30 November 2007
	REAL PEOPLE DOING UNREAL THINGS Not just cute & cuddly By Desné Masie

Two local designers are cashing in on a niche market by making unique toys for grown-ups. Alba Poretti and rapper and artist Watkin Tudor Jones, who prefers to be called by his stage name Max Normal have given new meaning to toys for (grown-up) boys and girls. And they are not shy to charge. Poretti trades under the label Missyucki and one of her dolls or "muti" monsters can set you back a cool US$91. Normal's cuddly animals can fetch up to R1 000. If you can get your hands on one of them, that is. The master range of 100 adorable characters - lovingly hand-sewn by him and assistant, Yolandi Visser - are almost sold out. "My hands are still sore," he says. Normal recently published a colourful book that explains each of the animals. A must-have is lion, "a great big, pink creature that just wants everything to be OK. If lion half closes his eyes he can see your aura." "I like animals because they each have their own set of unique personalities and special powers. My animals are for everyone," says Normal. Poretti, together with Missyucki co-owner Kat Cameron, have taken their merchandise as far as the US and Japan. They produce the merchandise by hand and sell them online or at specially arranged Missyucki events. Poretti says: "Our toys extend beyond the designer toy framework, we have tried to create an art project where narrative plays a strong role." Missyucki is a serial beauty-pageant contestant, trained by the muti monsters who are actually tokoloshes. Both Normal and Poretti find young adults are their main clients. But Poretti says: "Our clients straddle a broad spectrum of interests." Normal is, however, mass-producing a special and cheaper range for children. "It's terrible telling (real) children they can't touch the art at exhibitions when they are going crazy for them," he says. The market for designer toys is huge overseas, especially Japan, where they are collector's items for trendy young adults. Normal explains: "In the East there is no distinction between high art and street art. They're taken seriously and fetch high prices." Some items by Devilrobots, a popular Japanese brand, can cost as much as $250, which is as much as an i-Pod.