Balmain brings Barbie's world to fashion with unisex collection
By John Legaspi
And it’s just fantastic!
Barbie, for the longest time, has been the beacon of childhood fantasy. She and her many looks, the careers she pursued, and her “dreamworld” are what young’s imagination is made of. That continues until today as many little girls, even boys, rush to the store to get a piece of her. This time, adults are the ones playing with Barbie as Balmain starts 2022 with a collection paying homage to the iconic toy.
Led by creative director Olivier Rousteing, the French luxury brand takes the doll’s charming elements, from her signature pink and bubblegum shades to and flirty font, and merged them with the house’s design repertoire like Pierre Balmain’s ’70s Labyrinth monogram, oversized silhouette, and Fabergé dresses, ultimately creating a fun and sophisticated collection.
“For this collaboration, we are building upon the New French Style of Balmain’s most recent collections, once again showing that Balmain is inspired by the truly diverse and exciting beauty found on today’s Parisian boulevards and avenues,” Olivier says.
Apart from sequined mini-dresses, strapless mermaid gowns, and silk satin suits, the 50-piece collection also features sweatshirts, jumpers, accessories, and more that blur the line between his and hers. As the design leader describes it, the collection “rejects any arbitrary gender limitations.” This idea is rooted in his childhood years and the shame he felt playing with Barbie dolls.
“It’s a dream come true. Since a kid, I always loved Barbie and I feel so proud to be part of the Barbie world,” Olivier says in a post. “Thank you so much @mattel and @barbiestyle for believing in us and creating this journey together. l feel so proud of this collaboration with a whole new unisex collection coming out on January 13th, and a collection that breaks boundaries!”
Apart from style, the fashion house is also taking the collaboration to today’s digital world. Echoing that is a campaign where pieces of the collection are modeled by avatars and three NFTs to be auctioned online.
“As our campaign images make very clear, Barbie and Balmain are embarking upon a distinctly multicultural, inclusive, and always joy-filled adventure,” notes Olivier
“Together, Barbie and Balmain are creating a new chapter in the legacy of the toy and fashion industries,” adds Richard Dickson, president and COO of Mattel.
Learn more about the Balmain x Barbie collection here.