Barbie Partners With Black In Fashion Council For Black History Month

Mattel announced today (Feb. 19) that Barbie is celebrating Black History Month by honoring multiple generations of Black female designers—past, present, and future. From the trailblazer behind the first-ever Black Barbie, Kitty Black Perkins, to emerging designers, the initiative seals Barbie’s commitment to fostering diversity and empowering young Black girls to explore careers in design.

“It has been so rewarding to witness our organization Black in Fashion Council drive long-lasting change in the fashion industry. Now we can add Barbie to our list of partners who share our commitment to breaking down barriers and creating more opportunities for future generations of Black designers,” stated Lindsay Peoples, Co-Founder of Black in Fashion Council (BIFC).

Barbie in partnership with BIFC have tapped Blake Newby, Digital Content Creator, TV Personality, and Podcast Host, to produce a series of interviews with three emerging Black female designers, highlighting their journeys and the obstacles they’ve faced.

Among the designers are Larissa Muehleder, Founder and Creative Director of Muehleder, a luxury fashion brand that fuses her Nigerian heritage with a vibrant aesthetic; Nia Thomas, who has dedicated her brand to redefining luxury fashion by championing diversity and empowerment; and Fumi Egbon, the creative force behind Fumi the Label.

“As a brand that has proudly served as numerous fashion designers’ very first muse, Barbie is honored to continue to empower the next generation of fashion designers in partnership with Black in Fashion Council,” stated Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls at Mattel. “Through this collaboration, we’re not just celebrating creativity—we’re actively creating pathways for girls to pursue their fashion design dreams.”

In addition to empowering future designers, Barbie is also marking a significant milestone—the 45th anniversary of the first Black Barbie, originally designed by Perkins. Before Black Barbie debuted in 1980, characters like Christie paved the way for more representation in the Barbie line. To commemorate the anniversary, Perkins collaborated with Barbie to create a special edition 45th Anniversary Black Barbie, available for purchase at Mattel Shop.

“My tenure at Mattel has been the reward of a lifetime,” stated Perkins, Former Chief Designer of Fashion Dolls at Mattel. “Throughout my 28-year career there, I was steadfast in my dedication to advancing representation within the toy aisle, ensuring every young child had the chance to see themselves in Barbie.”

She added, “We have made significant strides since the first Black Barbie doll in 1980, and I’m proud to say Barbie continues to represent the broadest range of stories, careers, and backgrounds of dolls on the market. I was honored to partner with Barbie to design the 45th Anniversary Black Barbie, which continues to serve as a reminder to young girls that they have the power to shape the world around them.”

To further celebrate Black History Month, Barbie has launched the 1980s Black Barbie Collection and a Black History Month apparel line, available on Amazon. Featuring over a dozen graphic tees with iconic Black Barbie imagery, the collection aims to celebrate cultural representation in fashion and toys.