Mattel, owner of Barbie, collaborates with five Canadian companies to celebrate the doll’s 65th Anniversary.
The new collection, titled “Barbie Through The Decades,” honors Barbie’s six-decade history in fashion and beauty, featuring eight unique looks created by Hilary MacMillan, Ai, Paris Jewellers Canada, Cheekbone Beauty, and Sol Kyst.
Each brand has collaborated to design eight cohesive looks that include over 100 products, ranging from ready-to-wear clothing to bags, hair accessories, jewelry, eyewear, and makeup, all designed to reflect the style of each decade represented by Barbie.
Jennifer Gileno, head of licensing and retail development at Mattel Canada, shared, “We are celebrating the Barbie brand’s 65-year legacy, which continues to be both a fashion icon and a symbol of empowerment, showing fans that you can be anything. This collection reminds us of the impact we can make when we come together, celebrating an industry first and breaking barriers in fashion and beauty.”
The collection draws inspiration from six iconic Barbie dolls over the decades: the original 1959 Barbie, the 1960s Twist ‘N Turn, the 1970s Superstar, the 1980s Black Barbie, the 1980s Totally Crystal Barbie, and the 1990s Totally Hair Barbie.
For example, the 1950s look pays tribute to Barbie’s original black and white chevron pattern, updated by Hilary MacMillan with a long black piped blazer and striped trousers, complemented by white cat-eye sunglasses from Sol Kyst and jewelry from Paris Jewellers Canada. The 1960s collection channels the Mod era with bold pinks and fluorescent oranges, featuring a belted A-line dress and colorful retro bangles.
The 1970s Superstar Barbie is reimagined with a pink faux fur and leather wrap coat, while the 1980s Black Barbie shines in a gold wrap dress and faux fur coat. The 1980s Totally Crystal Barbie is transformed with a shimmering crystal bag and a sequin dress, and the 1990s look features a tweed crop jacket and cargo trousers.
Each look is paired with coordinating beauty products from Cheekbone, including a trio of mini makeup pencils in new shades—subtle pink eyeshadow, light rose gold highlighter, and a bold matte pink lip.
Hilary MacMillan, founder and designer of her namesake brand, expressed her pride in the collaboration, stating,
“When women support women, we all succeed. It has been a rewarding experience to work with such an inspiring group of women to create these looks in partnership with Barbie.”
Chau Liu, co-owner of Paris Jewellers Canada, added, “As an immigrant, family-owned company with a 90 percent female workforce, we are honored to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime collaboration with Barbie and other incredible women-owned brands. This jewelry collection captures the magic and iconic fashion of Barbie through the decades.”
The “Barbie Through The Decades” collection is available on the websites of each participating brand, featuring integrated web interfaces for a seamless shopping experience.
