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Behind the Scenes At Mattel: See How Barbie Is Created

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A designer hand paints the lips of a prototype Barbie doll.Emily Shur for TIME
By TIME Staff

Creating three new bodies for Barbie—tall, petite and curvy—was no small task. It took her design team two years to complete the project. Photographer Emily Shur captures a glimpse of how the iconic doll is put together in these behind-the-scenes photos at Mattel’s headquarters just outside Los Angeles, CA.

Designers carefully paint lips and eyes on the dolls by hand. They sew on her hair with a sewing machine before they cut and style it by hand. They even keep archives of past experiments in their studio.

Read the TIME cover story on Barbie’s new body.

A designer hand paints the lips of a prototype Barbie doll.Emily Shur for TIME
The painting palette used to create Barbie's lips.Emily Shur for TIME
Barbie's forearms all together in a container at Mattel's El Segundo, Calif. headquarters.Emily Shur for TIME
Dozens of colorful containers of glitter await use in the design center at Mattel's headquarters. Emily Shur for TIME
Three stages of painting Barbie's eyes. Emily Shur for TIME
A special machine attaches curvy Barbie's hair. The process is called "rooting."Emily Shur for TIME
Curvy Barbie's head, now complete, is ready for her body. Emily Shur for TIME
Behind the scenes of how Barbie is created at Mattel
Emily Shur for TIME

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