Gene Marshall

Gene: The Doll Who Changed Everything!

The Gene doll debuted at Toy Fair in February of 1995 and for 15 years, managed set trends in the fashion doll collecting arena.  When she was first launched, the immediate response by collectors was a positive one, with many rejoicing at a new doll finally breaking a decades-old monopoly on the fashion doll world.  Rabid on-line attention to Gene convinced Ashton-Drake, the original manufacturers, to continue and expand the line.

Gene’s philosophy of hands-on play and ‘out-of-the-box’, personalized collecting and became the incentive for countless doll lovers. A vast cottage industry of private designers, at every level of accomplishment, made and traded in, among other things, meticulously sewn, miniature, twentieth century dress.

The story-driven dolls and separate fashions became a standard within the doll world with numerous like-sized fashion dolls from other companies following. At the same time, new dolls within the Gene line were being introduced, first as characters in the 2000 book “Gene Marshall, Girl Star”, and then as dolls from Ashton-Drake. Over a period of ten years more than a million dolls and an equal number of costumes have been sold worldwide.

Jason Wu and his team announced that they would produce Mel Odom’s Gene in 2006, and Gene Marshall and her friends went on in the world dressed in the nicest doll couture for the next five years, until it was decided to permanently retire the brand in June 2010.

Miss Marshall's legend will live on in the heart of her fans, her glamorous image forever imprinted in our collective imaginations!

About Mel Odom, Creator of Gene

Mel Odom is known these days primarily as the father of Gene® Marshall and the guy who helped to jump-start the entire second coming of the fashion doll world and creator of the 16" doll format. 

Previously he was a successful freelance illustrator with many editorial illustrations and book covers to his credit.  He was a regular contributor to Playboy magazine and includes covers for Time, Blueboy, and Omni magazines in his portfolio.  He has had three books of drawings published.

“Gene® is probably what I will be remembered the most for having created.  She is that rare creation that goes from being the most private of things to the most public.  She is my most optimistic comment on people”.

Odom lives in New York City, where he works his many creative endeavors.