Who is Upper Dhali®?

Upper Dhali® is an Australian creative studio brand devoted to creating meaningful, heirloom-quality handmade dolls — pieces designed to be cherished, remembered, and loved through the generations.

Each Upper Dhali® doll is thoughtfully and individually made through a slow, deliberate process that prioritises craftsmanship over volume. Every stitch, embroidered detail, and finishing touch reflects a deep respect for traditional making techniques, combined with a contemporary sensitivity to beauty, emotion, and connection.

At its heart, Upper Dhali® exists to honour sentiment — the stories we carry, the people we love, and the quiet moments that shape us, including deeply personal heirlooms such as our Wedding Dress Keepsake Doll, created to preserve the memory of a wedding day through fabric and form. These are not mass-produced toys, but handcrafted art dolls created with care, intention, and an uncompromising standard of finish - from portrait dolls to bridal heirlooms. Each piece is designed to feel personal, comforting, and enduring.

We are proudly Australian-made and guided by values of inclusivity, ethical production, and thoughtful design. From concept to completion, the process remains hands-on and deeply considered, ensuring every creation reflects the brand’s commitment to quality, authenticity, and emotional significance.

More than a product, Upper Dhali® represents a belief: that beautiful things can hold meaning, that handmade artistry still matters, and that objects created with love can become part of a family’s story.

I'm Lou, but I'm also Upper Dhali®. We are one and the same. The lines get blurry; we are too intertwined.

I'm a barefoot nature lover, mental health advocate, cheese addict & Queen of laughs (with very "uncool" dance moves, so my kids tell me!).
And I'm still stuck in the 80's when it comes to music.

I value genuine & heartfelt connections, honesty, confidence to be yourself, ethically made products and people who can cook.

Without my Nana, there wouldn't be "Upper Dhali". She loved me fiercely and unconditionally, as I did her. It wasn't until I experienced the unexpected, devastating loss of her in 2012 that I realised I was, in fact, sentimental.

During this time, I had nothing tangible to grieve over. I wanted nothing more than to immerse myself in memories and the scent of Oil of Ulan (or Olay as it's now known).

After I searched every supermarket for that magical & comforting "Nana scent", I healed my soul with hand embroidery & became obsessed with making handmade dolls with meaning.

Now, 14 years later, I'm still obsessed. I live and breathe handmade dolls; designing, researching, creating; it's all for you, gorgeous souls ♥︎

I've always said that anyone can create a pretty doll. However, creating authentically and passionately from the heart, noticing the sentimental information within words, and adding the things you often miss, that is an Upper Dhali® specialty, my expertise, and I'm proud of that.

Because you deserve to be spoilt, valued, and celebrated.

♥︎ Lou xx

Nana never did get to see her special doll. She passed away 2 days before gifting it to her. That fact still makes me sad today, but I feel her around me often when I create, so I like to think she's proud of my handmade doll journey ♥︎

Surprisingly, whilst I hand-embroidered and crafted more handmade dolls, I found that I began to heal from my intense grief - who knew that handmade dolls had special healing superpowers? I believe that this was her gift to me, and I will treasure it always.