Sixty years after Mattel debuted its first Barbie doll to the world in 1959, the iconic brand is taking their design a step further into the future with the launch of their first gender-neutral line of dolls!
On Wednesday, the toy company released six initial character kits which contain a genderless doll with several customizable clothes and accessories for different looks. And, we couldn’t be more excited!
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Senior Vice President of Mattel Fashion Doll Design Kim Culmone explained why the time was right for their brand to offer a more inclusive toy option for their consumers. She said:
“We see this line as an opportunity for us to open up that dialogue around what dolls are for and who dolls are for. And also as the world begins the celebrate the positive impact of inclusivity, we absolutely fundamentally believed it was time to launch a doll line free of labels and free of rules for kids.”
The versatile dolls can be styled in pants, a skirt or shorts, as well as three different styles of shoes, sunglasses and other accessories. The six initial prototypes come in diverse skin tones and feature varying hair colors and length.
But, wait. There’s more!
According to the Creatable World website, the new collection is “designed to keep labels out and invite everyone in—giving kids the freedom to create their own customizable characters again and again.”
Ahead of the line’s release TIME magazine got an exclusive look at the 11-inch dolls, which currently retail at $30 online exclusively. The outlet described their unique design, explaining:
“The lips are not too full, the eyelashes not too long and fluttery, the jaw not too wide. There are no Barbie-like breasts or broad, Ken-like shoulders.”
Ch-ch-check out their feature (below):
With a gender-neutral doll, Mattel hopes to break taboos and appeal to a generation that wants activism in its brands https://t.co/e3JfsaW7vR pic.twitter.com/KRxKS5jsHS
— TIME (@TIME) September 25, 2019
Wow. This new design looks amazing!!
The Creatable World doll line appears to be a response by the manufacturer to the growing conversation of gender fluidity happening in society today.
Mattel’s Head of Consumer Insight Monica Dreger told TIME the inclusion of non-gendered dolls cannot be understated because of the high demand for representation already present in its customers:
“There were a couple of gender-creative kids who told us that they dreaded Christmas Day because they knew whatever they got under the Christmas tree, it wasn’t made for them. This is the first doll that you can find under the tree and see is for them because it can be for anyone.”
We can’t help but agree!
We live in a time where celebrities like Sam Smith and Jonathan Van Ness have openly identified as non-binary. Young fans who follow them can now see themselves in these stars.
And now, thanks to Mattel, kids can relate to something they play with every day in a completely new way.
We’re a huge fan of this new line, but we want to know what U think! Got anything to say about it all, Perezcious readers?
Sound off in the comments section (below)!
[Image via Mattel/YouTube]
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