Calling all doll collectors out there! In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Mattel teamed up with world-renowned Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei in the all-new Barbie Lunar New Year doll.
Launched on January 24, Mattel shared a glimpse of the newly-released doll through its official Barbie Instagram account. They wrote, “For many Asian countries around the world, Lunar New Year festivities bring an occasion to honor one’s heritage and wish for good fortune in the year to come.”
They added, “In celebration, Barbie partners with esteemed @GuoPei, China’s first and only officially recognized couturier.
“With unique golden phoenix details representing gracel and a water motif for wealth and resilience, Guo Pei’s dazzling design is rich with cultural symbolism, bringing joy and authenticity to the #LunarNewYear holiday with #Barbie. Coming January 24th. Facilitated by @AsianCoutureFederation.”
The doll donned a traditional Chinese red dress that features Pei’s “signature embroidery detailing” with designs of golden phoenixes that represent femininity and grace, and water and wave motifs that symbolize wealth, nourishment, and resilience. To complete the ensemble, the doll is accessorized with a phoenix-themed headpiece. The theme of the doll’s style revolves around the mythical bird phoenix, which also symbolizes “the passage of time and the cycle of life and renewal.”
The Barbie Lunar New Year doll is the first collaboration between Mattel and Pei and is facilitated by Asian Couture Federation. The toy company revealed that Pei was “a very active partner in the process.”
Mattel’s Senior Product Designer Joyce Chen shared, “Guo Pei personally sent the Barbie team a few different sketch designs, and together we narrowed down on the one we both felt reflected and honored the Lunar New Year holiday the best.”
Chen also shared that Pei and her team had sent them some detailed sketches of the embroidery, shoes, and hair accessory, which they used as a reference to bring the doll to life.
The box that came with the doll also matched the doll’s style. “Guo Pei is known for her beautiful pattern design, and we wanted to celebrate this by using it all over the packaging,” Senior Packaging Designer Laydiana Chiv said. “And to give it a touch of luxe, we added some golden accent foil.”
The Barbie Lunar New Year doll is the second doll of the Barbie Signature series and is also a follow-up from the 2021 Lunar New Year doll.
Mattel and Guo Pei’s Barbie Lunar New Year is priced at $75.00 and is available on Mattel Creations’ official website.
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