SHANGHAI: A navy-style hat, a beige coat and a pair of wide-leg jeans might look like the makings of a casual weekend outfit.

On Li Han’s desk, however, the ensemble was being carefully styled on a palm-sized doll.

Li, a 24-year-old college student in Beijing, had just returned from a doll exhibition, bringing home miniature dresses, handmade hats and a lighted retro-style display cabinet.

Piece by piece, she arranged them on her desk, creating a miniature scene for her doll – and a quiet break from her busy routine.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for handmade pieces,” she said.

For Li, dressing her doll and setting up a tiny home for it offers a quiet pause from the rush of daily life.

“Each piece carries the maker’s thought and care. Some are one of a kind, which makes them feel even more special.”

The miniature dresses, handmade hats and miniature furniture on Li’s desk reflect the rising popularity of doll outfits and accessories.

Designed specifically for dolls, the outfits range from everyday wear to traditional Chinese styles such as the mamianqun (horse face skirt), and qipao, also known as cheongsam, as well as costumes inspired by China’s ethnic groups and designs referencing intangible cultural heritage.