Mattel dresses Barbie in Indian couture for Diwali
Mattel partners with Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre on a new Barbie doll wearing a custom-made Diwali outfit.
Barbie is ready to shine in haute couture this year for Diwali, the Indian festival of lights.
Mattel, the toymaker behind the iconic doll, unveiled a new Barbie doll on Friday in celebration of India’s biggest and most popular holiday, which marks the victory of good over evil.
“Just as Barbie has honored other celebrations of heritage across the globe, including Día de Muertos and the Lunar New Year, we are excited to showcase a doll that honors Diwali,” Mattel said in a statement to Bagable.com. “Through the launch of the Barbie Diwali doll, we’re continuing to expand how we represent and celebrate cultures worldwide, and will continue to do so in future launches.”
“I just wanted this Barbie doll to wear India with pride.”- Anita Dongre
To give Barbie a stunning, one-of-a-kind look, Mattel turned to Anita Dongre, one of India’s leading, and globally-renowned, fashion designers with a flagship store in New York City to create a dress that blends traditional craftsmanship and printed motifs with a modern twist.
The Barbie Diwali doll, part of the Barbie Signature collection and available online and in major retailers for $40, wears a full-length deep blue traditional Indian skirt called a “lehenga” paired with a short top called a “choli” and a short sleeveless jacket called a “Koti vest.” The doll also wears traditional Indian gold earrings, and gold bangles.
“I wasn’t lucky enough to grow up with Barbie in India. We did play with dolls but Barbie wasn’t imported into India in those days. Luckily, Barbie is available everywhere now, so I was obviously very excited,” Dongre said in an interview with Bagable.com.
“What I wanted to show with this doll, because Barbie is a fashion icon, is for her to represent contemporary Indian fashion,” she said. “I wanted the world to see that the Indian woman today, and what she’s wearing, is really fashionable. I think we’ve achieved it with the doll.”
Dongre said the design of the dress is inspired by her hometown of Jaipur, the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan, famous for its traditional embroidery.
“I’ve used the color blue for Barbie’s dress because when I started my bridal wear collection for my brand 13 years ago, that was the color I used,” she said.
The motifs on the skirt are “nature-inspired,” Dongre said, who is also an advocate for animal welfare and women empowerment.
“I just wanted this Barbie doll to wear India with pride. Indian fashion today is finally getting its global recognition and maybe Barbie will help with this, too,” said Dongre. “Also, Diwali today is celebrated all over the world. It’s the festival of light, hope, love. I’m amazed how everybody is embracing it. It’s a great time to introduce this doll.”