Best of 2019 - #2

In a lackluster year for Integrity Toys (IT), another doll manufacturer decided to wake up the collecting community - for that matter it stirred up the general public as a whole.  

For old farts like me, these can be very confusing times.  Technology is moving so rapidly it's nearly impossible to keep up.   Societal changes are pushing boundaries and demanding more open-mindedness and tolerance.  Fortunately, I believe the more educated one is (in all things), the better off one will be.  Fear is a product of ignorance, ignorance is nothing more than the lack of educating oneself.

"Non-binary" is a new term in our vocabulary.  It seems young adults have evolved beyond gender definition.  People are demanding to be met on their own terms.  It's a very exciting and interesting time in our history.

I had always considered Mattel (the parent company of Barbie) to be extremely traditional.  After all, they have actually helped define gender roles for over half a century!  I shared in the general surprise when Mattel forged ahead in this area in 2019.  Earlier this year, Mattel introduced the first "gender-neutral dolls".   These dolls could be accessorized as either male, female, or gender neutral.  (Photo property of Mattel)

I was very impressed with this concept; however, the dolls did not fit into my collection as a whole.  (Not because of theme, but because of shape and size.)

Mattel kept forging ahead - the next big surprise of 2019 was the BMR1959™ line.  I understand that the name given this line celebrates the year that Barbie® was first introduced to the world and suggests a celebration of 60 years of doll production, but this line of dolls couldn't be any further from the traditional norms of Barbie®.

Collectors have been begging for Fashionistas to be put on the Made to Move Barbie® bodies for years.  I love the articulation and first blogged about these when they were released over four years ago (Link to my review: Made to Move Barbie Review.)  Unfortunately, most of the Made to Move dolls are sports-inspired or yoga dolls.

The "BMR1959™" mini capsule was packaged in brown FSC certified shoeboxes made from materials that have been responsibly sourced and feature a fashion sketch of each doll by their designer, Carlyle Nuera.

The outside of the box states "The BMR1959™ collection celebrates the fashion heritage of Barbie® and showcases how current trends influence the brand.  These bold, fully posable dolls capture the diverse looks found in today's street wear culture.  From high-low fashion fixes, re-imagined '90's gear to juxtaposed patterns, textures, and silhouettes, this curated ensemble is all about personal expression and style."

When you open the shoebox, the dolls inside are packaged quite well.

Here is what they look like in the boxes - each doll has a different interior color.

And closeups of their faces!

This is what diversity is all about.  There are different body types, different ethnicities, different genders, and different preferences.  The ensembles are very vibrant and exciting.  What an amazing way to celebrate the 60th birthday of another "old fart."   This is a very positive step forward for Mattel!

With the cute packaging, cool clothing, and Made to Move bodies, the retail on each doll is $29.99.  After Thanksgiving, each doll went on sale for $19.99 online (Amazon, Target, and Walmart).  I got all six, shipped to my home, for less than the cost of one doll by Integrity Toys!

Best of 2019 - #2 goes to Mattel for being so forward thinking on Barbie's 60th birthday by modeling tolerance to both children and adults and celebrating beauty in all its shapes and forms!