Hello, Barbie! It’s your time to shine.
Diwali is less than a month away and its celebrations have begun. Mattel on Friday unveiled a new Diwali special Barbie doll dressed as Indian courtier Anita Dongre.
Mattel said in a news release: “As part of our continued efforts to promote the celebration of tradition, Barbie announces the first-ever Barbie Diwali doll collaboration with globally recognized Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre. ” said in a news release. “Blending tradition and Barbie’s place in global fashion, Barbie Diwali doll celebrates the richness of Indian culture with audiences around the world.”
The limited edition Barbie doll wears a “Moonlight Bloom set featuring a choli top, floral koti vest, and lehenga skirt adorned with dahlias, jasmine, and Indian lotuses, symbols of strength and beauty.” Masu. Mattel said the costume was adorned with gold bangles and sparkling earrings to complete the look and “reflect the bright lights of the festival.”
The doll comes in a large box in the same color as Barbie’s outfit and is decorated with Dongre’s signature motif.
The design process took over a year and included several designs
The costume design took more than a year and went through several prototypes before a midnight blue costume with Dongre’s signature print inspired by nature was chosen, the fashion designer told USA TODAY earlier this week. .
“There were eight to 10 (designs), and narrowing it down to zero was the hardest part,” Dongre told USA TODAY in an interview from India. “I wanted to have the entire collection.”
“We talked about so many ideas in the office,” she continued. “Should it be a lehnha? Should it be a sari? Should it be a sharara? There are so many things you can do. Indian fashion is really versatile and there are so many things you can do with it.”
Dongre said she wanted Barbie doll’s outfits to resonate with girls around the world, so the lenga was designed to look like a skirt and the top was a modern take on a “Rajasthani koti.” He said he was there.
“I really wanted to show a more modern version of Indian fashion,” Dongre said.
Mattel said in a statement that Dongre’s creations, including this Barbie doll, are a “beautiful blend of modern aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship.”
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For someone who has dressed the likes of Hillary Clinton, Beyoncé, Kate Middleton, and Priyanka Chopra, designing doll outfits shouldn’t be a big deal, right? However, Dongre says designing the costumes on a small scale was a difficult task.
Will Barbie costumes be available for all the real-life Barbies out there? That depends on demand, Dongre said.
“If a lot of consumers ask for this doll and we make a request, we’ll probably say yes,” the designer said.
Celebrating the power and beauty of diversity
Mattel India senior executive Lalit Agarwal said in a statement that the company is “excited to be able to showcase India’s vibrant cultural heritage on the world stage” through the dolls, “as we continue to celebrate the power and beauty of diversity.” ” he said.
Mattel says the company is excited to work with Dongre, whose brand is dedicated to empowering local women artisans and preserving “[her]country’s exquisite craftsmanship.” said.
Dongre, who also has a store in New York City, said it was a “proud moment to have a doll of Indian culture” and was excited to partner with Mattel on this.
“My brand has always been driven by a mission to empower through fashion. As the ultimate symbol of female empowerment, partnering with Barbie to create the Barbie Diwali doll represents our values. There could not be a more perfect match,” Dongre said.
Dongre has this message for young girls looking to get their hands on a Barbie doll: “Empower yourself, accept yourself, accept yourself. Each of you is special.”
How to get Barbie Diwali doll
Barbie Diwali dolls will be available for purchase starting October 4th on Mattel’s website and major retailers including Target, Amazon and Walmart for $40.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This story has been updated to include video.
