Barbie: History

Barbie made her first official public appearance on March 9, 1959, at the American Toy Fair in New York. She was an instantaneous and huge success.

Barbie was the brain-child of Ruth Handler who, with her husband Elliot, had founded the Mattel Toy Company. Initially working out of their garage, the Handlers had grown Mattel to a sizeable company by the late 1950s. When Ruth proposed her idea for an adult-figured doll, the Mattel Company rejected it, believing that such a doll would have limited appeal.

Ruth’s original concept for Barbie came from her observations of her own daughter, Barbara, at play. Barbara and her friends liked to use their dolls to recreate adult life situations. The more the doll looked like an adult, the better. So, although her initial idea had been turned down, Ruth persevered.

While travelling in Germany Ruth came across a doll named “Bild Lilli,” who was an adult-figured doll based on a comic strip character. Lilli debuted in 1955 in Germany, and quickly became popular with children who, like Ruth’s daughter and friends, liked giving their dolls adult roles. Lilli also had wardrobes of clothes that were sold separately.

Ruth brought Lilli home and showed her to Mattel. Inspired by Lilli, she redesigned her doll. This time she had the assistance of Jack Ryan, an engineer. Mattel bought the rights to the Bild Lilli doll and put her out of production and started manufacturing “Barbie,” named by Ruth after her daughter Barbara. The first Barbies sold for $3 each. In the first year of their appearance, 351,000 Barbies sold. 

Like Lilli, Barbie had a line of clothing designed for her, and sold separately. Outfits were made by hand in Japan where Barbies were first manufactured. Also like Lilli, Barbie had an adult figure, though not one of any living adult. With measurements the equivalent of 39-18-33, a gazelle-like neck and eyes permanently and coyly gazing sideways, Barbie presented an image of a woman that some found disturbing.
But sales continued to grow, and before long not only wardrobes but companions for Barbie were born. In 1961, the Ken doll became Barbie’s companion. Named after Ruth’s son Ken, Ken had an on-again, off-again relationship with Barbie during the 1960s, according to Mattel. Barbie was also provided with sisters, friends, pets, tools for her various trades and vehicles. She continues to be immensely popular; over one billion Barbie dolls have been sold world-wide to date.