Perhaps one of the unforgettable 90s toy for girls is the compact carrying cases that hide a dollhouse inside. Yes! You guessed it right! We're talking about Polly Pocket.
Polly Pockets are mini dollhouses that come with a small figurine or doll. The compact carrying cases reveals a playing scenario such as a beach, a park, an amusement park, and many more.
There are probably some stuff that you didn't know yet about Polly Pocket. In this article, let's explore the world of Polly Pocket.
1. Polly Pocket was Invented in 1983 by Chris Wiggs
Polly Pocket toys first appeared in stores in 1989. However, the toy was actually created six years prior. Chris Wiggs invented Polly Pocket in 1983.
Wiggs created the mini dollhouse for his daughter Kate. According to Love to Know, he conceptualized that he'll create a doll small enough to "fit into a pocket." But at the same time, he wants the doll to have a "whole world to play in." With this in minds, Wiggs used a powder compact to create a tiny house that could keep a tiny doll inside.
Six years after it was invented, Polly Pocket became an officially licensed product of Bluebird Toys.
2. Mattel redesigns the original Polly Pocket
In 1998, Polly Pocket 90s sets underwent a "makeover." Far from the cartoon-like features of the original Polly Pocket dolls, the new dolls had a rather "lifelike appearance" and were taller. Moreover, the play sets became larger.
The redesigning of Polly Pocket did not stop there, as Mattel introduced "Fashion Polly" the following year. These dolls are less than four inches tall. They come with the unique "Polly Stretch" garments.
The stretchy, interchangeable clothes proved to be quite popular. According to 90s Toys, these Polly Pockets set that come with stretchy garments are still being sold today. In addition to the female dolls, Mattel also created male dolls.
Read Also: #ToyTech: The History of the Nintendo Entertainment System
3. Polly's World Has Extended Beyond the Doll Line
Polly's world is no longer limited in the doll line. You can find Polly Pocket dolls in videos, and books. She even got her own website.
Polly Pocket also secured a spot on daytime television. In the summer of 2018, the cartoon entitled "Polly Pocket" began airing. And even before Polly's first TV appearance, she already starred in movies such as "Polly Pocket: Lunar Eclipse" (2003), "Polly Pocket 2: Cool at the Pocket Plaza" (2005), and "PollyWorld" (2006).
4. Polly Pocket Makes a Comeback
Mattel already discontinued the production of Polly Pocket in 2015. However, it seems that there is a demand from fans to see more of Polly Pocket. Thus, in 2018, Mattel made an announcement that they are bringing back the original 1990s Polly Pocket sets.
The new dolls, which are made of flexible plastic, are made a little bigger than the original 90s version, according to 90s Toys. These new Polly Pocket dolls can bend to sit on a chair.
5. The Most Popular Polly Pocket Sets
The mini dollhouses are fun, portable, and imaginative toys. In the previous decades, Polly Pocket has been delighting children.
Hundreds of various sets and scenarios are available to play with. But according to 90s Toys, the sets that allows children to add water, like the 1995 Splash n' Slide Water Park, were one of the most popular.
Related Article: #ToyTech 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About VTech