Most noticeably since 2016, American Girl has been slowly, steadily, stealthily, and disappointingly cheapening the materials and manufacturing of its 18" doll line. Eyes, wigs, torso fabric, neck attachments, factory part markings on limbs, and even the vinyl have all been drastically changed for the worse!
Nostalgic for the magical experience of welcoming a new and
premium quality American Girl poppet into the family I recently searched the secondary market to purchase a New in Box (NIB) doll made in the pre-2016 era.
Even before purchasing the doll, the above lavender box packaging has several indications that the doll inside was likely made pre-2016.
Rebranded and launched in May 2015, the Truly Me doll originally came in the lavender box with a
small round doll # identification sticker in the lower right hand corner. Later boxes would come with a much larger sticker.
When this lavender box design first launched it also came with an
Activity Set which was then later discontinued, another indication this is from an earlier, pre-2016 run.
And of course, the
Lavender Dress is the outfit worn by the dolls in the first two years of the new Truly Me branded line.
While this early Truly Me doll box configuration does not guarantee a pre-2016 premium quality era AG doll inside, it does raise the possibility to a high likelihood.
When my new poppet did arrive, a TM 22, she indeed was a dream!
What I found inside was a doll of the
premium quality I so adore:
*Cotton neck strings
*Original broadcloth torso construction and
no perma panties
*Gorgeous eyes with
original pinwheel design (not the new faux-pinwheel) that are
quality weighted, close entirely, and have
no visible side posts
*Beautiful vinyl, not too squishy or too hard
*A full wig that provides the proper coverage of the wig cap
*Unmarked underarm joints (no factory marking number-and-letters "tattoo")
It is all sunshine and happiness here today, though I am wistful for AG to return to an actual premium quality doll. Until then, secondary market is now our first go-to for new poppets!
