Ruth Handler watched her daughter Barbara at play with paper dolls, and noticed that she often enjoyedgiving them adult roles. At the time, most children's toy 玩偶 were representations of infants. Realizing that there could be a gap in the market, Handler suggested the idea of an adult-bodied doll to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of the Mattel toy company. He was unenthusiastic about the idea, as were Mattel's directors.
During a trip to 欧洲 in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Ruth Handler came across German toy doll called Bild Lilli.[1] The adult-figured doll was exactly what Handler had in mind, so she purchased three of them. She gave one to her daughter and took the others back to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a 流行的 character appearing in a comic strip drawn 由 Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Die Bild-Zeitung. Lilli was a working girl who knew what she wanted and was not above using men to get it. The Lilli doll was first sold in Germany in 1955, and although it was initially sold to adults, it became 流行的 with children who enjoyed dressing her up in outfits that were available separately.
Upon her return to the United States, Handler reworked the 设计 of the doll (with help from engineer Jack Ryan) and the doll was 给 a new name, Barbie, after Handler's daughter Barbara. The doll made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. This 日期 is also used as Barbie's official birthday.
Mattel acquired the rights to the Bild Lilli doll in 1964 and production of Lilli was stopped. The first 芭比娃娃 doll wore a black and white 斑马 striped 泳装, 游泳衣 and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde 或者 brunette. The doll was marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model," with her clothes created 由 Mattel fashion designer 夏洛特 Johnson. The first 芭比娃娃 玩偶 were manufactured in Japan, with their clothes hand-stitched 由 Japanese homeworkers. Around 350,000 芭比娃娃 玩偶 were sold during the first 年 of production.
Ruth Handler believed that it was important for 芭比娃娃 to have an adult appearance, and early market research showed that some parents were unhappy about the doll's chest, which had distinct breasts. Barbie's appearance has been changed many times, most notably in 1971 when the doll's eyes were adjusted to look forwards rather than having the demure sideways glance of the original model.
芭比娃娃 was one of the first toys to have a marketing strategy based extensively on 电视 advertising, which has been copied widely 由 other toys. It is estimated that over a billion 芭比娃娃 玩偶 have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries, with Mattel claiming that three 芭比娃娃 玩偶 are sold every second.[2]
The standard range of 芭比娃娃 玩偶 and related accessories are manufactured to approximately 1/6th scale, which is also known as playscale.[3] 芭比娃娃 products include not only the range of 玩偶 with their clothes and accessories, but also a large range of 芭比娃娃 branded goods such as books, apparel, cosmetics and video games. 芭比娃娃 has appeared in a series of animated films and is a supporting character in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.
芭比娃娃 has become a cultural 图标 and has been 给 honors that are rare in the toy world. In 1974 a section of Times Square in New York City was renamed 芭比娃娃 Boulevard for a week. In 1985 the artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie.[4][5]
In 2009, 芭比娃娃 celebrated her 50th birthday. The celebrations included a 跑道 显示 in New York for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.[6] The event showcased fashions contributed 由 fifty well-known haute couturiers including Diane von Fürstenberg, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Bob Mackie, and Christian Louboutin.[7][8]
During a trip to 欧洲 in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Ruth Handler came across German toy doll called Bild Lilli.[1] The adult-figured doll was exactly what Handler had in mind, so she purchased three of them. She gave one to her daughter and took the others back to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a 流行的 character appearing in a comic strip drawn 由 Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Die Bild-Zeitung. Lilli was a working girl who knew what she wanted and was not above using men to get it. The Lilli doll was first sold in Germany in 1955, and although it was initially sold to adults, it became 流行的 with children who enjoyed dressing her up in outfits that were available separately.
Upon her return to the United States, Handler reworked the 设计 of the doll (with help from engineer Jack Ryan) and the doll was 给 a new name, Barbie, after Handler's daughter Barbara. The doll made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. This 日期 is also used as Barbie's official birthday.
Mattel acquired the rights to the Bild Lilli doll in 1964 and production of Lilli was stopped. The first 芭比娃娃 doll wore a black and white 斑马 striped 泳装, 游泳衣 and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde 或者 brunette. The doll was marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model," with her clothes created 由 Mattel fashion designer 夏洛特 Johnson. The first 芭比娃娃 玩偶 were manufactured in Japan, with their clothes hand-stitched 由 Japanese homeworkers. Around 350,000 芭比娃娃 玩偶 were sold during the first 年 of production.
Ruth Handler believed that it was important for 芭比娃娃 to have an adult appearance, and early market research showed that some parents were unhappy about the doll's chest, which had distinct breasts. Barbie's appearance has been changed many times, most notably in 1971 when the doll's eyes were adjusted to look forwards rather than having the demure sideways glance of the original model.
芭比娃娃 was one of the first toys to have a marketing strategy based extensively on 电视 advertising, which has been copied widely 由 other toys. It is estimated that over a billion 芭比娃娃 玩偶 have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries, with Mattel claiming that three 芭比娃娃 玩偶 are sold every second.[2]
The standard range of 芭比娃娃 玩偶 and related accessories are manufactured to approximately 1/6th scale, which is also known as playscale.[3] 芭比娃娃 products include not only the range of 玩偶 with their clothes and accessories, but also a large range of 芭比娃娃 branded goods such as books, apparel, cosmetics and video games. 芭比娃娃 has appeared in a series of animated films and is a supporting character in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.
芭比娃娃 has become a cultural 图标 and has been 给 honors that are rare in the toy world. In 1974 a section of Times Square in New York City was renamed 芭比娃娃 Boulevard for a week. In 1985 the artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie.[4][5]
In 2009, 芭比娃娃 celebrated her 50th birthday. The celebrations included a 跑道 显示 in New York for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.[6] The event showcased fashions contributed 由 fifty well-known haute couturiers including Diane von Fürstenberg, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Bob Mackie, and Christian Louboutin.[7][8]
