Bioprofile of Mrs. Cynthia Douglas

Mrs. Cynthia Douglas is a born and bred Trinidadian of mixed parentage. She is married with two (2) sons. Both f whom are involved in the family business. She is a past lecturer of John Donaldson Technical Institute and also the Port of Spain Teacher's Training, teaching craft and Applied Art, and is at present an external examiner of craft at the Ministry of Education for the Teacher's Training Colleges.

She has studied Dress design at City and Guilds of London, England and Applied Art, England also Doll Sculpting in cernit and sculpey from Mr. Lewis Goldstein, sculptor, Author, Teacher, USA. Having taught for many years she decided to go into business.It has taken quite a number of years to create a national Doll representing our people and lifestyle. This was done through much personal sacrifice. The product was patented '95. This product is being offered for the export market.

She has also attended many small business courses.Historical Development The first design of dolls were "rag play dolls" even then Mrs. Douglas felt there was the need to create a local doll indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago, so started to experiment with materials to obtain an original local doll.

A past lecturer of the Port of Spain Teachers Training College, John Donaldson Technical Institute and presently an external examiner for craft at the Teachers Training College, Mrs. Douglas' involvement in the teaching of craft, has helped immeasurably to advance her efforts to create an appropriate product. Her first efforts consisted of researching what the norms are on the world market. Dolls came into being about 760 A.D., with the cloth variety appearing around 1906, and being very popular to this day.

Caress Classics dolls were exhibited in Boston at an annual doll fair. At this exhibition, there were manufacturers from India and Japan who wanted to purchase the rights to produce our dolls. This event gave insight into the future of the product. The product was also appraised by a doll expert, who gave certain guidelines to work by for international acceptance. In addition to this, a German expert, Mrs. B. Ostmann who was contracted on governments behalf also visited our shop and as very delighted by our product. She was impressed with our fine workmanship.