Sindy’s Story

Beginnings

The first Sindy doll was officially launched in the UK in September 1963 by Pedigree Soft Toys Ltd. Created as the wholesome ‘girl next door’, she was introduced with the slogan “the doll you love to dress”.

Her name was chosen following a street poll in which young girls selected their favourite name for the new doll. Although ‘Cindy’ was the most popular choice, the spelling was changed to ‘Sindy’ to give her a more distinctive name.

Launched as Weekender Sindy, the original doll featured a stylish striped top and jeans that perfectly captured the relaxed fashion of the early 1960s, beginning the story of one of Britain’s most iconic dolls.

Weekender

Pedigree officially introduced Weekender Sindy, a 10 3/4” Fashion Doll on Sunday 6th of September 1963 at 6pm with a 30 second TV commercial in the London area. She was the first UK toy ever to be advertised on television. The name “Sindy” was chosen after a street poll where young girls were shown a photo of the doll and asked to choose their favourite name from a list of four. The most popular choice was “Cindy”, although the spelling was changed to “Sindy”.

Sindy was very much part of the Swinging Sixties revolution. Noted as the decade that for the first time aimed its fashion, music and culture at teenagers as opposed to grown-ups and Sindy ‘The Doll you Love to Dress’ echoed this new found freedom. Here first outfits were particularly important as every fashion detail had to be included.

Inspired by fashion at the time Sindy’s first fashions were designed by Foale & Tuffin, who were then as recognised as Mary Quant, and her clothes reflected the teenage fashions of the day. Sindy’s extensive wardrobe, producing eight complete themed outfits and eight separates were miniatured by Valerine Saunders, Pedigree’s head in-house designer.