Barbie: Celebrating 50 years of fantastic-plastic

New York, February 15: Barbie has turned 50! She is still walking the ramps, turning heads and is all the rage.

New York's semi-annual Fashion week saw fifty-one designers, including many household names such as Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and Tommy Hilfiger, display their special outfits to celebrate the half-century anniversary of Barbie Millicent Roberts.

Since its introduction to the toy world in 1959, the 11.5-inch plastic sensation has got several uplifts, reflecting the rise of the modern woman in society.

Barbie makes the most common companion for young girls. According to Mattel, 90 percent of girls between 3 and10 years of age have at least one Barbie doll, but the sagging economy has wreaked havoc on sales, which dropped 21 percent in the fourth quarter last year, as compared to the same period an year ago.

To get it back on track, the toy-maker took the doll to the ramp. Models styled as the popular doll displayed designer outfits in the show, which is a part of year-long celebrations for Barbie's birthday.

They presented a visual biography of the Barbie story, starting with the first Barbie, in a black and white zebra-print, sequined swimsuit and gradually flashing on to a heart monitor, putting on view that the doll was coming to life. Many hues converged on the runway but pink remained the dominant color.

"Barbie is the quintessential American icon. She represents a woman's first experience with style, transcending generations and cultures; she holds a special place in the fashion world and is an inspiration to many designers," said famous designer Tommy Hilfilger.

The dazzling show, with its extraordinary theme, was attended by press, buyers and several hundred excited young girls, who were accompanied by their equally-excited mothers.

In line with ongoing celebrations of Valentine's Day, Barbie's beau, Ken, also made an appearance in the show, while Barbie's white shirt read ‘Every Barbie needs a Ken.’

With girls turning more tech savvy, Mattle has taken care to upgrade the doll to a parallel. “Barbie is in all the places girls are... from Wii games to virtual worlds to online,” said Lauren Dougherty, a spokesperson for Mattel.

In 50 years of its existence, Barbie is estimated to have sold over a billion units in more than 150 countries. Three Barbies are sold every second, claims Mattel.

Barbie will next show up at the London Fashion Week, which opens on Feb. 20. Other events in the 50th anniversary promotion include the brand's first flagship store in Shanghai in March, a Barbie exhibit in Paris and a four-day National Barbie Doll Collector's Convention in Washington, D.C., scheduled for July.