely a separation from the typical Bratz look, embracing a more edgy look.
The fashions on the Mowalola dolls are incredibly fun and create new quality standards for the Bratz brand. The fashions were designed by fashion house Mowalola, of course, with involvement from Samuel Lewis. The fashions do not appear to be based off anything existing in Mowalola’s catalogue, but all of the pieces have been named. Jade comes with the “Star Lava” mesh dress, “Illusion” mini dress, “Cartoon” zip-up jacket, “Mowamami” sunglasses, and “Killer Cat Bundle” bag. Felicia comes with the “MTV” zip-up jacket and skirt, “5 Star” top, “Poison Pleaser” platform boots, “Venom” dress, “Toxic” sunglasses, and “Glam Gecko Bundle” bag. Many of the pieces feature the Mowalola “M” logo, which is known for being an upside-down Walkman “W” logo. The “M” logo is also featured on the inside of Felicia’s boots, which leads me to talk about the shoes. Both pairs of shoes are by far some of the coolest Bratz shoes I have ever seen! They are so ridiculously large and camp—I’m obsessed with them!!! Jade’s shoes have a star cutout in the platform and I love it so much. Jade’s shoes remind me a bit of the shoes that come with the Tokyo A Go-Go Collector’s Edition dolls. Felicia’s “Venom” dress gives me Magic Hair Color vibes, though I don’t know if this is meant as a reference. Mowalola has also stated that this collection takes inspiration from Bratz lines like Pretty ‘N’ Punk, Live In Concert, Treasures, and Tokyo A Go-Go, so it only makes sense! Most of the pieces are pleather and fit very nicely to the dolls’ bodies, which is something that the brand sometimes struggles with. Along with that, the zip-up jackets have real-working zippers! I am beyond amazed by the quality of these pieces and hope this truly sets a new standard for the Bratz moving forward.
Both of the Mowalola dolls have new and unique screenings with features previously not seen on any Bratz dolls. The eye and lip shapes for both dolls are similar, but there are subtle differences to differentiate the screenings. Jade has bold winged eyeliner on her upper and lower eyelids with no eyelashes. Jade also has two different colored eyes, one being a greyish blue and the other being red, and heart-shaped shine dots. Jade has semi-shaved eyebrows, with only the start of the eyebrows being visible. Felicia has two eyeliner wings on both her upper and lower lids, as well as a more experimental eyeshadow look and yellow eyebrows. Felicia has greyish blue eyes with star-shaped shine dots. Both characters have graphic lip makeup, with painted-on gap teeth using the open-mouth head mold. This is a nice change of pace for the Bratz brand as it shows a more unique and bold side of beauty compared to standard Bratz dolls. In many press releases, it is stated that Mowalola “aimed to break subcultures and boundaries by pushing for ‘firsts’ in the doll space, resulting in dolls with distinct graphic lines, bold brows, mismatched eyes, horned hair, and unique features”—this definitely shows through the dolls’ unique facial features. Both dolls use the standard 2001 open mouth head mold.
In regards to face application method, the Mowalola dolls use the spray method. If you’ve already read my explanation on how Bratz faces are applied, feel free to skip to the next section! If not, and you’re interested in learning more, keep on reading! Nearly every Bratz doll between 2001 and 2014, except for a select few, has a face screening that was painted using the “spray” method. The spray method ensures the eyes are elongated across the face for a classic, sultry Bratz look. Between 2015 and 2016 (except for the V Files x Bratz doll), and for the Bratz 20 Yearz Special Edition dolls released last year, the “sticker” method was used to apply the dolls’ faces. The sticker method is hit-or-miss as the 20 Yearz dolls looked beautiful (in most cases), while it played a huge role in the discontinuation of the brand in 2016. A new method was introduced to the Bratz brand with the Rock Angelz reproductions last year, which is UV printing. UV printing is a more cost-effective method to apply dolls’ faces as spraying seems to be less common in the doll industry these days. Holiday Felicia, the GCDS dolls, Sweet Heart Meygan, and the JimmyPaul dolls also use the UV printing method. However, the Girls Nite Out 21st Birthday Edition dolls reintroduced the spray method to the brand ever since the 2018 Collector dolls.
the hair
A burning question for many fans is: What type of hair do the Mowalola dolls use? The Mowalola dolls have floor-length premium nylon hair. I really enjoy the hair design for these dolls, especially Jade’s! Jade has bangs with streaks in her hair that spell out an “M”, as well as two “devil horns” that are styled up into pigtails. Jade’s hair feels very much like quintessential Jade. Mowalola has stated on social media that Felicia’s hair is inspired by Nicki Minaj in the “Blick Blick” music video. Some may be wondering what Jade’s hair looks like when it’s taken down, but I will not be taking it down. However, some have stated that, when taken down, Jade’s hair looks similar to Felicia’s hair.
Just like the face application method section, feel free to skip this portion if you’ve already read my explanations on the differences between Bratz hair types! Nylon hair appears to be a new standard for the Bratz brand, as is the case for most MGA doll brands (except for Dream Ella who has been using polypropylene, sorry girl!) since 2019, which is something I fully support. For context on some of the different hair types used on Bratz, nylon has often been confused with polypropylene, which is a hair fiber that was used in a majority of lines between 2008-2013 and is known for being hard to manage and prone to degrading over time, because of a name mix-up over a decade ago. Saran—which has been used on most Bratz released between 2001-2007, 2015-2018, and on most of the Bratz 20 Yearz Special Edition dolls (except for some later variants which use nylon) released last year—is a great hair fiber that has always satisfied collectors, though it is prone to yellowing and degrading over time. Nylon is another premium hair type that can be easily restyled with heated hair tools and is less likely to degrade over time like saran and polypropylene can do. Saran hair is harder to come by in certain colors and is not as commonly used in modern doll productions, so nylon provides a way for consumers to have these hair colors without resorting to using low-grade polypropylene. Nylon also tends to feel really nice and oftentimes better than saran, and is known to last decades without degrading.
I personally enjoy nylon hair and prefer it in some cases. Some fans may be hesitant to accept nylon as the new standard for Bratz dolls because it tends to “poof” up on their heads (for example, the Rock Angelz 20 Yearz Special Edition dolls are often referred to as having “helmet heads”), but it seems that the rooting technique for this season’s Bratz dolls has significantly improved. If you are having trouble getting the factory product out of your dolls’ hair that makes it feel “crunchy”, I recommend washing it once (maybe twice depending on how much product is used) with dish soap then following up with a conditioner rinse; a boil wash is not necessary for nylon hair and can sometimes damage it, but a flat iron and other heated hairstyling tools may work better for styling their hair after it has been washed and dried. With the Mowalola dolls, I recommend only washing the loose hair and not the styled pieces at the top. The bangs are prone to fraying upwards when washed.
the bodies
The Mowalola dolls use the Collector 2018 body. If you don’t know already, this body is a hybrid of the original 2001 torso and legs with arms from the Movie dolls from 2007 and hands from the 2013 bodies. The hand peg shape has been changed starting with the Cult Gaia dolls. The arms and hands can be popped off for easier redressing. I typically do not like this body as some fashions are not flattering on them, but I will say that Mowalola is definitely the exception! The construction of the pieces are very flattering to this body and I’m sure the height of the dolls help to avoid them looking like they are “drowning” in their garments. While I’d still love for MGA to consider introducing new body types to the Bratz brand, this one serves its purpose for the collection. I should also note that there are some skintone differences between Jade’s head and her body; I wish they had managed to make her completely pale like her previous dolls. Felicia’s skintone seems to have different undertones in comparison to her other dolls, which you can see in the gallery.
OTHER FEATURES AND ACCESSORIES
The Mowalola dolls come with some accessories, as well as a Certificate of Authenticity, mannequin stand, and doll stand. Jade comes with two spiked hair accessories that wrap around her devil horn pigtails, which seem like they may be reused from or scaled-down versions of L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Remix Super Sonix Bhad Gurl’s or Series 4 Spicy Babe’s hair accessories. As mentioned previously, the mannequin stand originally came with the Formal Funk dolls in 2003. The base of the doll stand originates from Winter Ball Beauty Cloe, but has foot pegs similar to the Rock Angelz stands. This re-imagined doll stand was introduced with the Cult Gaia dolls, and I must say that it is one of the most useful stands that Bratz has come out with. I hope MGA uses this stand in future Bratz releases!
where to buy
If you’re wondering where to buy the Bratz x Mowalola dolls, they are currently available at several online retailers in most countries and physical retailers in some countries! The dolls will not be sold in physical stores in most countries such as the United States, unless they are returned in-person to Target or Walmart. I am not sure where they will be sold outside of the United States nor will I be able to post about it, but my best advice is to contact local retailers to see if they’ll be selling the Mowalola dolls, especially if those retailers sold the 20 Yearz dolls last year! I will note that Australian fans have spotted the Mowalola dolls in-person at Myer stores, so that is one instance where the dolls are being sold in physical stores internationally. Amazon and LOLSurprise.com typically ship internationally, though may have stock issues. Mowalola’s website also seems to ship internationally as they are a UK-based brand. International fans also have the option of checking the retailers listed on MGA Entertainment’s Where To Buy webpage or contacting their international offices for more info. The dolls retail for $60.99 USD. Check below for a list of links to some retailers selling the dolls:
Bratz x Mowalola Drip Gawds Jade: Amazon, LOLSurprise.com (link currently unavailable), Target, Walmart, Mowalola
Bratz x Mowalola Drip Gawds Felicia: Amazon, LOLSurprise.com, Target, Walmart, Mowalola
overall thoughtz
Overall, I am… genuinely shocked by the Bratz x Mowalola dolls! And for all the right reasons, of course. I do get more into this topic in my YouTube video about the dolls, but this collection—along with all the Fall 2022 dolls released from the brand—feels like a major step in the right direction for the Bratz brand. A year ago, many were disappointed by quality control and distribution issues with nearly every Bratz release. A year later, the brand seems to be doing much better and that is so refreshing to see. I will be honest, I did not see the brand releasing much more past this year based on the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 releases… but, I feel so much more confident about the future of the brand and Mowalola is the cherry on top of the cake for this season’s releases.
Have you watched my video about the Bratz x Mowalola dolls yet? Check it out here!
Some may disagree that the Mowalola dolls are beautiful both in terms of looks and quality, but we should recognize that we need freshness in order for the brand to survive. Bratz cannot survive off nostalgia alone, which is why the designer collabs always feel like a breath of fresh air. While the previous designer collabs have been nice, I feel that Mowalola tops most of its predecessors because of its willingness to take the brand in an edgy and daring direction. Bratz is not and never should be Y2K nostalgia bait focused on butterfly tops and mini skirts. The brand is so much more than that. The brand would always take risks back in the day (a la Pretty ‘N’ Punk and Midnight Dance, for example) and was known for trend forecasting. The Mowalola team did such a beautiful job in giving our girlz fresh new looks that brings cutting-edge style back to the brand, and that is so heartwarming to see as a diehard Bratz fan. It is even more special knowing that their team was inspired by iconic Bratz lines and had fans working on this collection.
Thank you so much to MGA Entertainment not only for sending the Mowalola dolls, but also for putting more faith and love into the brand that put their company on the spot.
Congratulations to Mowalola and their team for creating such brilliant dolls! A huge congrats to @falsebratz for being tapped to create custom dolls for the Bratz x Mowalola promotional shoots, as well as @dramatic.doll for having their artwork featured in the shoots.
I hope you keep checkin’ out Lookin’ Bratz for more news and reviews in the future! Make sure to check out my YouTube unboxing video for another look at the dolls and subscribe for more Bratz videos.
Stay tuned to LookinBratz.com for more news on the Girls with a Passion for Fashion, and make sure to check out Lookin’ Bratz on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok for more scorchin’ Bratz content and news! I’m also now on Twitch!
Curious about what else the Bratz brand has in store? There is nothing else set to come out in Fall 2022, but Spring 2023 doll releases are just around the corner! You can check out some of what’s expected in the new year on the Bratz 2022 Masterpost!
xoxo
