LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - A new exhibition looking at
the evolution of Barbie opens in London this week as the famed
Mattel ( MAT ) doll celebrates her 65th birthday this year.
"Barbie: The Exhibition", running at the Design Museum from
July 5 to Feb. 23, features more than 250 items from the Barbie
universe, including an array of dolls showing her changing
appearance, design sketches and dream houses.
On display is a first edition of the first Barbie released
in 1959 with blonde hair, angled eyes, dressed in a
black-and-white swimsuit, along with later models representing
different races, hair textures and shapes.
Other "firsts" include a Black Barbie and one in a
wheelchair. One section dedicated to career roles includes a
police officer, scientist, doctor, presidents and a voter, while
another focuses on Barbie's long-term companion Ken, who was
introduced in 1961.
"I hope that whatever your reason for coming to this show
..., whether you're a Barbie fanatic or whether you're a Barbie
sceptic, you come away with an appreciation of detailed research
and the rigorous design thinking that goes into the making of
Barbie," curator Danielle Thom said in an interview.
"I do hope that people come away having learned something
about ... how this brand has come into being and managed to
dominate the toy market for such a long period of time."
The exhibition coincides with Barbie's 65th birthday this
year and follows on the huge success of last year's "Barbie"
movie starring Margot Robbie, which grossed $1.4 billion at the
global box office.
"Barbie's resonance and culture has never been larger, more
prominent," Kim Culmone, senior vice president of design for
Mattel ( MAT ), said.