Time Magazine

8 February 2016

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New York: Time Warner

‘Now can we stop talking about my body?’ is the question posed in this recent Time magazine article on Barbie, the iconic doll first introduced by creator Ruth Handler to the New York Toy Fair in 1959. From the original busty thin-formed shape, the producers (Mattel) of this multi-million dollar fashion-doll business have learnt to morph their product: Malibu Barbie (1971); Surgeon Barbie (1973); a multicultural Barbie (1980), and so on. She even got a pal: Ken (1961). In a high fashion move in 2014, Mattel articulated her ankles so that she could finally wear flats. Flagging sales and evolving cultural attitudes have forced another remake, where consumers are now offered petite, tall or curvy. Only time (and fashion trends) will reveal how long this global symbol will last.