WHERE DID BARBIE COME FROM?
The world’s most popular and best selling toy has been around since 1959. She began as an idea in the mid 1950s when, while visiting Switzerland, Ruth Handler purchased a German Lilli doll. Basing the original Barbie on this doll Ruth then hired Charlotte Johnson to create Barbie’s elegant wardrobe. In 1958 the patent for Barbie was obtained. Ruth and her husband Elliot named their new doll after their own daughter, Barbie.