Polly Pocket Celebrated at The Strong’s Worldwide Day of Play

The Strong National Museum of Play welcomed Kate Wiggs, daughter of Polly Pocket creator Chris Wiggs, for a special presentation titled When a Universe Fits In Your Hand: The Story of Polly Pocket during its annual Worldwide Day of Play event on September 27.

At the event, Kate unveiled a rare replica of the original Polly Pocket compact her father created for her in South London in 1983, when she was a child. Only four of these replica compacts were ever made, crafted by model maker Sarah Aplin, who worked closely with Chris Wiggs early in his career, shortly after his graduation from London’s Central School of Art and Design.

The compact is now part of The Strong’s permanent collection, preserving Polly Pocket’s legacy for future generations.

On stage in The Strong’s Paychex Theater, Kate joined associate curator Natalie Rudd for a conversation about her father, the origins of Polly Pocket, and the joy the miniature worlds have brought to millions of children worldwide.

“The first time I saw a fully packaged, ready-to-go Polly Pocket … it was an odd experience,” Kate shared in a previous interview about her dad. “It was kind of knowing what the package contained, the potential of what it contained for all these imaginary worlds for the kids, but also I just felt really proud of my dad.”

The miniature universe of Polly Pocket was later brought to market by Bluebird Toys in 1989, and evolved into a global brand under Mattel. Today, Polly Pocket remains a favourite among collectors and is highlighted in special editions, including an 80th Anniversary Heritage Compact released through the Mattel Creations platform.

In addition to her appearance at The Strong, Kate Wiggs, now an art therapist, invites fans and collectors to share their own cherished Polly Pocket memories in celebration of her father’s legacy.

The Strong houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play. Learn more about The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.