Sindy

Sindy doll, Pedigree Doll Company, 1964 (click image for larger version)

The Sindy doll was launched in September 1962 by the Pedigree Doll Company. Pedigree had a long history of making dolls and wanted to branch out with a teenage doll. Sindy was one of many teenage fashion dolls reflecting wider popular culture and was nicknamed ‘the girl you love to dress’. It’s believed that she was the first UK toy product to feature on a 30-second TV commercial. She had a girlish figure and flat shoes at first, with a head of big, curly blonde hair. She also had a promotional gramophone record, featuring The Dolly Beats – no doubt gaining inspiration from the iconic youth band of the era, The Beatles. And with fashion influenced by the likes of Mary Quant, and models such as Twiggy, it’s no surprise that Sindy became Britain’s top teenage doll.

Sindy had everything a teenager of the 1960s could wish for, including a handsome boyfriend, Paul and a younger sister to play with, Patch, issued in 1966. As a keen follower of fashion she had a huge wardrobe of designer clothes and accessories. In the 1980s ‘material girl’ Sindy even gained her own houses and cars. American company Hasbro bought her in 1986 when the Pedigree Doll Company stopped trading.

Active Sindy, Vivid, 2002. Museum no. Misc.37-1975 (click image for larger version)

In the early 1990s there was a legal battle between Sindy and Barbie. Sindy had been remodelled by Hasbro and sales overtook that of Barbie. Mattel, the owners of Barbie, felt that Sindy’s new look was too similar to Barbie. Barbie won her case in court and Sindy was forced to change her look again.

Sindy is now predominantly a line of girls' accessories produced by the company New Moons.