Home 18" Dolls Outfits for 18" Vinyl Dolls Accessories Outfits for 18" Soft Body Dolls Stardust Classics Doll Club
Ordering Retailers Customer Care About Carpatina Press Releases   Feedback Links

Carpatina LLC

Overview:
Carpatina opened for business in 1998 with a line of fine Medieval Renaissance inspired costumes for adults. Carpatina Renaissance

In July of 2002 Carpatina introduced the Fantasy Adventures® - a line of 18" vinyl dolls that offers the quality of a collectible doll with all the features of a play doll.
Behind this new line of dolls is the work of a few talented people which also helped creating other famous Doll Brands like Stardust Classics, Dream Doll Designer , Little Sisters, My Li'l Punkin, Friend to Friend .
Our dolls are made of high quality vinyl and stand 18" tall -perfect for play or display. In addition, they have open/close eyes and gorgeous long hair that can be styled and restyled.
We also think that our very affordable collection of fantasy historical clothing, done in rich fabrics and finely detailed, is distinctive and highly appealing.
In the summer of 2003, a new line was lunched: Girlfriends Collection®. Contemporary, classy and a must have collection of clothing and accessories for the size of American Girl® dolls. All available through our website, catalog and a few selected specialty retailers.

Carpatina LLC was incorporated in 2002 and it is privately own.

Our Dolls, Outfits and Accessories are manufactured in China, Taiwan, Romania and USA.
All Designs and Photography are the property of Carpatina LLC and can not be used or reproduced without prior permission.

Location:
Carpatina headquarters are located in Nashua, NH and the warehouse in Hooksett, NH.
Our mailing address: Carpatina LLC, P.O. Box 496, Nashua, NH 03061.

Staff:
Mihaela Hinkle - Founder & Costume Designer
Vernon Thornblad - Artist, Photographer and Web Designer (Vernon had created the beautiful faces of Ana Ming, Julia, Isabella and Emma Pogo Studio)
Beth O. - Writer, Editor and PR consultant
Mark H. - Graphic Designer, Mark designs our catalogs, and ads
Ken S. - Operations and Warehouse Manager
Maria D. - Customer Service
Lynne F. - Marketing and Sales Consultant
John R. - Accounting and Finances
Rick M. - Book keeping
Helen, Sharyn, Mabel and Paul - Professional tailors and pattern makers
Bob Fraher - Professional Photography Fraher Imaging

Carpatina - a short history from the perspective of her founder
The meaning of the name Carpatina is a girl from the Carpathian mountains.
I was born in a small village in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains and my parents' house was and still is a piece of paradise on Earth.
The 12 feet high front gates sculpted with angels motifs, the long courtyard covered with grapevines, the front porch with two massive columns and my mom's (always blooming) flower garden, will be in my memory forever.
I left home at 14 in order to go to the High school in the near by town. Romania was a communist country in those times and things were rough. Schools and jobs were 6 days a week but, I was eager to come back home on every Sunday.
The villager were always celebrating a wedding or a baptism or a Saints Day; there was always music and the smell of freshly baked cheese buns in the air.
Time went by and in the summer of 1985 I was admitted to the University. It was one of the happiest days of my life and all I remember is that I was so exited that, I jumped on my bike and rode for about 15 miles (I wish I can still do that easily) to see my best friend which was living in a neighboring village.
My major was Textile and Apparel Engineering with a secondary major in fashion history.
I was really in love with clothing and I wanted to know everything it was possible to know about it. During the college years, my inclination towards clothing design and history of fashion became more and more obvious. I was very much attracted to older fashions which I founded much more elegant and feminine than the contemporary one. I was fascinated with the glamour of old fashions and also with the amount of details in the clothing.
My last year in school was a politically tumultuous years. The revolution to overthrow the communism in 1989 was one of the things I am most proud to have been part of.
I finished school the next spring and I started my first job in Bucharest at the largest Apparel Manufacturer in the country.
My 3 year career here provided me with a great experience about what clothing manufacturing involves, from design to choosing materials, draping, pattern making, embroidery, sewing, packaging and import/ export.
But, life in Romania after the revolution become harder and harder. Inflation was high and my engineer's salary was barely enough to cover the rent on my studio apartment with very little furniture in it.
My parents were coming on a monthly basis to bring me food from the little farm they had. My dad was even helping me pay the rent sometimes.
The worst of all was when I realized that I will never be able to use my talents and my aptitudes, people were struggling to live, there was no place for much extra. What a sad revelation.
But one day, a bright and sunny and unforgettable day, a big chance was offered to me, so big that I couldn't really resist.
Being sponsored to come to USA, the land of opportunities. I had to try it.
August 23, 1993; I arrived in NY airport with one green suitcase and this was the start of a new life, on a new land, all from "zero".

The love for my native country and the fond memories of my childhood are the foundation for what the Carpatina business encompasses. The peasant blouses imported from Romania are made in the region I grew up and they are a part of our heritage which is on the verge of extinction. Only a few older ladies are keeping the tradition of hand making these beautifull folk blouses.

My love for history and the Medieval and Renaissance fashions are the base for the Fantasy Adventures dolls. They are made with love and intended to challenge the girls imagination and intuition.
My dream for the future is to cover other historical periods, to add a boy doll (after all, every princess needs a prince), to expand manufacturing of these costumes in USA and to use more natural organic materials.
I hope that moms will encourage their girls to continue to play with dolls for many generations to come.



Important:
Carpatina Dolls are made in compliance with the child safety rules and regulations and they are free of lead paint and free of latex.
We are making available the results for these tests:

Charitable Donations:
Carpatina donates product to many PBS stations around the country for their auction fund raising and also donates dolls and outfits to selected children organizations seeking product contributions for raffle and auction fund raisers.

Thank you
We hope that you will welcome in your homes these new dolls and that you will enjoy and cherish them for years to come.
We stand behind our quality and hope to provide one of the best services.

 Carpatina LLC, P.O. Box 496, Nashua, NH 03061

 Customer Service: 603-881-3443 

 E-Mail

Customer Service Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET


Designs and Photography are Copyright ©Carpatina LLC - Do not use any image from this website without prior permission.

 Home 18" Dolls 18" Vinyl ~ Doll Outfits  Accessories 18" Soft Body ~ Doll Outfits Stardust Classics Doll Club Ordering Customer Care Links