Edgy Fashion Heaven: 23 Stores Like Dolls Kill

by Catherine Moreland June 8, 2022 528 9 min read

If you’re into goth, punk, and edgy clothes, Dolls Kill is probably your go-to whenever you need new garments or styling ideas. Unfortunately, the owner of the store has recently come under fire for racially insensitive designs, as well as her unclear stance on police brutality. That has led to many brands refusing to work with the shop.

Fortunately, there are many stores like Dolls Kill that you can opt for to get your punky clothes. This article will introduce you to the best of them below.

Dolls Kill — An Introduction

Dolls Kill

Image source: Dollskill

Dolls Kill is a famous online fashion brand based in San Francisco. It was founded in 2011 by Shoddy Lynn and her husband, Bobby Farahi. Their vision was simple: they wanted to create a clothing company that would cater to everyone who felt like a misfit.

To do so, the pair came up with six different collections of clothing, accessories, and footwear. Each collection is modeled by a specific doll, which is how the brand got its name. Aside from different fashion styles, the dolls also embody different personalities and characters that people can relate to.

The dolls and fashion styles that the company offers are:

• Willow — The laid-back festival girl who loves flowy skirts, platform shoes, kimono robes, and everything vintage.

• Coco — She embodies Japanese Kawaii fashion, which includes lots of pink clothes, baby dresses, pleated skirts, and soft designs and materials.

• Kandi — With her neon shirts, leather pants and skirts, and edgy platform boots, Kandi represents all the ravers and wild spirits who cannot be tamed.

• Mercy — This doll is the embodiment of all goth lovers. Her collection offers lots of leather and lace, all in the signature shiny black.

• Mia — This collection is the trendiest the brand sells. It is full of stylish streetwear that includes two-piece sets, bikinis, joggers, printed tees, as well as cute jeans.

• Darby — Darby is for all alternative and punk lovers, as she always wears clothing with lots of graphics and edgy imagery. In addition, you can expect lots of plaids and earthy, muted colors.

Evidently, the brand truly tries to cater to everyone. However, the emphasis is always on people who usually cannot find the clothes they like in wholesale stores and shopping centers.

Why Is Dolls Kill Getting Canceled?

Canceled

Image source: Dollskill

As you probably already know, 2020 was a turbulent time full of social upheavals in the US. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a police officer, people actively protested the force and asked for immediate reforms.

In such a climate, everyone with a considerable public platform was expected to take a clear stance and denounce police brutality. People especially expected such a move from the Dolls Kill founders since the brand is aimed at everyone who doesn’t belong or fit into the masses.

Unfortunately, Shoddy Lynn took the opposite side and posted an Instagram story in support of police officers. To make matters worse, she also condoned officers shooting peaceful protestors in front of her store in San Francisco.

Though Shoddy removed the story soon in mere minutes, it did not quell the outrage of people of color. Moreover, they quickly reminded the public of the brand’s past mistakes as well, including cultural appropriation and racist designs. In just a few days, most of the industry was boycotting the company.

Following the backlash, the official Dolls Kill Instagram account posted three black squares and voiced their support of the Black Lives Matter movement. However, most fans saw these posts as performative and did not accept the apology issued by Shoddy.

Instead, they started compiling lists of brands similar to Dolls Kill that deserve the same success. These lists gained substantial traction because everyone wanted to support companies that actually put human rights first.

If you are one such fan, worry not. You can find all the stores like Dolls Kill in the sections that follow. And the best thing is, you can be sure that they are both socially aware and respectful of the current political environment.