Barbie and Bifc have committed Blake Newby, creator of digital content, TV personality and podcast hosts, to create a series of interviews with designers, sharing their professional trips and advice for the next generation interested in following the design.
Barbie has associated with The Black in Fashion Council (BIFC) to celebrate and support emerging black designers. Through interviews, workshops and the ENVSN festival, its goal is to break the barriers and inspire young blacks to follow the fashion design. Barbie also commemorates the 45th anniversary of the first Black Barbie doll, designed by Kitty Black Perkins.
Barbie also celebrates the month of black history and multiple generations of black designers, past, present and future, from the designer behind the first Barbie Black doll to emerging designers who make a name, to young girls considering a future career in fashion design.
Knowing that black designers represent only 7.3 percent of the fashion industry, despite the significant influence of the community in fashion, Barbie undertakes to encourage younger blacks to consider a career in the design of fashion through associations that help break barriers, unlock opportunities and inspire the next generation.
Through these conversations, each designer identified an entrance barrier to become a fashion designer. To help address these barriers for the next generation, Barbie and Bifc are creating personalized programming aimed at children, adolescents and young designers at the Envsn 2025 Festival. The ENVSN festival brings together thousands of attendees every year of 12 to 27 years for a two -day event with inspiring panels with industry pioneers, practical workshops and interactive experiences, Barbie said in a press release.
“As a brand that has been proudly as the first muse of fashion designers, Barbie is honored to continue empowering the next generation of fashion designers in association with Black in Fashion Council,” he said Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Chief of Dolls Global, Mattel. “Through this collaboration, we are not only celebrating creativity, we are actively creating paths so that girls pursue their fashion design dreams.”
“The Black in Fashion Council is proud to associate with Barbie in support of its mission to inspire unlimited possibilities for girls. We found BifC with a vision of an equal workforce through the fashion and beauty industry, knowing that there are innumerable obstacles that designers face during their careers, especially at the beginning, “he said Sandrine Charles, co -founder, Bifc. “By using the global Barbie brand platform to celebrate the stories of NIA Thomas, Fumi Egbon and Larissa Muehleder, while providing resources to overcome the direct barriers they found, we hope to train the candidates for young designers and reduce those possible barriers for the next generation.”
“It has been very rewarding to witness our organization, Black in Fashion Council, boost a lasting change in the fashion industry. Now we can add Barbie to our list of partners who share our commitment to break the barriers and create more opportunities for future generations of black designers, “he said Lindsay Peoples, co -founder, Bifc. “Having exposure to models and resources to follow is extremely important to help perfect young talent. We are delighted to partner with Barbie to celebrate the incredible careers of NIA Thomas, Fumi Egbon and Larissa Muehleder, amplifying the barriers they faced through workshops cured in Envsn to provide opportunities for children and adults to feel inspired and empowered to pursue their own dreams in fashion. “
In 2025, Barbie also celebrates 45th Anniversary of the first black Barbie doll, designed by Trailblazer Kitty Black Perkins. Before the iconic Black Barbie debuted in 1980, characters like Christie raided the way for diversity in the Barbie line. To commemorate the anniversary, Kitty Black Perkins worked with Barbie to create a celebration doll.
“My mandate in Mattel has been the reward of his life,” he said Kitty Black Perkins, former designer Chief of Fashion Dolls, Mattel. “Throughout my 28 -year -old career there, I was firm in my dedication to advanced representation inside the toys hall, ensuring that each young child had the opportunity to see each other in Barbie. We have made significant advances from the first Black Barbie doll in 1980, and I am proud to say that Barbie continues to represent the widest range of stories, races and background of wrists in the market. I had the honor of associating with Barbie to design 45th Black Barbie Anniversary, which continues to serve as a reminder for girls who have the power to shape the world around them. ”
Fiber2Fashion News Desk (RR)
