Mattel's latest Barbieland Fashionistas are the stylish likenesses of a blind Barbie and her a mobility aid, and the line's first Black Barbie with Down syndrome, adding even more representative might to the toy brand's catalogue.
The company's first Blind Barbie is the latest to come with both fashionable and functional accessories, including a white and red cane and sunglasses for eye protection, meant to embody the diversity of its real life friends. The company has released an array of similarly representative dolls in the past, including a Barbie wheelchair user and her service dog.
"By increasing representation and promoting awareness about the experiences of blind individuals and those with low vision, our shared goal is to inspire boundless opportunities for everyone, ultimately leading to a world of greater accessibility and inclusion," wrote American Foundation for the Blind CEO Eric Bridges.
The company didn't stop there. Mattel's first Black Barbie with Down syndrome joins Mattel's existing Fashionista doll with Down Syndrome, first released in 2023. The two new dolls were designed in collaboration with the American Foundation for the Blind and the National Down syndrome Society, a previous Mattel creative partner. The organizations consulted on all aspects of design, including the physical sculpt of the dolls.
Mattel's blind Barbie is designed with articulated elbows, an uncommon feature on Barbies, so that she can better manage the use of her cane. She also comes with specially textured clothing and packaging, with color contrasting specifically designed for those with low vision. The package features Braille lettering, as well as a new, easier-to-open design — Mattel announced the new packaging will be added to all Fashionista line dolls moving forward.
For Mattel's Black Barbie with Down syndrome, the design team brainstormed with a focus group of Black individuals, including young Black women, from the Down syndrome community. The result is a doll with a shorter frame, longer torso, and low muscle tone, Mattel explains, as well as a unique facial design. Other details included long, braided hair and a dress designed in the Down syndrome awareness color palette.
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"NDSS is thrilled to introduce a second Barbie doll with Down syndrome," wrote NDSS president and CEO Kandi Pickard. "Having this doll launched alongside the new Barbie doll with Blindness marks another important step in expanding representation for the disability community."
The dolls will also be featured in a YouTube series, "Barbie Doll Adventures," out this fall. "We recognize that Barbie is much more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging," wrote Mattel's senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls Krista Berger.
