By Enterprise Wire
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) introduced in the present day that Barbie is celebrating Black Historical past Month and a number of generations of Black feminine designers, previous, current, and future – from the designer behind the first-ever Black Barbie doll to rising designers making a reputation for themselves, to younger ladies contemplating a future profession in vogue design.
Understanding that Black designers make up solely 7.3% of the style business, regardless of the neighborhood’s important affect on vogue, Barbie is dedicated to encouraging extra younger Black ladies to contemplate a profession in vogue design by way of partnerships that assist break down boundaries, unlock alternative, and encourage the following era.
Barbie is partnering with the Black in Trend Council (BIFC), a company aiming to extend illustration and safe the development of Black people within the vogue and wonder business, to focus on and rejoice three rising Black feminine designers who’ve damaged boundaries for ladies in vogue. Barbie and BIFC engaged Blake Newby, Digital Content material Creator, TV Persona, and Podcast Host, to create a sequence of interviews with the designers, sharing their profession journeys and recommendation for the following era occupied with pursuing design.
Via these conversations, every designer recognized a barrier to entry to turning into a clothier. To assist deal with these boundaries for the following era, Barbie and BIFC are creating customized programming geared towards youngsters, teenagers, and younger designers on the 2025 ENVSN Competition. The ENVSN Competition brings collectively 1000’s of attendees every year aged 12-27 for a two-day occasion with inspiring panels that includes business trailblazers, hands-on workshops, and interactive experiences. The designers featured, and their recognized boundaries embrace:
Larissa Muehleder – Larissa is the Founder and Artistic Director of the posh vogue model Muehleder, which seamlessly blends her Nigerian heritage along with her ardour for vibrancy. She is devoted to empowering ladies to rejoice their individuality and embrace their distinctive magnificence. In Larissa’s interview, she centered on the significance of constructing a model rooted in storytelling as a way to efficiently go to market.BIFC and Barbie will collaborate on an interactive session at ENVSN designed to supply kids with an empowering house to ignite their imaginations, increase their confidence, and encourage self-expression. Actions equivalent to creating character storyboards, drawing, and highlighting inspiring imagery will foster a way of neighborhood and connection amongst younger folks of coloration. This initiative presents an important alternative to nurture creativity, which might have a optimistic affect on future profession aspirations.
Nia Thomas – Nia based her vogue label in 2018 to redefine luxurious vogue with a daring dedication to breaking boundaries and creating house for various voices throughout the business. Her meticulously crafted items will not be solely vogue statements but in addition a celebration of artistry, empowerment, and individuality. Nia recognized the necessity for accessible mentorship that fosters a community that champions mutual development and understanding to remodel the often-solitary pursuit of vogue design right into a richer, extra fulfilling journey.Recognizing that vogue design could be an business that lacks a conventional profession path, Barbie and BIFC will choose three teenagers to obtain one-on-one profession recommendation, constructing upon BIFC’s present mentorship sales space on the ENVSN profession truthful. The mentorship alternative goals to equip younger designers with the information and sources they want, together with details about related lessons, extracurricular actions, and internship alternatives.
Fumi Egbon – Fumi launched Fumi the Label in 2021, aiming to serve ladies who view vogue as a software for self-expression and empowerment. Via her hanging, daring designs, Fumi is dedicated to creating ladies really feel seen, assured and unapologetically themselves. Fumi expressed the necessity for designers to be adequately outfitted to run a enterprise, as being inventive is commonly solely a bit of the puzzle.With a need for a stronger basis in enterprise and monetary fundamentals, Barbie and BIFC will herald business leaders and dedicate a full day of programming geared in the direction of a younger skilled viewers at ENVSN to mentor and coach the following era of vogue professionals in matters starting from worth factors, model identification, sourcing, and advertising fundamentals to growing a profitable model framework.
“As a model that has proudly served as quite a few vogue designers’ very first muse, Barbie is honored to proceed to empower the following era of vogue designers in partnership with Black in Trend Council,” stated Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and International Head of Dolls, Mattel. “Via this collaboration, we’re not simply celebrating creativity– we’re actively creating pathways for ladies to pursue their vogue design desires.”
“The Black in Trend Council is proud to staff up with Barbie in help of their mission to encourage limitless potentialities for ladies. We based BIFC with a imaginative and prescient of an equal workforce throughout the style and wonder business – figuring out there are numerous obstacles designers face throughout their careers – particularly initially,” stated Sandrine Charles, Co-Founder, BIFC. “By utilizing the Barbie model’s international platform to rejoice Nia Thomas, Fumi Egbon, and Larissa Muehleder’s tales, whereas additionally offering sources to beat the direct boundaries they encountered, we hope to empower aspiring younger designers and reduce these potential boundaries for the following era.”
“It has been so rewarding to witness our group, Black in Trend Council, drive long-lasting change within the vogue business. Now we will add Barbie to our record of companions who share our dedication to breaking down boundaries and creating extra alternatives for future generations of black designers,” stated Lindsay Peoples, Co-Founder, BIFC. “Having publicity to function fashions and sources is extraordinarily essential to assist hone younger expertise. We’re thrilled to associate with Barbie to rejoice the unimaginable careers of Nia Thomas, Fumi Egbon, and Larissa Muehleder – amplifying the boundaries they confronted by way of curated workshops at ENVSN to supply alternatives for teenagers and adults alike to really feel impressed and empowered to pursue their very own desires in vogue.”
In 2025, Barbie can also be celebrating the forty fifth anniversary of the primary Black Barbie doll, designed by trailblazer Kitty Black Perkins. Earlier than the enduring Black Barbie debuted in 1980, characters like Christie paved the way in which for range within the Barbie line. To commemorate the anniversary, Kitty Black Perkins labored with Barbie to create a celebratory doll, obtainable on the market at Mattel Store.
“My tenure at Mattel has been the reward of a lifetime,” stated Kitty Black Perkins, Former Chief Designer of Trend Dolls, Mattel. “All through my 28-year profession there, I used to be steadfast in my dedication to advancing illustration throughout the toy aisle, guaranteeing each younger little one had the prospect to see themselves in Barbie. Now we have made important strides for the reason that first Black Barbie doll in 1980, and I’m proud to say Barbie continues to characterize the broadest vary of tales, careers, and backgrounds of dolls available on the market. I used to be honored to associate with Barbie to design the forty fifth Anniversary Black Barbie, which continues to function a reminder to younger ladies that they’ve the ability to form the world round them.”
@BarbieStyle is proud to have kicked off Black Historical past Month with Aurora James, Artistic Director and Founding father of Brother Vellies. She based Brother Vellies in 2013 with the purpose of sustaining conventional African design practices and sustaining artisanal professions. Aurora teamed up with Barbie to type a characteristic on the BarbieStyle Instagram channel, showcasing dolls sporting a spread of Brother Vellies’ signature types together with the Doodle Boot and two Vellies.
The Barbie Podcast spotlighted Aurora as a particular visitor, that includes her journey of turning into a trailblazer within the vogue business. Followers can hear now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Audible, and observe together with the Barbie Podcast episode guides made in partnership with Ladies Management.
Followers can even rejoice Black Historical past Month with Barbie by way of the 1980’s Black Barbie Assortment and Barbie Black Historical past Month attire strains obtainable in Amazon’s on-line retailer. The gathering, obtainable now on the Barbie Amazon storefront, consists of over a dozen graphic tees that includes iconic Black Barbie photographs in all kinds of sizes and colours.
About Black in Trend Council
Based by Editor in Chief of The Lower, Lindsay Peoples, and Founding father of Sandrine Charles Consulting, Sandrine Charles, the Black in Trend Council is a collective of editors, fashions, stylists, freelance creatives, and business stakeholders, created to construct a brand new basis for inclusivity throughout the vogue business. For change to happen, non-Black manufacturers, publications, and folks of affect should fastidiously look at their roles in serving to or hurting Black individuals who work in these areas. The Black in Trend Council works to advocate for range and inclusion in company constructions whereas rectifying systemically racist insurance policies which have permeated the style business for years.
About ENVSN
ENVSN based by Sharifa Murdock and Laura Stylez is a company pushed by 5 highly effective areas that form your journey: wellness, profession, cash know-how, mentorship, and tradition; all the time evolving, adapting to the fast-paced world.
ENVSN is aware of that your private development is influenced by the alternatives and sources you’ve—or typically don’t. That’s why ENVSN Competition is right here to alter that. ENVSN desires to encourage you, the trailblazing Gen Z, Gen Alpha and millennial leaders of coloration, and provide the actual instruments to make your desires come true. In in the present day’s world, tradition thrives on know-how and the starvation for progress. ENVSN invitations you to discover the thrilling potentialities of the long run, surrounded by new pals, mentors who’ve obtained your again, and a ton of sources to gasoline your journey.
ENVSN is your power-up. ENVSN empowers you with information, mentorship, and sources to develop into an unstoppable pressure, igniting inspiration and fueling your ardour. Get able to activate your future and make an enduring affect on the world.
Be the lady you ENVSN.
About Mattel
Mattel is a number one international toy and household leisure firm and proprietor of probably the most iconic model portfolios on the planet. We interact customers and followers by way of our franchise manufacturers, together with Barbie®, Scorching Wheels®, Fisher-Worth®, American Lady®, Thomas & Mates™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster Excessive®, MEGA® and Polly Pocket®, in addition to different common properties that we personal or license in partnership with international leisure corporations. Our choices embrace toys, content material, shopper merchandise, digital and stay experiences. Our merchandise are bought in collaboration with the world’s main retail and ecommerce corporations. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted associate in empowering generations to discover the marvel of childhood and attain their full potential. Go to us at mattel.com
About Brother Vellies
Brother Vellies was based in 2013 with the purpose of holding conventional African design practices, and strategies alive whereas additionally creating and sustaining artisanal jobs. Now handmade artisanally throughout the globe, Brother Vellies creates luxurious equipment that remember cultural histories and timeless design.
