Unique Barbie collection with handmade outfits donated to the Dutch Open Air Museum

An exceptionally well-documented ensemble of fashion dolls – various original Barbies, one of which still has its box and price sticker from De Bijenkorf, a Bild Lilli doll and two Petra von Plasty dolls (two contemporaries of Barbie) – has recently been donated to the Netherlands Open Air Museum. The collection is notable for its wealth of handmade clothing, accessories, furniture and documentation, offering a unique glimpse into fashion culture, craft practices and family life in the 1960s and 1970s. What makes this collection exceptional is the extensive wardrobe of handmade garments crafted by Geertruida de Groot-Weelink (1922-1974), a professional seamstress, and her daughters Jenny and Emmy de Groot. Rather than building a growing collection of factory-produced Barbies and Barbie outfits, the family chose a creative approach: endlessly experimenting with fabrics, patterns and styles inspired by