BARBIE THROUGH THE DECADES SINCE 1959 BARBIE THROUGH THE DECADES SINCE 1959

Inspiration

BARBIE THROUGH THE DECADES SINCE 1959

1959

THE DEBUT

  • Founded in 1959 by Ruth Handler, a mother and visionary entrepreneur, whose inspiration for Barbie came from recognising a gap in the market. Ruth's philosophy behind Barbie was that through the doll, children could be anything they wanted to be.
  • Ruth and Elliot Handler went all in to run the first Barbie commercial during the Mickey Mouse Club TV Show.
  • Always dressed to impress, the first Barbie Fashion Designer was Charlotte Johnson.

  • Barbie goes to space before man lands on the moon
  • Debut of Barbie's boyfriend, ken
  • The First Barbie Dreamhouse debuted
  • Barbie goes global

1970's

  • The first Barbie styling head

1980's

  • The first Black and Hispanic Barbies debut

1990's

  • The best-selling Barbie doll ever - the 1992 Totally Hair Barbie
  • The pop band Aqua releases iconic dance hit 'Barbie Girl'
  • A series of first serving country and community Barbies are released
  • Princess power becomes a rite of passage

2000's

  • Over 30 movies are released
  • Barbie celebrates their 50th anniversary

2010's

  • Barbie's most diverse fashion doll line ever, introducing 3 new body types.
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