Adora launched its toy company in the early 1990s with the specific goal to create high quality handcrafted toys that make the world a happier place. "We create products that elevate spirits and enrich lives," states their website, which includes an accompanying blog detailing the company's ongoing community efforts.

Adora's Friends collections (formerly 4Ever Friends) includes five 18" cloth and vinyl articulated playdolls: brunette Mia, blonde Alyssa, Hispanic/ethnic Lola, Asian Jasmine, and African American Kayla.

ADORA FRIENDS: MIA, ALYSSA, LOLA, JASMINE, AND KAYLA

MIA, LOLA, and JASMINE

The 2013 Friends collection was apparently updated from the 2012 4Ever Friends collection, which included several other dolls with different names and different face molds, but with the same general theme and a similar construction: blonde Chloe, brunette Emily, auburn Abigail, AA Madison; Hispanic Ava, and Asian Lily.

CHLOE WITH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FACE MOLDS

Adora also released a Girl Scouts version of their Friends line, which included dolls from both the 4Ever Friends and Friends collection. The dolls were available in either a Brownie or Junior Scouts version.

GIRL SCOUTS EMILY, AVA, CHLOE, LILY AND MADISON

"Girl Scouts" also offered an alternate version of Mia with light brown/ auburn hair and medium skin.

GIRL SCOUTS ALYSSA, KAYLA AND MIA

Adora Friends are made with a surprisingly level of quality. Like Madame Alexander dolls, their heads pivot on their necks for extra posing versatility (and cuteness).

They also have vinyl chestplates like MA dolls, though in the case of the earlier 4Ever Friends collection, the vinyl plates were not as integrated with the cloth body and were secured by ribbons running through holes punched in the vinyl. The updated Friends dolls gave them more secure, Alexander-type vinyl plates, making for a more aesthetic effect.

AVA and JASMINE: CONSTRUCTION CHANGES FROM 2012 T0 2013

For reasons unknown, some Friends dolls were given a white body beneath their chestplate, which limits some of the fashions they can wear. Others have flesh colored bodies, though the cloth color may not match the vinyl especially well. This seems to be an issue with both the earlier 4Ever Friends, and the later Friends collection.

Friends and 4Ever Friends share identical limbs. Some of the dolls tend to stand slightly pigeon-toed, which works nicely with their tilting necks for a cute, girly stance. They also have good stability and balance.

Something worth noting about Adora Friends is the detailed quality of their limbs. Both their hands and feet are beautifully and realistically molded, and their fingernails/ toenails are artistically polished and painted. This along with the jointed neck gives them certain aesthetic advantages over American Girl dolls.

4Ever friends dolls are wigged while the revamped Friends are rooted. In both cases, most of dolls wear the same long, fringed hair style, with the exception of some of the ethnic dolls who wear a wavy, unfringed look. (Also, newer versions of the dolls have a side part and no bangs/fringe.)

The hair on both sets of dolls seems to be of a slightly lesser quality than AG wigs. While still silky, it's not always cut evenly and does not fall as naturally as it could. It doesn't exactly match the fullness of the pictures on the website.

ALYSSA's AND MIA's LATER VERSIONS

Also, the rooted hair doesn't have the best coverage. Some dolls, like Jasmine, have better coverage than others, though there doesn't seem to be a specific reason for it. Her hair plugs are noticeable denser than her peers' and her hair is noticeably longer and fuller.

While Adora Friends are definitely one of my favorite doll collections for their overall quality and cuteness, there does seem to be an general inconsistency between the individual dolls.

Friends dolls have quality open-close eyes, though in the case of some of the earlier 4Ever dolls, the extra-wide eye sockets and neutral expressions can make for an either cute or unnerving effect, depending on how you like your wide-eyed stares. (I personally love the serious, thoughtful faces.)

AVA AND MADISON FROM ADORA'S ORIGINAL 4EVER FRIENDS GIRL SCOUTS COLLECTION

When the updated "Friends" debuted in 2013, some of the neutral expressions of the earlier dolls were replaced by friendly, approachable faces that have been well-received; this is especially true in the case of Kayla and Jasmine whose unique face molds with their cute smiles are the stars of the bunch.

On the other hand, the new face mold used on Alyssa, Mia, and Lola has had a rather mixed reception; some have found the toothless "pucker" unappealing, although it does seem a matter of individual taste. (I personally had to add painted teeth to my own Mia's and Lola's duckfaces--enough was enough. Now they look awesome!)

 
JASMINE                                            LOLA and MIA

All puckers aside though, the dolls' faces are quite pretty; in particular their eyes are really striking, and they are framed by nicely feathered eyebrows (especially in Lola's case, who has more detailed brows than Alyssa or Mia).

Both Adora "Friends" versions are slightly smaller than American Girl dolls at 17", and they have bodies and vinyl limbs that are a bit slimmer, though their hands and feet are comparable. (Adora dolls' feet are slightly narrower at the heel.) Some of the larger-waist AG fashions may hang a bit on Adora dolls, but in most cases clothes can be interchanged without issues.

2013 Friends come dressed in colorful frilly frocks and denim or knit capris (newer dolls may have different starter clothing). Some may arrive with super cute fringed clogs, while others show up in simple rubber shoes. It's possible I haven't yet figured out the pattern, but it seems to be hit or miss which one it will be.

And although they can share clothing with American Girl and other standard 18" dolls,  Adora also sells its own 18" fashions and accessories. The fashions are attractive and trendy, but the price tag is high--around $30 for a full outfit. Still, Adora offers some of the cutest clothing commercially available for 18" dolls.

The dolls themselves sell for about $70 from the Adora website; They can also easily be bought on the secondary market for about $20-$50.