Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy was based on the German Bild Lilli doll which Handler had purchased while in Europe. The figurehead of an eponymous brand that includes a range of fashion dolls and accessories, Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for over six decades. Mattel has sold over a billion Barbie dolls, making it the company's largest and most profitable line. The brand has expanded into a multimedia franchise since 1984, including video games, animated films, television/web series, and a live-action film.
Barbie creator Ruth Handler with an assortment of Barbie and Mattel products (1961)
The first Barbie doll was introduced in both blonde and brunette on March 9, 1959.
Clothing designer Charlotte Johnson with a 1965 doll
Margot Robbie at the 2023 Barbie premiere in Sydney, Australia
Fashion dolls are dolls primarily designed to be dressed to reflect fashion trends. They are manufactured both as toys for children to play with and as collectibles for adults. The dolls are usually modeled after teen girls or adult women, though child, male, and even some non-human variants exist. Contemporary fashion dolls are typically made of vinyl or another plastic.
The original Barbie fashion doll from March 1959
Bisque doll advertising from the French company Jumeau, 1885
A model of the Argentine fashion doll Marilú from c. 1936–1939 along with a variety of her outfits.
Paris-made fashion dolls from the Théâtre de la Mode (1946) on display at the Maryhill Museum of Art.
