Barbie partnered with Harlem's Fashion Row to create dolls wearing original designs from Black designers and clothing brands, including Hanifa, Goldson and Rich Fresh, for Black History Month, Complex reports.
Barbie encourages diversity and self-awareness for young girls to emulate.
Brandice Daniel, founder and CEO of Harlem's Fashion Row, said the partnership with Barbie is important in spreading the message of diversity.
"Since its inception, Barbie has been a rite of passage, an impression of self-awareness for young girls everywhere. Now, more than ever, Barbie celebrates our differences and I'm excited that Harlem's Fashion Row gets to play a part in widely diversifying their style, too. With this Black History Month collaboration, Black designers … give Barbie fresh-off-the-runway appeal with their unique design aesthetics," Daniel said, according to Because of Them We Can.
Designer Anifa Mvuemba styles Barbie in Brooklyn swank.
The dolls are replicas of the three designers, and other multicultural Barbies will also model attire created by the clothiers.
"Who didn't love Barbie as a little girl?! I loved my Barbie Dream House with the most perfect elevator, it gave me the chance to dream in real life," Mvuemba, founder of Hanifa, said in a statement, according to Complex. "I'm so thankful for this opportunity to connect to my childhood and I'm happy to see that little Black girls everywhere can see themselves starting with their favorite toy."
The Barbie doll wearing Hanifa dons the "Brooklyn Jacket" from the 2021 fall/winter collection, and it's paired with thigh-high white boots.
Goldson dresses Barbie in a romantic maxi dress accented with a New York flair.
Founders of the fashion line Goldson, sisters Kimberly Goldson and Shelly Powell, chose the "Mari" dress from their spring 2022 collection titled "Blissful Evolution." Arrayed in a multilayered and textured maxi dress that uses different fabric quality, their Barbie wears their copper metallic "Lizzette" shorts, an homage to New York streetwear.
"It is powerful of Barbie to use her platform to help bridge the gap on the way we look at people of various shades and from different backgrounds. That made it important for me to partner with her to wear Kimberly Goldson for Black History Month. I chose a look that personifies the KG aesthetic which is born out of our Brooklyn culture and driven by luxury. She's ready for Bed-Stuy!" Goldson said, according to Because of Them We Can.
Fresh keeps Barbie fit and fly in a blue tracksuit.
Fresh, born Patrick Henry, drew inspiration from August McQueen to style the doll for Rich Fresh. His Barbie is wearing a blue tracksuit from his 2021 winter collection, and he said this particular design is one of his favorites.
"What drew me to the Barbie project the most is the level of inclusivity I saw in the Barbie Universe," Fresh said, according to Complex. "There's Barbies for everybody. Deliberately. I knew this would be a project I could get involved with. It's important for kids of all cultures to see themselves. Representation is vital. Involving black creatives gives us the opportunity to contribute to the narrative."
The Barbie Harlem's Fashion Row editorial is posted on the Instagram page @BarbieStyle.
