The Barbie Fashionista Line Is Expanding & Is More Inclusive Than Ever

by Karly WoodJanuary 29, 2021

Barbie Fashionistas are getting a few fresh looks! The diverse and inclusive line already has 175+ styles with varying eye and hair colors, skin tones, body types and more, and 2021 is bringing more to the table.

This year you’ll be able to shop a broader lineup of dolls that represent global diversity and inclusivity, including Ken in a wheelchair. Fans loved the release of Barbie in a wheelchair in 2020, where it was the second most popular doll of the year in the world. Barbie and her wheelchair will also get two updated looks that include accessories and a ramp that is compatible with the Barbie Dreamhouse.

photo: Mattel

There will also be a new Ken with rooted hair reflecting an afro and Barbie with lighter skin with vitiligo. The Barbie brand is also launching new product packaging with a reusable bag for kids to carry their dolls and make play on-the-go even easier.

Lisa McKnight, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls, Mattel shares “As Barbie accelerates to new heights as the #1 global toy property, and holds as the #1 fashion doll property, the message is clear that Barbie brand is more relevant than ever. As the most diverse fashion doll line on the market, we take great responsibility in better reflecting the world around us and know there are many positive benefits to exposing children to dolls with different skin tones, hair types, abilities and more. We are proud to offer an even wider range of diverse choices with the latest Barbie Fashionistas line so more kids see themselves reflected in our doll line.”

You can shop the new additions to the Fashionistas collection this Spring and Fall at Walmart, Target and Amazon.

––Karly Wood

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Barbie Embraces Inclusivity with New Wheelchair Update

by Jennifer SwartvagherMarch 9, 2020

Barbie dolls are becoming more and more inclusive. The most recent series from Mattel features dolls with vitiligo and prosthetic limbs. Now, all future campers, Dreamhouses and other Barbie homes will be wheelchair-accessible.

The new Dreamhouse design looks the same as the old one with one exception. The elevator has been made larger with a tiny sloped ramp so Barbie can roll her wheelchair right up and in.

These changes will be made on all new production going forward, meaning that the current store availability will not reflect the changes.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Mattel

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The New Barbie Fashionistas Line for 2020 Is One of the Most Diverse Collections Yet

by Shahrzad WarkentinFebruary 1, 2020

Over the past few years Barbie has been taking on a whole new look––actually several new looks, including a wide range of body types, skin tones and hair styles. The new Barbie Fashionistas line for 2020 continues the trend of diversity and inclusion for one of the world’s most popular dolls.

The newest Barbie Fashionistas collection features a doll with the skin condition vitiligo, a doll with no hair, a doll with a darker skin tone that uses a gold prosthetic limb and Ken with long hair.

The Barbie design team worked closely with experts to ensure the accuracy of each doll. In 2019, they collaborated with then 12-year-old Jordan Reeves, who is working to build creative solutions that help kids with disabilities. They also consulted with a dermatologist to ensure vitiligo was properly represented.

Over the past five years Barbie has introduced more than 170 new looks in order to be more reflective of the world girls see around them. The effort to create a more diverse offering of Barbies has been a huge success. In 2019, over half of all dolls offered were diverse. Of the top ten Fashionista best sellers, seven were diverse, including the doll that uses a wheelchair.

The new Fashionistas collection will be released in two waves. The spring wave, which includes the doll with vitiligo and the Ken with rooted hair, is available now. The fall wave, which includes the doll with the prosthetic in a darker skin tone and the doll with no hair, will begin hitting store shelves in June. Several dolls from the previous line, including the doll with a wheelchair, are also being brought back for 2020 due to popular demand.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Mattel

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This Grandpa Creates Inclusive Crocheted Dolls with Vitiligo

by Erica LoopSeptember 23, 2019

João Stanganelli, Jr.’s dolls are getting major props on social media—and for a very good reason. The grandpa from Brazil crochets inclusive dolls, including toys with vitiligo, cochlear implants and so much more.

So how did this grandfather get into the crocheted doll business? Stanganelli’s first crocheted project was a vitiligo doll for his granddaughter. The grandpa has had the skin condition, which results in the loss of pigment since he was in his 30’s. Wanting to give his granddaughter something to remember him by, Stanganelli crafted a doll with vitiligo patches.

The 64-year-old is semi-retired from the gastronomy industry and told Bored Panda, “I’m not yet retired, I still keep up my old work with food, but much less intensely. At the moment I spend 90% of my time with the dolls. I have many orders.”

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A post shared by João Stanganelli Junior (@vovocrocheteiro)

He told Bored Panda, “My view of vitiligo seems to me to be very different from the general, I think it is necessary first that you have vitiligo, after this acceptance you choose what you want to do.” Stanganelli continued, “I still quote Benjamin Disraeli: ‘Life is too short to be small.’”

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A post shared by João Stanganelli Junior (@vovocrocheteiro)

Along with vitiligo dolls, Stanganelli has also branched into other inclusive options. Not only are these dolls awesomely adorable, but they can help children understand, value and normalize the conditions Stanganelli crochets.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by João Stanganelli Junior (@vovocrocheteiro)

To see more of Stanganelli’s work, visit his Instagram or Facebook pages.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: João Stanganelli, Jr’s via Instagram

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