Posted: 1/12/2006 11:47:45 PM EDT
Barbie loses out to veiled rival The Fulla doll is designed to appeal to a Muslim market Step aside Barbie - a veiled doll with, as her creator describes it "Muslim values", is proving a popular choice in Egypt's toy stores. Fulla, dressed in a traditional Islamic headscarf and overdress, comes with her own pink felt prayer rug. Some parents who would not want to buy Barbies for their daughters are choosing to give them Fullas instead. Creators NewBoy Design Studio launched the doll in 2003 and sales have proved strong in the Middle East. Fawaz Abidin, the Fulla brand manager, said: "You have to create a character that parents and children will want to relate to. "She's honest, loving and caring, and she respects her father and mother." Career woman Fulla is still single and there are no plans for an Islamic equivalent to Ken, Barbie's former boyfriend. However, a Doctor Fulla and Fulla as a teacher are planned - both respected careers for women.  Fulla is believed to be the best-selling girls' toy in the Arab world Her extensive wardrobe has been modernised for the Egyptian market to include jeans and the type of colourful headscarves worn by many young women. Tarek Mohammed, chief salesman at Toys'r'Us in Cairo, said: "Fulla sells better because she is closer to our Arab values - she never reveals a leg or an arm." The surge in sales of Muslim girls' toys, including the veiled Fulla, comes amid new enthusiasm among Muslim women for wearing the veil. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4605334.stm |
Infidel despoiler of virgins!  Not available in the USA it seems... search.ebay.com//search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=fulla Kinda cute though, I just bought one for Mrs Vito   Looks quite like her and she has the same outfit.... the one on the left that is! |
Only according to the most hardcore of fundamentalists. The Taliban had a prohibition on recreating the human image, but go to most other Muslim countries and you won't find any such prohition. A lot of the Americans out here in the sand box buy the Fulla doll to bring back home to their kids; they're actually quite popular. And I agree with the earlier post; they sure do beat the hell out of those verdammter Bratz dolls. I doubt that we'll see a "Ken" counterpart anytime soon though. At least one that doesn't have his clothes glued on to him. |
