Well after 15 and a half years online we have reached 1984. A bittersweet year for Sindy. When you look at some of these Sindys and her outfits, it’s hard to believe that within two years Sindy would stop being a Pedigree girl and instead a licence would be handed over to Hasbro to produce her instead. So for this year there is quite a long introduction to set the scene of what was happening to Sindy’s market in the UK. There was a lot going on and 1984 was quite significant.
A number of people and organisations have helped us with the year.
Firstly we need to thank the wonderful Matthew Hadley. Matthew is a longtime Sindy fan, collector and real life fashion designer. In his spare time he makes beautiful Sindy doll outfits and has a rather lovely instagram page @dollsabouttown. Matthew loves 1984 and has been a huge help with identifying the newer fabrics of the 80s and has contributed some of his own brilliant Sindy treasures and some great observations for 1984. This is what he would like to say about this year:
“It has been such a treat working on 1984 with Annie at Our Sindy Museum. My favourite years for Sindy are 1983-1985, but 1984, to me, is a standout year. Beautiful dolls and stylish scenesetters, and Sindy’s outfits were another level this year!
From youthful and fun casualwear, to the detailed ‘Boutique’ and ‘Designer’ ranges to the glamorous and demure ‘Classic’ collection, there was something for everybody! Everything was in line with real fashion trends, the latest colours, prints and patterns, realistic detailing, true to life fabrics, even Sindy’s shoes were more carefully colour matched to her clothing! And we got six extra outfits for the autumn too!
I think 1984 was a triumph for Sindy’s in-house designer, despite tough and increasing competition, Sindy remained the nation’s favourite fashion doll. I hope everyone enjoys delving into Sindy’s 1984 wardrobe as much as Annie and I did researching it.”
Matthew is so right about 1984, it is what we wore as young women. I had a dress very similar to Highland Fling. It cost £14 from Dorothy Perkins and it was my favourite dress which I wore all the time with cream baggy boots.
Our Sindy Museum would also like to thank Lone from Denmark for her photo of the Made in China boxed ‘Funtime’ so that we could show the two Sindys made in Hong Kong and in China side by side. Thank you Lone.
Huge thanks also to Starla who checked her own files so that we could list all the uncatalogued boxed ‘Fashion Girl’ Sindys we had found between us. It is possible that some of these Sindys were introduced in 1983 but in the absence of any documentary evidence as to when they were released, 1984 would seem to be the right place to show her, given what was happening in Sindy’s world generally. We would be pleased to know of any others we have not listed. Thanks also to Starla for sharing her Masquerade Sindy wearing the ‘Royal Occasion’ gown which was subsequently given to British Toy Retailers.
Turning to the organisations who have helped with 1984:
Thank you to J Sainsbury plc, and in particular to Marcela, Group Heritage Manager, and also to George an archivist at the Sainsbury Archive at the London Museum who helped with us with the permission to show Argos Catalogue photos of Sindy to help tell the story of what was happening to Sindy’s market.
We also grateful to David, Research Manager at The History of Advertising Trust who checked their files and added the 1983 Dressage advertisement so that three of the 1984 Advertisements could be shown plus the 1983 advert which was revised for 1984. This is so you can get a good idea about the 1984 Pedigree commercials which were the most expensive in Sindy’s history. If you like old adverts the History of Advertising Trust website is a gem and you can spend a long time rewatching many of those old commercials we grew up with https://www.hatads.org.uk/
1984 was a tough year for Pedigree’s Sindy, however her catalogue was called “Portrait of a Superstar” and she really was!
Extra Additions added 6th May 2026 – additionally we thank Doll Collector Gaynor Francis who having read the new page has kindly contributed photos of her own boxed ‘Haute Coiffure’ Sindy and also her ‘Cherry Pop’ outfit pack to enable a side-by-side comparison with Matthew’s ‘Cherry Pop’ variation. Thank you Gaynor.
