Walmart Fashion: December 2001
At this time, Mary-Kate and Ashley had recently launched a clothing line through Walmart, which quickly became a massive success. As demand grew, the brand expanded beyond apparel, introducing a full lifestyle collection that included beauty, home, and accessory products - spanning over 50 different categories. In collaboration with Mattel and Walmart, the twins released exclusive dolls available only in Walmart stores and subsidiaries (USDA). This marked the first of five Walmart-exclusive dolls designed to cross-promote their expanding lifestyle brand. This particular set specifically highlighted their clothing line. Ashley was dressed in a blue vest, a brown sweater, and a corduroy skirt, while Mary-Kate wore a red crinkle sweatshirt paired with red plaid pants. These dolls were packaged in a smaller single box with minimal extras, including only a Walmart shopping bag and a pair of sunglasses. They were affordably priced at just $12 USD.
INTERESTING FACTS
- These dolls were the first exclusive Mary-Kate and Ashley dolls available through Walmart stores, marking a significant partnership between the brand, Mattel, and the retailer.
- Unlike previous releases, these dolls featured a new, noticeably longer hair length, reflecting the twins' evolving style.
- To generate interest and boost sales, Walmart promoted the dolls through its weekly paper ads, ensuring they reached a wide audience of shoppers. However, no television commercials were produced for this collection, making print advertisements the primary form of marketing.
MATTEL PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Wanna get that marykateandashley look? Now you can! They've got a hot new fashion line at Walmart! Even the marykateandashley fashion dolls are wearing these hip fashions.
UPC: 0-74299-55265-6, 0-74299-55266-3
ASSORTMENT: 55265, 55266
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Availability: Sold in the United States, exclusivly through Walmart retailers.
- Packaging Variants: There are no known variants.
- Design Team: Judy Swartz (Doll Outfits), Lily Martinez (Collaborative Designer), Erika Kane (Lead Designer).
DOLL SPECIFICATIONS
- Mary-Kate's doll features a smile with her teeth visible..
- Mary-Kate's doll has a right-side part in her hair.
- Ashley: doll smiles with her mouth closed.
- Ashley: doll has a middle part in her hair.
- Body Mold: Both dolls utilize the Skipper 1987 body mold, designed with a twist-at-the-hip function for added poseability.
- Head Mold: © Dualstar 1999.
