Magazine

Here's How Much Barbie Has Changed Since Her Debut Almost 60 Years Ago

And why the doll is still polarizing today

Times have changed, and so has Barbie.Mattel, Inc
By Robert Klara

February 25, 2019

In the weeks leading up to the national bicentennial of July 4, 1976, communities across America joined in the craze for shoving time capsules into the ground. Among them was the town of Lima, Ohio. But while Lima buried the usual payload of comic books and bumper stickers, local officials tossed in another item to signify local cultural life in 1976: a Barbie doll.

Robert Klara

Robert Klara is a senior editor, brands at Adweek, where he specializes in covering the evolution and impact of brands.

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