Lelé, as we know her today, started becoming popular in the 1970s. Though not the first doll in indigenous Mexican culture, she stems from a long lineage of dolls with varying types and styles.
Different groups of indigenous populations throughout the country have been manufacturing human figures for many years and for diverse purposes. Some were found in burial grounds, as dolls were often buried next to the face of the deceased (Lechuga, 2014). Later, they were used as toys and, since the dolls reflect the culture of the people, they help children to learn their elders’ customs (Lechuga, 2014).
These dolls are commonly made of clay, corn husk, wood or papier-mâché, with materials used either exclusively or combined into more complex dolls. Using solely corn husks, the Corn Husk Dolls were very common, often seen painted with bright colours and carrying a little basket (Lechuga, 2014).
Nowadays, the cloth doll, or rag doll, is the most well-known (Lechuga, 2014). Because of the use of fabric, it is easier to create variety in terms of colours and patterns, giving a lot of room for personalization of the appearance of the doll. Additionally, a rag doll is a lot more resilient to child’s play than a doll made of paper, corn husk or clay – it doesn’t break as easily when it’s played with, dragged around, or gets wet. They are cheap to make with scrap fabric material and can be easily repaired with a needle and thread.