Yue Sai Wa Wa

In 2000, seeing that all dolls in China had blue eyes and blond hair, Yue-Sai designed and produced a line of Asian female dolls, known as the Yue-Sai WaWa (“doll” in Chinese). Each doll has distinctive Asian features, accessories and educational facts, to help Asian children develop confidence, knowledge and pride in their heritage as well as educate children about Asian cultures. The major design theme of the collection is truly East meets West. They are inspired either by the traditional dresses or beautiful western fabrics. That means the clothes have touches of Asia yet very modern and chic in feel. The outcome is a range of uniquely designed fabrics and fashion that mixes and matches the two. A secondary design theme focuses on the international flavor. They are beautiful designs that are not only rich in color but also dynamic in design and cutting. – Yue Sai Kan Website, Wa Wa Dolls

Yue-Sai Kan

Photograph of Yue-Sai Kan, taken by Fadil Berisha

The Yue-Sai Wa Wa doll line was created by Chinese American immigrant and celebrity Yue-Sai Kan. After founding the Yue-Sai Kan Productions company in the early 1970s, she pursued a career in television as a host and producer. Her debut in journalism and her weekly television series, Looking East, won her several awards and became the catalyst for her growing prestige in journalism. She went on to host the 1984 PBS broadcast of the 35th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, create her Emmy Award-winning documentary China: Walls and Bridges, and host and produce two television series on PBS focusing on culture and business in East Asia. According to the Yue Sai Kan website, she became the most watched woman in the world due to her three-hundred million viewers in China in addition to her viewers in the United States. Her subsequent humanitarian work and entrepreneurship has made her an award-winning author, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and cultural ambassador.

Yue-Sai Kan is the first and only living American featured on a government-issued Chinese postage stamp which was issued in 2002. In 2005, a new version was published to keep up with her new hairdo. Her long list of awards and accolades includes the Magnolia Award from the Shanghai Municipal Government for her contribution to the economic and social development of Shanghai, “20 Most Influential Women Around the Globe” by Xinhua News Agency and the permanent establishment of a “Yue-Sai Day” in Hawaii which falls on October 6 every year. Most recently, Yue-Sai received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor as an outstanding Chinese American immigrant, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Award at the United Nations, the Ban Ki-moon Award from Asia Initiatives, and Blue Cloud award from China institute. – Yue Sai Kan Website, Long Biography