Before she became the founder of PetitePal, Kong was simply crafting a heartfelt gift for someone special. That one handmade doll, however, set her on an unexpected path, turning a personal project into an entrepreneurial venture.
Each doll is lovingly hand-stitched by Kong, personalised right down to the tiniest detail, from the hair and button eyes to Converse shoes and an outfit picked just for you.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Kong revealed that, surprisingly, her fascination with dolls wasn’t a childhood obsession, but rather something she discovered as an adult.
“My love for dolls started quite unexpectedly. I wanted to make a gift for my partner that was personal and full of meaning, not just something off the shelf. That’s when the idea of making a ‘mini me’ came up,” Kong shared.
“Sometimes it’s not about how expensive the item is, but about the effort that was put into making something beautiful.”
With a background in fashion design and a current role as a marketing executive, Kong took the leap to start PetitePal around June last year, leaving behind her part-time job at the time.
“In the beginning, I just made dolls for my friends as gifts. Everything was messy, from the packaging to the sewing process, but over time, I found my own rhythm and improved along the way,” she said.
“I still remember the first doll I made for a real customer. It was a gift for her friend, and later that friend messaged me personally to thank me, and to tell me how much she loved it. That honestly made my whole week.”
For Kong, what makes her dolls truly special is the customisation. Most of her dolls feature her signature style: a 35cm tall white body and face with only eyes, no mouth or nose, and a slender form.
“I take a lot of inspiration from the film Coraline, especially the button eyes,” she said.
This minimal canvas allows her to truly play with the doll’s hair, outfits, and colours.
“Every doll I make is one of a kind, no two are ever the same. In a world where everything feels mass-produced, I love that each of my dolls carries a personal story.”
A large number of PetitePal’s dolls are personalised to resemble a specific person. For Kong, achieving that likeness perfectly is a point of pride.
“My creative process is quite intuitive,” she explained. “Sometimes customers come to me with their dream outfits, and sometimes I create them based on mood or season. I’ll start with a mood board, then source fabrics, sketch, and finally stitch.”
Most of the fabrics Kong uses are sustainable, repurposed from high-quality clothing and textiles. She admitted that the process of handcrafting each doll is labour-intensive.
“Even though my full-time job can get quite hectic, I still spend about three to four hours every night working on doll orders. It’s honestly exhausting, but once I start sewing, I forget how tired I am. It’s a kind of peaceful joy.”
Since 2024, her work has been gradually attracting attention.
“One of my favourite memories is when a customer made a doll of his Taiwanese pop star idol and brought it to a concert, and the idol actually accepted it! I couldn’t believe it,” Kong shared.
“For me, the best part is always the customer’s reaction. That moment when they see their doll for the first time, that excitement and happiness, it reminds me why I do what I do.”
Kong acknowledges that some people find dolls creepy, but she chooses to focus on customers who appreciate their unique beauty.
“I wanted to chase my passion and do something I truly love, not just another nine to five job. Making dolls makes me happy, and I hope they bring a bit of that joy to others too,” she said.
In her vision for the future, Kong hopes PetitePal will become a brand people feel connected to, much like Jellycat.
At present, she is continuing to expand, focusing on creating a smaller doll that is portable enough to carry all day.
“Life’s too short to have a boring doll, that’s what I always say.”
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