Puff Balls

Puff Balls

Friday, December 16, 2011

Barbie!

It seems that a trend is afoot. Folks are taking "regular" Barbie Dolls and turning them into coily-haired goddesses. A visit to the Mattel website (www.mattel.com), revealed only one Black doll:

BARBIE® SPARKLE LIGHTS™ Mermaid Doll - Shop.Mattel.com

However, dolls like this are showing up:




Can you say GORGEOUS!!!!? Wow, if only such dolls were readily available. The thing is, it sounds like the "regular" hair can be converted to coily glory with hot water and pipe cleaners (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/14/natural-hair-group-in-geo_n_1149574.html?ref=hair-beauty). Would it really be that difficult for Mattel to figure out how to manufacture such dolls? I guess it's going to take significant consumer demand before such adjustments are made. What do you think? Would you buy one?

2 comments:

  1. That's not really true. First doll from the right is So In Style Concert Trichelle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tru_fashionista_luv/5478351808/), Mattel doll, with her original hairstyle. The doll in the middle, one from Mattel Basics Red Collection has own hairstyle too (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34994761@N06/4913126471/). The second from left is Mattel doll, Nikki from Top Model Resort (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalete/3232601996/in/photostream/) serie, and she too sports her original afro.
    Mattel has much more Afro American dolls with afro hairstyle. By writing such articles you are only creating harmful opinion to the company.
    From memory I can list some of them, I'm sure there is much more.

    1 Model of the moment Nichelle http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101114010934/barbie/images/c/c1/Modelmoment_nichelle_large.jpg
    2 Generation Girl Nichelle http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z102/suwi9595/Barbie/Nichelle/Nichelle1.jpg

    3 Urban Hipster Nichelle http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7173341568_3756d9cec4_z.jpg

    4 Cali Girl Christie 2004 http://www.flickr.com/photos/38647108@N08/5178450351/

    5 Barbie Basics http://www.mjstoy.com/images/027084863833/mjs.jpg

    6 Cali Girl Christie 2003 http://www.flickr.com/photos/joannepeh/6906849045/

    7 Black Barbie http://www.flickr.com/photos/michelbarbieboy/3712920283/

    8 Disco Barbie http://www.flickr.com/photos/museumofuncutfunk/3353736689/

    9 Kwanzaa Barbie http://www.flickr.com/photos/83976811@N00/6354013645/

    10 Barbie Basics Collection 3.0 Model No. 8 http://www.flickr.com/photos/48629611@N05/6705476905/in/photostream/

    11 Alvin Ailey Barbie http://www.flickr.com/photos/aneky/5360622823/

    12 Sunsational Malibu Ken http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattelpink2/5515846116/

    13 High School Musical Chad
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobkytten/3235658498/

    14 Happy Family AA Alan http://www.flickr.com/photos/31303432@N04/4981964927/

    and here is a child with afro, also Mattel http://www.flickr.com/photos/tru_fashionista_luv/5263999199/

    The rest of dolls are Dynamite Girls and Monster Z, I don't know them too much, but, if I remember good, both have their original hairstyles too.

    Dolls with afro, other comapnies (not Mattel)

    Dynamite Girls dolls

    Boogie Beach Aria
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/odyssey2012/3938620933/in/photostream/

    Remi http://www.flickr.com/photos/minemaus/5887807637/

    Monsieur Z dolls
    Monsieur Z http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolls-vikk/7388860670/

    Monsieur Z Jungle Fever
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/anatchim/3985205268/

    Fashion Royalty dolls

    Quiet Storm Annik
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/61957953@N08/6290814091/

    Soul Deep Adele
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/leiameow/4930305008/

    There is really not so little to choose from, you just need to look out for them. I think Asians, Native Amercians and Latinos could complain much more, as a doll collector I know there really isn't much of such dolls, they are pretty discriminated, especially Native American (hard to believe that they are forgotten in US, considering that those people are the only real Americans).

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    Replies
    1. Hello, Thank you so much for your comments. You provided some fabulous information. I still do wish that Mattel would post these images on its website; it looks like most of the images are on flickr so you have to hunt for them. I still have yet to find these dolls for purchase on Mattel's site. Do you know how to find them there. Also, I think it's a good thing not a bad thing to make our voices heard and ask for more diverse dolls. Thanks again and Happy New Year. Thanks for reading! :)

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