Come on Barbie!!
Mattel teamed up with “Queen & Slim” costume designer Shiona Turini to create a line of Barbie dolls in honor of Black History Month, The New York Post reports.
The dolls come in 10 different styles with varying hairstyles, skin tones and body types. The new collection was created around 3 different color schemes and drew inspiration from the first Black Barbie, released in 1980, which Mattel has also brought back for the 40th anniversary of its release. In honor of that first doll, Turini created an entire “red collection” around it.
Photo Courtesy of Mattel
The stylist and costume designer took to Instagram to express her joy about the new collection and share the story behind it. “I grew up obsessed with @barbie and while she was one of my first fashion icons, I clearly remember searching shelves for a doll that looked like me and coming up empty handed… I hope other young children, and adult Barbie lovers, are as excited to see themselves reflected in these dolls as I am,” she said.
Photo Courtesy of Mattel
The doll clothes are not for sale but the intention behind the styling was to create bold looks that would allow Black girls to see themselves and their own personal style reflected in the toys.
“My vision was to style diverse dolls in bold looks with themes seen throughout my work, like contrasting snakeskin and leopard, challenging traditional uniformity…Thank you @barbiestyle for making my childhood dreams come true…allowing me the freedom to create something special so that my community can see themselves represented in such an iconic brand,” Turini said.
Photo Courtesy of Mattel
Turini continued to share various looks to her social media page, emphasizing that what she feels the most is proud. “Thank you @barbiestyle – for collaborating with me to create Barbies with braids, finger waves and everything in between. Chicks by the layers, all different flavors. And even a curvy doll, in a crop top, with waist length twists. Baby Shiona is PROUD.”
To order your Black History Month barbie doll, visit www.barbie.mattel.com.
Congratulations Shiona!!
Photo Courtesy of Mattel