Ruth Handler and her husband Elliot, founders of Mattel
History of Flávio Gomes - Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Ruth Handler and her husband Elliot, founders of Mattel, noticed that their daughter, Barbara, played with paper dolls and also treated them like adults. Ruth had the idea of creating an adult doll. During a trip to Europe she met Bild Lilli, a German doll that was being sold since 1955. Ruth brought three units with her and then, upon returning to the United States, modified the doll with the help of designer Jack Ryan and called it of Barbie, in homage to her daughter. On March 9, 1959, Barbie was officially launched at the annual New York Toy Fair and became the most recognizable doll in the world... Did you know?