Excerpt from TIME Magazine by Leslie Horn Peterson
Adults are actually fueling growth in the toy market by buying for themselves, and Mattel says a third of grown-ups who buy Barbies aren’t just collecting: they’re customizing. “Over the years we’ve seen an active community of fans and collectors bring their own creativity to Barbie,” says Kim Culmone, SVP and global head of doll design. So in March the toymaker launched You Create Barbie, a $100 kit that comes with three interchangeable heads and three articulated bodies, plus wigs, clothing, and accessories to let enthusiasts get creative. And although marketed to adults, the dolls are just as hardy and ready for kid play as ever.