Hi Barbie! It's time to sparkle. With Diwali a little less than month away, celebrations for it have begun. Mattel, on Friday, unveiled a new Diwali special Barbie Doll dressed by Indian courtier Anita Dongre.
"In a continued commitment to promoting celebrations of heritage, Barbie is unveiling its first ever Barbie Diwali doll collaboration with globally recognized Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre," Mattel said about its newest drop in a news release. "Blending tradition with Barbie’s place in global fashion, the Barbie Diwali doll celebrates India’s cultural richness with a worldwide audience." The limited-edition Barbie doll wears a "Moonlight Bloom set with a choli top, floral Koti vest and lehenga skirt adorned with dahlias, jasmine and Indian lotus—symbols of strength and beauty.
" The outfit has been accessorized with gold bangles and shimmering earrings to complete the look and "reflect the radiant lights of the festival," as per Mattel. The doll comes in a big box, in the same color as Barbie's outfit, adorned with Dongre's signature motifs. Design process took more than a year, several designs Designing the outfit took more than a year and several prototypes before the midnight blue outfit with Dongre's signature print, inspired by nature, was selected, the fashion designer told USA TODAY earlier this week.
"We (had around) eight to ten (designs) and then to zero down on this one, that was the toughest part," Dongre said speaking to USA TODAY from India. "I.