"THE BARBIE RENAISSANCE" > Page 1, 2
The Barbie® Renaissance: Barbie® 2000 Creates Excitement Among Long-Time Modern Barbie® Doll Collectors
Mattel
was well aware of the crash of the modern Barbie collectible market in the late
1990s (see the History Of Modern Barbie), and
an amazing thing happened--they started to really listen
to collectors, and they also responded to the competition from Gene and similar
adult-aimed fashion dolls with innovation. Collector advisory
panels were formed. Collectors were brought in to answer marketing questionnaires
(I know, because I was paid $40 to do one myself in the late 90s). Mattel started
to focus again on quality of the dolls, and their development department kicked
into high gear. The fruits of all this have become evident with the year
2000 dolls. Mattel has started some very
innovative doll series, they have improved the play line dolls, and they have
produced some stunning high-fashion Barbies Collectors have sat up and
taken notice--the buzz on the Internet about Barbie has never been
better. Here are the factors contributing to the Year 2000 Barbie
Renaissance:
Dolls Are More Limited
Mattel has recognized the overproduction of dolls in the late 1990s by greatly reducing production numbers AND truly limiting production in 2000. In the past, Mattel has been reluctant to release production numbers at all. Now, with the advent of Gene, Tyler and other fashion dolls produced mostly in editions of under 5,000 pieces each, Mattel is responding by releasing production numbers AND limiting the dolls to said numbers--when a Limited Edition doll reaches the top quantity (35,000--this is a HUGE reduction) NO MORE will be produced, no matter how high demand is. Certain dolls have been produced in quantities much LESS than 35,000 as well.
Mattel on their web site, at
their What's
New page, states that:
"Production numbers for Collector Edition and
Limited Edition Barbie Collectibles® dolls have changed for 2000.
Currently, Collector Edition dolls are produced in quantities of more than
100,000, and
Limited Edition dolls are produced in quantities of 100,000 or less worldwide.
Beginning in 2000, Collector Edition dolls will be produced
in quantities greater than 35,000*, and Limited Edition dolls will be
produced in quantities limited to 35,000* or less worldwide."
Really, that is an amazing change, going from 100,000 to only 35,000 tops on the Limited Editions. That may sound like extremely large editions compared to Gene and Tyler and Alex, BUT there are many more Barbie collectors today than their are collectors of these other dolls. Further, Mattel on this page shares some of the production numbers on some 1999/2000 dolls, and the numbers are even LESS-- between fewer than 10,000 on Bob Mackie The Tango Barbie® and Millennium Bride™ Barbie® to fewer than 20,000 for NolanMiller Evening Illusion™ Barbie® and Crystal Jubilee™ Barbie®. This reduction in production has had the desired effect. Collectors are again buying Barbie dolls they are interested in as soon as the doll is produced, instead of waiting around to see if the doll ends up in discount bins and on eBay for less than retail.
GREAT Play Line Dolls
Some of the play line dolls are true collectible
quality, making Barbie collecting affordable for many more 
collectors.
The Wizard of Oz play set has all 5 dolls available for UNDER $20 each, and
these dolls are amazing--the specialized detailed faces of Ken as the Lion, Tin
Man and Scarecrow are fabulous. So are Kelly and Tommy as the
Munchkins, for less than $5 each! And, the Generation Girls line has
caused quite a stir as well (see below). Also, great, inexpensive close-mouth
dolls such as Corduroy Cool Barbie are available for under $10.
Barbie Fashion Model Collection
There is huge excitement over the Barbie Fashion
Model Collection. This doll (see photo at top of page) is THE doll that
true fashion doll collectors have been waiting for. The doll is
innovative--made out of a special Silkstone™ vinyl which will have the feel
and weight of porcelain. There is a new body sculpt that is just
gorgeous. The doll is VERY
high-fashion--modern with a lovely vintage feel. And, outfits are
available separately. This doll seems to be everything that collectors
hoped that the BMR collection would be, but wasn't (not that it was a bad
collection--I liked BMR clothes very much--but the doll was very modern,
smiling-mouth Barbie, closer to play-line dolls than the Designer or Fashion
line of Barbies). The Fashion Model Collection will include both dressed
dolls and separate outfits, just like the Gene and Tyler lines.
MANY collectors (myself included) have this entire line of dolls on pre-order. This collection was designed by Mattel designer Robert Best, and is expected to ship this summer. Don't miss the full promotional brochure in Barbie Bazaar magazine's August 2000 issue.
Feature Painting
Feature painting on the dolls just keeps getting better and more inventive--just LOOK at the painting on Dancing Fire (fantasy expressed through colors) Givenchy (high fashion) and Fabulous Forties (check out the mole!).
Close-Mouth Molds; MORE molds; The Demise of Superstar
When I received my August issue of Barbie
Bazaar
magazine, I did a double take-- The Morgan le Fay Barbie doll was on the
cover. I LOVED the face, but couldn't figure out which mold it was.
Thanks to MiKelman's column in the magazine, I found out the mold is the Native
American/Goddess of Africa head mold, done as a Caucasian! VERY inventive,
and a gorgeous doll. And.....if you look around, there is hardly a Super
Star face to be found in the play and collectible lines this year, with many,
many more closed-mouth dolls available. Even the play line is
innovating--Secret Message Barbie has a belly-button and a seamless waist!
Fewer Sky-High Priced Dolls:
There are still a few, like Millennium Bride Barbie, which has a retail price of $500, and Crystal Jubilee Barbie which has a retail price of $299, but there are MORE dolls that are breathtaking and detailed which sell for under $150. Some, such as the Nolan Miller dolls, can be found right in the $100 range. Dancing Fire Barbie (see photo on page one) is only $79.
Quality
Quality has improved immensely--dolls have underwear, dresses are finished more professionally, and the details are stunning (see below). Lines such as the reproduction line of dolls, now titled "Collector's Request" have really come into their own, with the reproduction costumes being stunning, and with much truer-to-the-original-dolls face paint.
Ancillary Lines: Kelly and Generation Girl Dolls
Barbie
isn't the only doll getting all the buzz! Collectors are wild about the
Generation Girl line of dolls with their great faces, 
ethnic
diversity and box full of accessories all for under $20 (how much FUN can a
collector have for under $20--I was thrilled with the Mari doll, for instance,
which came with a miniature action figure MOC and her own lap top computer!).
The Kelly line is a story of its own--not only have the munchkin dolls been a
hit, but collectors have SNAPPED up the Collector Edition Raggedy Ann and Andy
set. There are collectors specializing only in Kelly and Tommy now!
Details!
Have you seen the advertisements where the Barbie development team is bragging about the details in Barbie's jewelry, and specially designed fabrics? Well, they aren't bragging without reason--the details this year are fabulous!! Collectors oohed and ahhed over the little working toys for the Cool Collecting Barbie. Have you SEEN the little butterfly pin on Fabulous 40s Barbie, and her tiny rhinestone bracelet? BOTH of those dolls retail for under $60, too. The necklace on Givenchy Barbie is superb. And, if you love vintage, Cool Collecting Barbie has the styling and "feel" of a vintage doll--she is just beautifully done (this doll is already sold out on the retailer level).
Packaging Changes I have done a whole article on the packaging changes alone--Mattel has responded to Barbie collectors and given them MANY more Barbies in lift-off top boxes. Lift the box, and you can display and touch Barbie WITHOUT having to really debox her. Reproduction collectors are also wild about the simple lift-off boxes for the reproduction Barbies, with the feel of the real vintage boxes, for such dolls as Sophisticated Lady and Commuter Set. See my Trends in Barbie Packaging 2000 article on packaging changes in the Barbie 2000 line for more information.
Its great to see collectors so excited about Barbie this year, and kudos to Mattel for getting Modern Barbie back on the right track. Now, I'm off to place a few more orders....I understand Wedgewood Barbie is shipping out and she is fabulous, and I STILL haven't found Bowling Champ Barbie.....
Do YOU think that Barbie is having a Renaissance this year? If so why, and if not, why not? Join our Thread in the Dolls Forum: Barbie 2000 Flying High! and share YOUR opinion!
Previous Page > The History of Modern Barbie: From Glory Days To Doldrum Days > Page 1, 2
For more information about this years Barbie Collectibles line, visit Barbie Collectibles
For more information on the Barbie Play line, visit Barbie.com
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©Denise Van Patten 2000
All Rights Reserved.
All photos by Denise Van Patten, except the photo of Model Barbie, which is from a Mattel promotional brochure, that photo is ©Mattel 2000.
