Polly Pocket Information
Polly Pocket was created in England in the 1980s; the popular doll was then licensed in the 1990s to U.S. toy manufacturer Mattel for worldwide distribution. The Polly Pocket doll has been redesigned several times since its first incarnation; the changes have resulted in a much more realistic-looking doll that comes with many accessories.
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Creation
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According to Table & Home, the idea for Polly Pocket first came to creator Chris Wiggs in 1983. His initial idea was to create a doll small enough to fit in his daughter Kate's pocket. Wiggs' made the early Polly Pockets from hard plastic, with unrealistic hair and clothes; a make-up powder compact served as her home.
Manufacturers
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Bluebird Toys of Swindon, England bought the initial license for the manufacture and marketing of Polly Pocket . Bluebird Toys stuck closely to the doll's unrealistic initial design. Mattel then worked closely with Bluebird on the toy until 1998, when it bought the English manufacturer.
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Accessories
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Polly Pocket lives in the fictitious Pollytown. The town is mapped out on a mat that is just one of many accessories available for purchase. Little girls can spread the accessories, such as Animal Wonderland and a fun fair, across the mat to build and populate the town. There are also houses and stores to place on the mat so that Polly and her "pocket friends," including Becky, Billy, Cindy, Lila and Grace, have places to live and shop.
Redesign
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In 2001, Mattel issued the first redesigned version of Polly Pocket in a size created to fit into the original pocket-sized accessories. Today's Polly Pocket dolls have quite realistic facial features and hair, as well as bendable leg and arm joints.
Fashion Polly
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Mattel launched the Fashion Polly brand following its purchase of Bluebird Toys. Measuring around 3 inches in length, Fashion Polly is larger than the original Polly Pocket and has many different accessories, including make-up and a variety of outfits. Fashion Polly's clothes have the same Polly Stretch material as the smaller doll's clothing.
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References
- Photo Credit Doll cake image by Stokholm from Fotolia.com
