"Making Dolls from Clothes of Those Who Died from COVID-19: A Mexican Tailor's Special Teddy Bears"

A teddy bear made from the shirt of a father who died from COVID-19. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] A female seamstress living in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, is making and selling teddy bears made from the clothes of people who died from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Erendira Guerrero (55) is currently taking orders online and selling teddy bears. The materials used for the teddy bears are clothes worn by those who passed away from COVID-19 during their lifetime.

According to AFP and Mexican media on the 15th (local time), Guerrero is creating teddy bears to help bereaved families remember their loved ones lost to COVID-19.

Guerrero makes teddy bears using clothes the deceased enjoyed wearing and embroidering phrases requested by the families. She also receives voice files from the families and places a button on the bear that plays the deceased’s voice.

The price of this special teddy bear is 600 pesos (about 33,000 KRW) each.

Mexico has the fourth highest number of COVID-19 deaths worldwide, with 138,000 fatalities, and many funerals cannot be properly held due to concerns about further infections.

Guerrero told the local daily El Universal, "When I deliver the finished teddy bears, many people cry while hugging the bears."

Araceli Ramirez (50) ordered and purchased a bear made from a checkered shirt her father, who passed away from COVID-19, used to wear.

The bear has the phrase, "I hope you know that I am there every time you hug this bear. Your loving father," embroidered on it.

She said, "My father really liked this flannel shirt because it was warm. Every time I touch the teddy bear, it feels like a part of my father is in my hands, in my life."