Barbie continues its commitment to inclusivity and diversity with a new editorial for Black History Month.
Created in partnership with Harlem’s Fashion Row, the project highlights the work of Black designers Hanifa, Kimberly Goldson, and Rich Fresh, all of whom have previously teamed up with Mattel. The editorial is centered around doll-sized replicas of Hanifa’s, Goldson’s, and Rich Fresh’s original designs, which are modeled by multicultural Barbies.
Hanifa’s look consists of thigh-high white boots and the Brooklyn Jacket from the Fall/Winter 2021 collection.
“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,” said Hanifa designer/founder Anifa Mvuemba in a statement. “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.”
Goldson’s Barbie was styled with “Mari” multi-layered dress and the “Lizzette” shorts in copper metallic, both of which were from the Spring 2022 collection, dubbed “Blissful Evolution.”
“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,” Kimberly Goldson explained. “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 of our Brooklyn culture and driven by luxury. She’s ready for Bed Stuy!”
Rich Fresh’s doll, molded after his muse August McQueen, is presented in a blue tracksuit from his Winter 2021 collection. Rich, born Patrick Henry, said the design was one of his all-time favorites.
“What drew me to the Barbie project the most is the level of inclusivity I saw in the Barbie Universe,” the L.A.-based designer said. “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.”
You can also check out the Barbie x HFR editorial at the @BarbieStyle Instagram page.
A raffle to potentially score a “one-of-a-kind HFR x BarbieStyle designer doll” is available here, with proceeds benefitting ICON360, Harlem’s Fashion Row’s non-profit organization.
