To mark the celebration of this year’s Diwali, Barbie has teamed up with renowned Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre to create a Diwali doll. Diwali is the largest Indian festival of the year, also known as the Festival of Lights — and commemorates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and marks new beginnings. The Hindu holiday of Diwali is marked on Western calendars as November 1. Some may begin celebrations on October 31, depending on tradition.
The Diwali Barbie doll was designed by Dongre and pays homage to her brand’s merging of traditional Indian craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. The limited-edition Barbie doll wears a “Moonlight Bloom set” with a cropped choli top, a floral Koti vest, and a patterned ankle-length lehenga skirt adorned with dahlias, jasmine and Indian lotus—symbols of strength and beauty. The Barbie is accessorized with traditional Indian accessories including gold bangles, shimmering earrings, and a bindi.
The packaging of the doll also features symbols from the garments on the box to “reflect the radiant lights of the festival,” as per Mattel.
“In celebration of Diwali, Barbie and I are both encouraging fans around the world to celebrate the beautiful heritage of Indian fashion and culture,” Dongre said in a news release.
Dongre said that when she was first approached by Mattel, she jumped on the opportunity to collaborate on the Barbie Diwali doll to “showcase Indian fashion on a global fashion icon” and “create a beautiful representation of contemporary Indian women while highlighting Diwali.” Moreover, Dongre said that she’s “always looked upon Barbie as a fashion icon, she was always fearless, ambitious and aspirational to me.”
She went on to express that “designing a Barbie, a brand known for empowerment, is an incredible moment” especially given the brands’ shared vision of “championing women to celebrate their individuality.” She said that the collaboration is in perfect alignment with the two brands’ values and “inspiring young girls everywhere to embrace their heritage with pride.”
Mattel said the partnership with Dongre on the Diwali Barbie doll is a continued commitment by the company to celebrate different heritages. Moreover, Mattel chose Dongre to highlight her role as an advocate for women’s empowerment and representation — Dongre’s brand has created initiatives to train tribal women in garment-making and has partnered with various government agencies and NGOs to create steady employment opportunities for skilled rural artisans.
“We chose to partner with Anita Dongre as her label transcends fashion standing as a powerful force for women empowerment and representation, sharing the Barbie brand ethos,” said Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel. “Anita serves as an advocate for inclusivity and much like Barbie, her brand inspires women to chase their dreams, unapologetically embracing who they are.” Berger went on to note that Mattel chose to spotlight Diwali to promote the mission of “a multidimensional view of beauty and fashion” through celebrations of heritage. And as Diwali is one of the most celebrated Indian holidays, the company saw the perfect opportunity to “highlight India’s cultural richness with a worldwide audience.”
The Diwali doll is the latest in Barbie’s evolution toward greater diversity. The iconic doll was once known for its blond hair, tiny waist and depictions of traditional gender roles, which drew criticisms for its failure to reflect the true range of cultural and racial backgrounds. But the doll, which recently celebrated its 65th anniversary, has dramatically changed. Barbie dolls now come in 35 skin tones, 97 hairstyles and nine body types. (You can read about the racy origins of the world’s most famous doll, and take a brief look back at Barbie’s cultural revolution through the decades right here).
The Barbie Diwali doll, designed by eponymous Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre, is available now for purchase at major retailers across North America.
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