She's a Barbie girl: How one doll captured the world's imagination

Moneycontrol News July 18, 2023

Toy maker Mattel first unveiled the iconic doll in 1959 at the American Toy Fair in New York.

Barbie was invented by Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler who was inspired by her own children to create the doll.

Barbie, or Barbara Millicent Roberts, hails from the made-up town of Willows in the US Midwest.

The iconic doll has evolved to keep up with the times.

The entire design process for a new Barbie can last 12 to 18 months.

Then, the prototype is sent from the California workshop to China and Indonesia for mass production.

58 million Barbies are sold each year in more than 150 countries.

Barbie has changed over the years to be more inclusive, with dolls featuring an array of body types, skin tones, and hairstyles.