Long Beach, CA —  Golden Sombrero Licensing & Consulting has been appointed the business development partner for lifestyle character brand, Uglydoll.

The partnership aims to expand Uglydoll’s cultural reach and reintroduce its iconic characters to new generations worldwide, building on the brand’s strong global following.

Since its debut in 2001, Uglydoll has grown from a cult designer toy into a globally recognized lifestyle brand. From appearing in MoMA and FAO Schwarz, to being the subject of a Jeopardy! question, and collaborating with top brands including Coca-Cola and Sanrio, Uglydoll has been consistently embedded in the cultural conversation. Its quirky cast of characters has been celebrated at Uglycon events across Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, and Seoul, and embraced by fans ranging from kids to collectors and international superstars.

From pop culture to global icons: TWICE’s Chaeyoung at a fansign event, Sanrio x Uglydoll collaboration, and Hugh Jackman visiting the Uglydoll flagship in Seoul.

With a proven track record of driving growth for creative franchises including Yo Gabba Gabba! and Claynosaurz, Golden Sombrero will lead business development across key categories including apparel, collectibles, toys, lifestyle goods, publishing, and entertainment. The consultancy will focus on building strategic partnerships that highlight Uglydoll’s distinct humor, cultural credibility, and global fandom.

“Uglydoll is a cultural movement with an incredible history of creativity and fan engagement,” said Bart Silberman, Founder and President of Golden Sombrero. “From toy store shelves to art galleries, Uglydoll has always defied convention while building its loyal community. We’re thrilled to help expand that legacy with new collaborations and licensing opportunities that will delight fans, old and new, around the world.”

“Everyone at Uglydoll is thrilled to be working with Bart and the incredibly talented team at Golden Sombrero,” said David Horvath, Co-Founder of Uglydoll. “We’ve long admired their expertise across the broader licensing world, and equally, their rare understanding of the global lifestyle character brand space. They truly get how the cultural energy coming out of Japan and the rest of Asia is reshaping consumer behavior in the U.S. and beyond. It couldn’t be a better time to join forces and build something lasting together.”

Lifestyle character brands like Hello Kitty, Tokidoki, Pokémon, Miffy, Snoopy, and Totoro continue to rise in popularity worldwide, and Uglydoll proudly belongs in that same universe, appealing to passionate collectors and fans across territories. Building on its cultural foundation more than two decades in the making, Uglydoll will return to specialty, museum, and adult collector retail with a renewed focus on Asia. The comeback begins this year with classic best-sellers, followed by a mix of fan favorites and all-new characters. Soon after, Uglydoll will reintroduce blind box mini plastics, with a full return to lifestyle licensing in 2026.