Xavier Roberts

Xavier Roberts
Born (1955-10-31) October 31, 1955
Cleveland, Georgia
Nationality American
Known for Cabbage Patch Kids[1]
Religion Christian

Xavier Roberts (born October 31, 1955, Cleveland, Georgia), manufacturer of Cabbage Patch Kids, is an American businessman.

His story begins by placing him near the American Folk art movement of the late 1970s, Roberts observed techniques involving the making of dolls from various materials. Influenced by the quilts that his mother made, he began experimenting with a quilted doll. After much experimentation, Roberts created a type of doll he called "Little People". Roberts and a small group of friends began to travel from state to state in the southeastern U.S. attending various folk art exhibitions. At these exhibitions, Roberts began selling these handcrafted dolls he called "babies". Going into business as Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc., Roberts started producing Little People in his hometown of Cleveland, at a converted medical clinic, which he rechristened "Babyland General Hospital".

The Little People evolved by 1982 into Cabbage Patch Kids, which quickly became a major toy fad. In 1984 alone, 20 million dolls were bought, and by 1999, 95 million had been sold worldwide.

Appropriation of the Cabbage Patch Kids idea

According to a media report, Cabbage Patch Kids were initially designed and sold by Martha Nelson Thomas. She refused permission to Xavier Roberts to sell the dolls, so he created his own version.[2] Nelson Thomas sued Roberts in 1975 with a trial occurring in 1985 culminating in an out of court settlment.[3]

Roberts would later create a series of country-inspired toy bears called the Furskin Bears.

Notes

  1. ↑ Tong, Judy (December 8, 2002). "Update: Xavier Roberts; Bigger Kids In the Garden". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
  2. ↑ The Secret History of Cabbage Patch Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSk84zU1RuM
  3. ↑ The Cabbage Patch Kids' Twisted History https://www.yahoo.com/news/the-cabbage-patch-kids-twisted-history-117266351832.html

References

YOUTUBE; "The Secret History of Cabbage Patch Kids"; [1] WOMEN YOU SHOULD KNOW; "Baby Snatcher: He Stole Her 'Doll Baby”' Concept To Make Iconic Cabbage Patch Kids" [2]

Vice, "The secret history of cabbage patch kids" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSk84zU1RuM


  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSk84zU1RuM
  2. ↑ http://www.womenyoushouldknow.net/baby-snatcher-he-stole-her-doll-baby-concept-to-make-iconic-cabbage-patch-kids/
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