Iqaluit designer to refurbish, regift discarded dolls

Broken Barbies, damaged dollies and unstuffed stuffies are getting a second life beyond the Iqaluit landfill, thanks to local graphic artist and children’s book illustrator Ian Etheridge.

“There’s tons of kids that have broken dolls or Barbies that they’ve given up on,” Etheridge said during a recent interview. “We’ll give them a proper cleanup job and refurbish them and give them back to kids.”

These are some of the damaged dolls graphic designer Ian Etheridge has collected for his discarded doll project. (Photo courtesy of Ian Etheridge)

Etheridge will give the toys a “glow-up,” which includes repainting chipped faces and restyling tangled hair.

He then plans to hire crocheters to create custom clothing before he repackages the toys and regifts them to families with young children in the fall.

As for any headless, limbless and otherwise doomed toys in his collection, they will be welcomed as dreadful decor for Etheridge’s annual Freak Lab, part of the city’s Halloween programming.

“Everyone knows creepy dolls are just a nightmare,” he said. “The toys that are busted up — hey, they will get a second life in my world.”

In 2021 and 2022, Etheridge helped orchestrate the haunted drive-through in the R.L. Hanson Construction Ltd. garage. In 2024, he partnered with Judo Nunavut to help host a haunted fundraiser at Joamie School.

Last year Etheridge connected with the city’s recreation department to stage a bigger haunted house and carnival. This year’s event will return with Etheridge’s freaky fabrications, said Matilda Pinksen, the city’s special events programmer.

“His creativity for paper mâché, props, turning garbage into creations and sourcing costumes is wonderful to see,” Pinksen said.

The venue for this year’s carnival has not been determined, Pinksen said.

In the meantime, Etheridge is accepting discarded dolls, Barbies and stuffie donations at the Piviniit Thrift Store between 6:30p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.