To mark Filipino American History Month, Mattel has unveiled a new Barbie doll that pays tribute to Filipino heritage. The “Barbie Styled by Design Doll 2” was designed by Los Angeles-based Fil-Am artist Carlyle Nuera, the lead designer for Barbie Signature at Mattel.
The doll’s design draws inspiration from traditional Filipino clothing and accessories, incorporating elements such as a modern corset top with butterfly Terno sleeves, a Malong-like skirt, a sun crown adorned with sampugita jasmine flowers, Bakya platforms shaped like a Bahay Kubo, and Batok tattoos on her arms.
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Nuera, who also designed the Mutya Barbie in 2015, sees this new doll as a continuation of his efforts to promote Filipino representation. “I could have designed anything but I knew this was an opportunity to do something meaningful for my people in the spirit of representation,” he said in an Instagram post.
The ‘Barbie Styled by Design Doll 2’ is priced at $100 with pre-orders available now. According to Mattel, the doll will ship on or before 20 December 2024.
