New Filipina Barbie doll unveiled to mark Filipino American History Month
Photo from Mattel Creations website
LOS ANGELES – In honor of Filipino American History Month, Mattel has released a new Barbie doll that pays homage to Filipino culture and heritage.
The “Barbie Styled by Design Doll 2” was conceptualized by Los Angeles-based Fil-Am artist Carlyle Nuera, lead designer for Barbie Signature at Mattel.
“Inspired by his heritage and haute couture style in the Philippines, designer Carlyle Nuera brings his cultural influences and artistry to life in spectacular fashion,” says the Mattel Creations website.
Photo from Mattel Creations website
“Nuera elevates traditional Filipino fashion into the realm of haute couture, paying homage to his Asian American heritage with this spectacular Barbie doll.“
Doll design highlights include the radiant crown of the Philippine sun and fingers that sparkle with elegant gold janggay jewelry, worn by the Badjao people of Southern Sulu for their traditional dance.
The doll also wears bakya platforms featuring intricate bahay kubo designs.
The doll also wears bakya platforms featuring intricate bahay kubo designs. Photo from Mattel Creations website
“I could have designed anything but I knew this was an opportunity to do something meaningful for my people in the spirit of representation,” Nuera wrote in an Instagram post.
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“Being Filipino is my most foundational identity. I’ve always been proud to be Filipino, and that’s thanks to my family, my parents, siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, the way we grew up.
And now, being connected to and a part of the larger Filipino American community, I am sooo hyped for this Barbie to finally be out in the world and hopefully make the anaks feel seen, represented, inspired and proud.”
Nuera said he sees the new Barbie as the little sister of Mutya Barbie, dressed in an organza terno with the beautiful butterfly sleeves, which he created for Mattel as his debut doll in 2015.
Mutya Barbie (left) with the new Barbie. Photo from carlylenuera/Instagram
“Ate Mutya Barbie even let lil sis borrow her jewelry; this new Barbie wears the exact same bracelet as Mutya Barbie,” he wrote.
“Mutya Barbie really changed the trajectory of my career and made me realize the power and platform I have as a designer, especially for an enduring global icon like Barbie,” he added. “So I wanted to build upon all of that with my Styled By Design Barbie.”
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