I recomand you to do your own skin, with the time it will end been perfect and you will be proud of it.

Get: -Gimp 2.4
-SL templates

And watch videotutorials over youtube, its a good start.

GOOD LUCK!

I figure, the only why I will be able to get it the way I want is to do it myself. That’s my best suggestion for you. Maybe you could also contact some of the designers that you like, and discuss the situation with them. Give them the idea that this is something worth while to do, that it could be profitable. Maybe see if they can do a custom for you. You mention that you have friends that are designers that feel the same way. How come they don’t do anything with it?

But I have to disagree with you on one part. I don’t think it has anything to do with ignorance. I think there are a couple of things at play.

1. There are relatively few high quality designers in SL compared to the total population.
2. It’s not that they “won’t” sell, but other items that they can be making might sell more. Why would a designer make a west indian skin that only a few hundred might buy, when they can spend their limited time making a vampire skin that 10s of thousands might buy?
3. You have a specific style in your mind that you want. People aren’t going to have that same specific idea, so you might never find that someone else made it. OR, maybe someone DID make it, but SL is such a large place, it’s like finding a golden needle in a haystack. I refuse to believe NO ONE in SL has thought of making a skin with a full beard, I probably just haven’t found it yet. And even if I did, I bet the skin would still not represent the specific style that I want.
4. The majority of the people in SL are probably pretty happy with the selection or they just don’t care. I don’t think most people are trying to have their SL identity represent their RL identity. They are fine with having a generic “white” skin or “black” skin, or they just wear crazy non-real avys. I’ve met very few people who are actively recreating themselves in SL. I think we are in the minority in that respect.

Well, just some food for thought. I know it was pretty long winded. Good luck on finding what you are looking for. Or, better yet, make an original of your own, and maybe make a few extra L$ in the process.

First I’d like to say I totally feel your pain. I was a frustrated “black” SL resident like you, with a background in design in RL. I finally decided to design in SL to help fill the very gap you speak of. Unfortunately my product line is limited to female designs for now.

I certainly do plan to expand and create the much needed designs for men as well and would love the opinions and feedback of men like yourself to know more about what is desired. In the mean time if anyone as looking for anything specific that they have not found I do custom work specializing in skins with 7 tones from congo to fair, and hair styles that can be described as napturally delicious ^^.

Good luck to all the ethnic avatars, the few of us designers who are specializing in these areas are working hard to get more designs our there, just takes time.

Sincerely
Akila Rondelstein (see my profile)
Street Dermatologist

You cannot force vendors to make things, you especially cannot force people to make things when there are so few voices urging them to do so..

When someone with the talent and the drive decides that they want to wear a GOOD asian / american indian / Australian aborigine / African / South American, they’ll scratch that itch and make one.. they may even then sell it..

How many furry avatars are there? why? because people wanted to wear them, they couldnt find them, so they made them (well ok They is primarily Flea Bussey seeing as it seems he makes one an hour)

Learn the tools, scratch that itch.

I can imagine, though, that is is frustrating. I recently saw a black male skin on some random display and was struck with how bad it was. It looked like the creator attempted to make a more accurate skin, but it just did not work at all and looked as though the avatar had an illness of some sort.

As for clothing, as a I designer I can only state that I make things that I personally like. I will, however, take suggestions. I would be a fool to ignore a customer asking for a particular item! I cannot guarantee how quickly I can make it or if it will totally fit the bill, but I sure as hell will give it a go.

If you are so upset by Nexeus’ “whining,” why are you so insistant on reading and posting comments to something you clearly disagree with? He never said that no one liked him or people like him, and from the looks of it, the one easily angered here is you.

Your view is your own, yes, but your “facts” remain entirely one-sided. You do realize there is more than one default skin in SL, and not all are human. I love how you are certain you are “darker” than me :D And referencing anime and manga characters is hardly an indication of Asian preferences.