An exciting new collection of mixed race and black dolls by Barbie arrives in the UK today.  Priced at around RRP £25 each and dressed in Rocawear, the stylish dolls have been created by Barbie designer Stacey McBride-Irby, an African-American mother of two who wanted to create dolls more reflective of her daughter;

"As a Barbie doll designer for more than 10 years, I want African-American girls to know that dolls can represent their career aspirations, hobbies and ethnic backgrounds.  Barbie inspired me to realise my dream of becoming a designer, and I want my dolls to inspire girls to play, create and live out their dreams!"

  Featuring more authentic looking facial features and curlier hair, So In Style dolls reflect the unique personality of each girl through fashion and accessories, and have partnered with Rocawear, Jay Z's urban apparel lifestyle brand.  Each So In Style doll comes dressed in their own snazzy outfit complete with 'it bag' and piece of bling.

Each doll has her own distinct personality and unique look with different skin tones and hairstyles.  Jayla is the girly girl who loves science and cheerleading, Kara is the fun one who has a passion for art and journalism.  Trichelle is sassy and smart, with a penchant for maths and music, while Chandra is sweet and chic, and into fashion and photography. There's even a So In Style boy; Darren is heavily into sport and music, and excels at geography .

In 1965, Barbie was an astronaut before man had even gone to the moon.  Barbie showed girls 'you can be anything you want to be' which is the message So In Style reinforces.  As girls try on different personalities and careers through Barbie, they can explore the world without having to leave the house.  At any given moment in the past 50 years, Barbie is a reflection of the times, and culturally relevant.

 
Editor, Stylist, Teen Consultant and Founder of WAH-Nails, Sharmadean Reid, has been invited to curate a cultural Barbie retrospective in the Selfridges Wonder Room Concept Store to celebrate the launch.     Described by The Independent as one of the "15 people to define the future of arts in Britain," Sharmadean has chosen a selection of vintage black Barbie dolls that boast cultural and personal relevance to create a mini history of the famous doll.

 
"Being in the multicultural melting pot that is London, I have met many people of many different nationalities and the one thing that unites them all is their love for their heritage.  Producing Barbies representing people from all over the world is a marker of Mattel's understanding and progressive nature.  Totally free from Western clothing and hair, and loyal to their country's culture and heritage, Ghanaian Barbie for example, flips people's perceptions of Barbie on their head making them unique and collectible."  Sharmadean Reid

The first black doll from Barbie was introduced in 1967 as Black Francie, joined by Christie in 1968 and Julia in 1969.  Both friends of Barbie, the first black Barbie was introduced in 1980.

In 1980, Mattel introduced the first Latina and African American Barbie dolls.  Barbie has represented 45 nationalities, including: Japanese (1985), Korean (1988), Peruvian (1986), Malaysian (1991), Czechoslovakian (1991), Nigerian (1990), Jamaican (1992), Native American (1993),  Kenyan (1994), Ghanaian (1996), Indian (1996), Puerto Rican (1997), Chilean (1998), Thai (1998), Mexican (1999), and many more, and is sold in more than 150 nations throughout the world.

In July 2008, Vogue Italia created their first Black Issue sending a strong message about the importance of diversity to the fashion world.  This special issue was a tremendous success from Milan to New York reaching a 40-percent increase in sales, and last year, as part of Barbie's 50th anniversary celebrations, and in tribute to Barbie's cultural icon status, Vogue Italia spectacularly replicated their Black Issue with a supplement dedicated to Barbie, featuring Swarovski Crystallized bathing-suited swimmers, African-American Barbies designed by Byron Lars, and many more, all testimony to how Black Barbies have become a new kind of fashion icon.

http://www.selfridges.com