Foreign Issue Barbie

Philippine Ethnic Barbie

This Page is dedicated to the Barbie Doll that is created for the non-American market.  For the most part these international dolls look very much like the American market dolls, the playline dolls will not be mention here. This page will primary deal with dolls that reflect the customs and culture of the country they were marketed for.  There are several notable dolls from The Philippines and India.   I personally love these dolls and think they are often overlooked by most American Collectors.  One reason could be they are difficult to obtain and secondly when they are found the cost is usually triple their orginal cost. These dolls are normally more limited than their American counter parts but even  considering their rareity some collectors feel with a few more dolls a Bob Mackie could be obtain.  None the less, when I can find and afford  I do buy these doll.  The first doll that I remember being sold in an outfit that representative her country was the Venezuela LLanera Barbie.  She was dressed in a white pheasant style blouse with a full flowered skirt. She was sold solely for the Venezuelan market. She  had brunette hair (styled in a flip) with tan skin red lips and blue eyes. 

Next came the beautiful Philippine Barbies.  These beautiful dolls are created by Richwell Trading Company in the Philippines for Mattel. All the limited edition dolls are number and have a Certificate of Authenticity with them. Boxes always use the English language because it's use is wide spread and for box collectors they are resemble the American Barbie Boxes. The SuperStar Barbie headmold is used and all dolls are brunettes.  They were extremely limited in number and were lavishly dress in designer Evening gowns that reportedly made on pineapple fabric.  They were design and advertised to reflect the Philippine women beauty and were to reflect the various ethnic make up of the Philippines. She was very limited in number 500 hundred dolls for each outfit. 1992 showed a second released of this style of doll she was a little more available than her predecessor at 1000 dolls.  In the outfit changed to reflect a more native style dress with the introduction of Ethnic Barbie.  Again the dolls are dressed in a variety of outfits that reflected the multi cultures of the Philippines make up.  These dolls were very popular with American collectors. Next available in 1998 were the Flores De Mayo designed  by Nicky Martinex.  These dolls correspond with the Santacruzan Festival. these dolls are in hand-beaded gowns that reflect a religious beauty pageant that reflect the culture and history of the Philippine people.  There are 10 different dolls in all and the dolls are very limited less than 3000 of each doll was created.  This year the Philippines is celebrating their Centennial and of course Barbie is there to help.  Centennial Barbie comes in two different addition.  The first is a simple patriotic theme doll with outfits that use the colors from the Philippine flag.  Also available is a deluxe line has two editions the gowns reflect the folk gowns of the Philippines and a pin made of mother of pearl comes with each doll.  The deluxe dolls are all limited editions with less than 30,000 manufactured.  There are current five new dolls released to celebrated the Year 2000. These doll  are limited edition collector series (limited to about 1000 dolls).  The costumes were designed by Patis Tesoro and there are 5 dolls in this series, each outfit celebrates a traditional Philippine holiday or festival. The Series is called the Tradisyong Filipina and the dolls are named : Semana Santa(Holy Week), Anihan(Harvest), Kasalan(Wedding), Pistahan(Fiesta), Paskuhan(Dawn Christmas Mass).

  The Leo Company of  India also produces it's share of beautiful dolls.  These dolls are produced for the Indian market and use the Superstar headmold and the dolls have wonder traditional outfits that celebrate traditions of India..  All dolls come wearing the traditional jewelry and costumes and currently, there are 12 unique dolls in the series.  Barbie comes in one of three different styles of  costumes and they come in a variety of colors There is the traditional silk sari or the full skirt lehenga that has a gold embroidered black border or the dolls wear a modern salwar kameez which is a tunic top (kameez) paired with baggy pants (salwar) which is favored by the younger generation of Indian women. These Barbies will have blonde or brunette hair.  Expression of Indian is a upscale doll that is issued each year in a costume that reflects one of India's many providences.  So far there are four dolls in this series: Rajasthani first issue, second issue Manipuri, third  Sohni Punjab Di and fourth Swapna Sundari.  Each doll is elaborately dressed in traditional costume of India. The costumes are elaborately decorated with beads and gold threads. All boxes will use the English language.  These boxes are rather flimsy and damage easily.

 In 1999 the Malaysian market produced a lovely doll called Kebaya Barbie.  Kebaya is a tradition style outfit of Malaysia. Barbie comes wearing  in either a white/gold, pink or green outfit.  Included with each doll is a selendang (use to cover the head) matching shoes, handbag and hairbrush..  Kebaya Barbie uses a Teresa head mold and has brunette hair.  Her box is bilingual and uses English and Maylasian and says Special Series.  Hopefully this will mean more to come.  This doll was produced by Mattel.  I have not hear on the quantities made of this doll but since it was only made for the Malaysian market it will be low.