On a biting February evening earlier this year, I had a sleepover at an AI sex doll brothel in Kreuzberg, Berlin’s increasingly gentrified party district. As I curled up to the silicone doll with rainbow-sherbet colored hair who I’d opted to spend the night with—and who’d been given the extremely German kosename ‘Techno Babe’—I found myself wanting to know more about my new lover. ‘Who made you?’ I thought, as I nestled into her dense, cantaloupe-like breasts. ‘And why do you look the way that you do?’
The answer, of course, is consumer demand, and it turns out that sex doll consumers have different kinds of demands depending on where they are in the world. Philipp Fussenegger, the owner of the brothel, told me Techno Babe came from a factory in China; it’s estimated that around 90 percent of the world’s sex toys are made in the tech hubs of Shenzhen and Dongguan. Most will be shipped to North America, followed by Europe, where the French and Italians are reported to be especially eager buyers.
This only led to more questions. How were Chinese factory owners making sense of the private desires of millions of people scattered across the globe? How were the fetishes and kinks of Europeans, Americans, Asians, and Africans measured, distilled and rendered into pseudo-human form? More than anything, I was curious to understand which kinds of sex doll—bimbo dolls, granny dolls, alien dolls, anthropomorphic furry dolls—were most popular in different places, how they fitted into buyers’ lives, and what we might be able to glean from these trends about sex, intimacy, and desire in the modern age.
So, I started chatting with ULoversDoll, a major sex-doll vendor in China that sells all flavors of doll, each with a spicy menu of add-ons that include such dubious innovations as movable jaws, subcutaneous heating, and autosucking vaginas.
VICE: How do you know what customers want?
Mr. Zhou Yi, product development manager at ULoversDoll: We keep a close eye on the main hangouts where doll lovers actually talk shop. Reddit’s r/sexdolls and The Doll Forum (TDF) are our go-to spots—that’s where you’ll find the real, unfiltered conversations. No marketing fluff, just users speaking their minds! We also pay attention to YouTube and Pornhub, especially the review videos. Influencers there don’t sugarcoat things—they show what the dolls can, and can’t, do, which helps us a ton when it comes to understanding what people really care about.
Are there any other sources of inspiration?
We continuously monitor trending celebrities and influencers in each country, paying close attention to the skin tones and facial characteristics that resonate with audiences.
Western-style dolls often take inspiration from fitness influencers and glamor models, emphasizing toned bodies, confident expressions, and natural makeup. Meanwhile, dolls bought by customers in China and Japan are often inspired by K-pop aesthetics, anime art, and soft, doll-like features that reflect the “virtual idol” culture.
There’s also a strong influence from social media aesthetics—the so-called “Instagram look”: clean contouring, glossy lips, expressive eyes, and a sense of fantasy blended with realism. So, instead of copying one specific person, designers today are merging multiple inspirations. This creates a kind of “collective beauty ideal” drawn from influencers, adult creators, and online culture at large.
“Reddit’s r/sexdolls and The Doll Forum are our go-to spots—that’s where you’ll find the real, unfiltered conversations. No marketing fluff, just users speaking their minds!”
What about customers who have an, er, firmer idea of what they want?
Of course, there are also cases of one-to-one recreations. For instance, manufacturers like Irontech have partnered with adult film stars to create officially licensed, full-body replicas using 3D scanning and digital modeling. These collaborations allow fans to feel a more personal connection with their favorite performers—a fascinating example of how technology bridges fantasy and reality in the modern adult industry.
Okay, so let’s get into it. Which type of dolls are most popular with different demographics—say, U.S. vs your clientele from Japan and China?
Overall, the U.S. market shows interest in a wide variety of doll types, including slim, plus-size, and Black dolls. American customers are also more likely to purchase unconventional designs, such as animalistic dolls or alien dolls. These have features that are not found in real humans. American users are sometimes so enthusiastic about these types of dolls that they purchase dozens or even hundreds of them for their collections.
In contrast, Asian customers typically prefer Asian facial features, fair or natural skin tones, heights around 150 cm, and slim and sexy body types. Another trend we’ve clearly observed is the strong preference for tan or sun-kissed skin tones in the U.S. market—these dolls are often associated with health, confidence, and energy.
In terms of the U.S. market, what about state to state? Are there any purchasing trends?
ULoverDoll’s August 2025 sales show some interesting regional patterns, reflecting subtle differences in taste, lifestyle, and how people approach intimacy and recreation.
California leads with the highest number of orders, mostly for realistic butt and torso products. These products have detailed sculpting and soft textures, indicating a preference for aesthetics and visual realism.
Meanwhile, in conservative states like Texas and Florida, we’ve noticed a stronger focus on functionality and durability. Demand leans toward private and discreet use, with compact designs preferred. Half-body torsos are more popular in these places, offering a more complete experience at a practical weight.
The image of a gun-slinging Texan patriot ploughing into a legless plastic doll from China is certainly an arresting one.
Differences appear to stem more from population density, social openness, and access to adult retail than from pure political ideology. Public studies show behavioral changes after Roe’s overturning, including increased concern among men about reproductive risk, and reduced levels of casual sex among some groups. But we can’t confirm a direct correlation from our August sales data alone.
“American customers are more likely to purchase unconventional designs, such as animalistic or alien figures. These dolls have features that are not found in real humans”
What most surprised you when conducting this research?
Female users make up a relatively high proportion of the German market—approximately 20 percent, based on our estimates. Among women, muscular male dolls are especially popular. Many of them appreciate the strong, protective look, it aligns with a fantasy of intimacy and strength. However, weight is a major concern. Female users want the physical realism and presence of a life-size doll, but in a form that’s easier to move, dress, and interact with. That’s why we’ve seen growing interest in lightweight silicone torsos or half-body models. They provide the same sculpted aesthetic and realism, but are more practical for everyday use.
How does the role that sex dolls play in people’s lives differ around the world?
In Japan, where the population is rapidly aging, our customers are mainly middle-aged or older, and many purchase dolls as companions or even as surrogate family members. For them, a doll not only fulfils physical needs but also offers companionship. One Japanese customer wrote to us saying that the doll helped him cope with loneliness after retirement, and that her presence made his home feel “less empty.”
We’ve also noticed that many Japanese and East Asian customers tend to prefer smaller, lighter dolls with more “anime-like” features. Often, this reflects a desire for emotional comfort, companionship, or fantasy fulfillment, rather than purely physical needs. This aligns with broader social trends such as aging populations, increasing rates of social withdrawal (e.g. hikikomori), and the cultural tendency to keep intimate desires private.
How do you avoid creating dolls that are childlike?
That’s an important question and something every responsible manufacturer and retailer needs to take seriously. While some East Asian customers prefer smaller body sizes or anime-inspired faces, professional brands make a clear distinction between “stylized” and “childlike.”
All of our partner manufacturers follow strict adult-design guidelines: mature body proportions, fully developed anatomy, and realistic sexual characteristics. Even when a doll has an anime or fantasy-inspired face, it’s always designed to reflect an adult persona—not a minor. At Uloversdoll, we also review all brand photos and listings to ensure compliance with international standards and platform policies. Our focus is on adult aesthetics, fantasy, and artistry—never on anything that crosses ethical lines.
What about the photos on your site of the ‘small tits love doll’ holding a teddy bear?
Liam, translator at ULoversDoll [stepping in]: Thank you sincerely for pointing this out. We truly appreciate you taking the time to bring this issue to our attention. Upon reviewing the product, we have immediately instructed our operations team to remove it from the site.
While the doll’s height meets our standard requirements, we fully understand how its Asian facial features, makeup style, and the overall photo atmosphere could be misinterpreted. You’re absolutely right to raise concern about this. There are indeed gray areas in this industry, and occasionally our internal team may overlook something during the initial review. Our development manager, Mr. Zhou Yi, is responsible for coordinating with more than 60 manufacturers, so despite his best efforts, rare oversights can still happen.
We truly value your feedback, and your message helps us improve our screening process to ensure that every product we list aligns with the strictest safety and ethical standards. Thank you again for holding us accountable—it genuinely makes our platform better.
Okay, I may pick that up again later. What has selling high grade sex dolls taught you about desire and how it differs from place to place?
Mr. Zhou Yi: Desire is universal but how people express it varies. For example, in the U.S. and much of the West, there’s more openness to self-expression to individual identity, non-traditional relationships, and sexual exploration… This includes things like the normalization of adult toys and love dolls.
U.S. customers tend to be early adopters when it comes to new features or innovations. They’re usually the first to explore and try out the latest upgrades in the doll world. It’s also not uncommon for both partners in a relationship to own or use a sex doll. Many customers purchase torso dolls specifically as tools for shared intimacy between couples. One customer even mentioned that he and his wife use a torso doll during roleplay to add excitement, describing it as “a way to explore fantasies together without pressure.”
Right, makes sense.
What’s really fascinating is that both male and female users often explore different types over time. One month, a customer might be drawn to a soft, romantic look. The next, they’re trying a bold, athletic model. It’s not unusual for users to build a small collection to suit different moods or fantasies.
For users who live with family, especially with children or elderly parents, discretion is a big consideration. Some choose to store their dolls in storage sofas or custom flight cases, so they can keep them safely and privately when not in use. Interestingly, our ACG-themed doll collectors—those inspired by anime or game culture—often take a different approach. They joke in the comments that they can proudly display their dolls in plain sight, calling them “large-scale figurines” when friends or guests ask about them.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. At the time of publication, the listing for the ‘small tits love doll’ is still live on the ULoversDoll website.
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