This new Barbie doll is ready to light up the Barbie-verse!
Mattel is celebrating Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, with a new Barbie-inspired holiday that officially begins on October 31st and ends on November 1st.
The company teamed up with Indian fashion designer and designer Anita Dongre to design the latest Barbie Signature figurine.
“I didn’t get a chance to own a Barbie because it wasn’t available in India when I was a kid. But it’s an amazing feeling to design your own Barbie. This doll is my first and it’s so special to finally own a Barbie that I designed!” Dongre speaks exclusively to PEOPLE.
“When Mattel approached me to collaborate on the creation of the Barbie Diwali doll, I was thrilled at the opportunity to represent Indian fashion on the global stage. I am especially excited to bring Diwali, a celebration that is truly global today, to the fore,” she adds.
Barbie Diwali doll has koti jacket and lehenga.
Mattel Inc.
Everything you need to know about Diwali, the ‘Festival of Lights’
Dongre always knew a career in fashion was in her future. Growing up, she spent her summers at local bazaars in Jaipur, India, and even worked with vendors to create her own designs. “I wanted to be a fashion designer and that’s why I studied it in order to realize my dream of building my own fashion house.”
And she did. In 1995, Dongre founded her eponymous label, House of Anita Dongre, which has since expanded with additional companies: Grassroot (a subset of sustainable pieces), Pinkcity (her fine jewelry line), and Global Desi, all of which fuse modern styles with traditional craftsmanship. skill.
She has also dressed Bollywood stars, Hollywood A-listers – including Beyoncé, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and the Jonas Brothers – and political figures such as Hillary Clinton and Princess of Wales Kate Middleton.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2)/diwali-barbie-100324-2-e1a8336de97749f28ed582569c28d509.jpg)
Details of Anita Dongre and Mattel’s new Barbie Diwali doll.
Mattel Inc.
Mattel Unveils Its First Blind Barbie For Extra Doll Inclusivity: ‘Great For Our Community’ (Exclusive)
When it came time to design the Diwali doll, Dongre wanted to pay homage to her roots and portray “an accurate reflection of what contemporary Indian fashion means” to her and to Indian women around the world.
And over the course of 18 months, great attention was paid to detail at every point in the design process, from sketches to the actual clothes and accessories to styling the doll’s hair and makeup.
The PEOPLE Puzzler has arrived! How fast can you solve it? Play now!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2)/diwali-barbie-100324-3-8c257e27586240449743a1e6df0e57fe.jpg)
Clothing details of the new Barbie Diwali doll.
Mattel Inc.
Dongre’s inspiration was Rajasthan, the northwestern Indian state she calls her “eternal muse.” The doll wears a floral midnight blue skirt set that features a Rajasthani inspired koti jacket and a contemporary lehenga, both of which are traditional wear. “The color is the signature of my brand,” she says, adding that they reflect the “triumph of light over darkness,” which is the theme of Diwali.
As this was her first time creating items as small as doll clothes, Dongre adds that it was all “a fun learning process”. She even shared the journey with her nieces in India and abroad because, she says, “it was very important to me that young Indian girls feel the pride of being associated with Indian fashion through this doll.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(665x0:667x2)/diwali-barbie-100324-4-e99157e619c242e6bf27cdd455bc0b31.jpg)
Barbie Diwali doll comes packaged in a colorful box inspired by the Festival of Lights.
Mattel Inc.
Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
As Diwali approaches, Dongre looks forward to “connecting with family in celebration of togetherness and community.” Her favorite tradition, she adds, is the Diwali lunch with her loved ones.
Now that her collaboration with Barbie is out in the world, Dongre also hopes that she can empower women and girls around the world to “dream big, live their full potential and break boundaries” and that she, with Mattel, can inspire everyone to “chase their unforgiving ambitions.”
It’s all similar to the golden advice she would have shared with her younger self: “Stay authentic and always listen to your inner voice.”
Barbie Diwali Doll is now available.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education