Mattel's Iconic Doll Barbie Hits Stores on September 6, 1959
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In 1959, a new fashion doll made her debut at the American Toy Fair in New York City, marking the beginning of a cultural phenomenon that would captivate generations of young girls. That doll was Barbie, and her journey to becoming a household name started with a German doll named Lilli.
Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, was the mind behind Barbie. During a trip to Europe in 1956, she encountered Lilli, a risqué, adult-oriented novelty toy popular in Europe. Handler saw the potential in Lilli as a children's toy and set to work on adapting her for the American market.
The transformation from Lilli to Barbie was significant. Lilli's character, as portrayed in the German tabloid "Bild Zeitung," included flirting with rich businessmen and talking back to police officers. This was far from suitable for children, necessitating changes for Barbie's character. A new wardrobe and a change of name were enough to transform Lilli into Barbie's less saucy cousin.
Barbie officially debuted in the American market in 1959 as an 11-inch plastic doll named Barbara Millicent Roberts, modeled on Lilli but reimagined with a focus on imaginative play and aspirational careers for girls.
Over the past four decades, Barbie has been available in various career-oriented and theme-based styles, such as "Cinco de Mayo," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Barbie Learns to Cook." Her range of accessories and careers were designed to show that women could aspire to diverse professions and lifestyles.
However, Barbie's body type has been a subject of controversy, with many claiming it is unrealistic and could give young girls a distorted view of beauty and appearance. If Barbie were a grown woman, her measurements would be 36-18-33, a figure that is far from the average for women in the United States.
Despite the criticism, Barbie has remained a popular doll, with vintage Barbie dolls sought after by serious collectors and fetching large sums of money. The evolution of Barbie from a niche European adult gag gift doll to a mainstream American fashion doll celebrating young girls' aspirations was key to her success in the U.S.
In conclusion, the journey of Barbie from Lilli was marked by significant rebranding by Mattel starting in 1956 and culminating in Barbie's 1959 launch. This pivot to a child-friendly, aspirational figure was key to Barbie’s success in the American market.
Barbie, initially inspired by the risqué European doll Lilli, underwent a transformation in her character and appearance, eliminating the inappropriate elements for young children and adopting a more aspirational lifestyle. The home-and-garden collection, one of many career-oriented styles, showcases how Barbie's lifestyle has evolved to inspire young girls to envision diverse possibilities for their futures.
