Barbie has announced two new additions to its growing line of diverse and inclusive dolls: a blind Barbie and the first Black Barbie with Down syndrome.
Mattel announced the two new dolls Tuesday as part of Barbie’s 2024 Fashionistas line, an inclusive line of dolls with more than 175 varieties of skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities and fashions.
The range has represented different disabilities and appearances in the past, with Barbies and Kens equipped with mobility aids such as wheelchairs and braces, dolls with hearing aids, dolls with hair loss and vitiligo. Last year, the range welcomed the first-ever Barbie with Down syndrome.
According to a statement from Mattel, the two newly announced dolls were created in partnership with nonprofits that advocate for people who are visually impaired, blind, and have Down syndrome. Through conversations with members of the communities the dolls represent, the toymaker was able to incorporate specific details, down to the number of lines on the Barbies’ palms.
“We recognize that Barbie is more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging,” Krista Berger, Barbie senior vice president and global head of dolls, said in a press release. “We are proud to introduce a new blind Barbie doll and a Black doll with Down syndrome to our Barbie Fashionistas line, reinforcing our commitment to creating products that represent global belonging and inclusivity in the doll aisle.”
Both dolls will be available for purchase starting Tuesday and will also appear in the YouTube series “Barbie Doll Adventures.”
Barbie Fashionistas 2024:Barbie Launches New Doll with Down Syndrome in New Inclusive Figure Line
First blind Barbie in the Fashionistas range
Barbie partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to create the blind Barbie, consulting on the doll and accessories down to the packaging. The blind Barbie is the first in the Fashionistas line, but Mattel has also introduced a blind Barbie with its Helen Keller-inspired doll, part of the brand’s Inspiring Women series.
The new blind doll comes with a white and red cane with a marshmallow tip and a pair of working sunglasses. “Some people who are blind or have low vision may be sensitive to light,” the creators explain. “…the lenses provide additional protection for the eyes.”
Unlike other models, this Barbie features bendable elbows to allow her to use her cane comfortably. Her eyes are also designed with a “slightly upward and outward gaze,” reflecting the appearance of the eyes of some blind or visually impaired people.
Mattel also consulted with AFB on the doll’s clothing, design and packaging, creating a more accessible experience for children and adults who might use or purchase it.
Testing with blind and visually impaired children helped designers come up with a sensory-rich outfit for Blind Barbie: a satin pink blouse and ruffled skirt for a strong tactile experience, a bright, high-contrast hook-and-loop closure on the back of her top and an elastic waistband on her skirt for easy use.
High-contrast elements are easier to see for those with low vision, while the hook-and-loop closure and elastic waistband make it easy to change Barbie’s clothes.
The packaging itself has also been made more accessible, with new features that will now be implemented on all Barbie Fashionistas dolls going forward. The new box design includes strategically placed Braille writing of the word “Barbie” with guidance from AFB, and an easier-to-open design with a pull tab that opens the back of the box.
“It was an honor to collaborate with Barbie on the development of the blind Barbie doll,” Eric Bridges, CEO and president of the American Foundation for the Blind, said in a press release. “By increasing representation and promoting awareness of the experiences of people who are blind and visually impaired, our shared goal is to inspire limitless opportunity for all, ultimately leading to a more accessible and inclusive world.”
Blind Barbie: release date, price
Blind Barbie is available starting Tuesday online at the Mattel Store and major retailers for $10.99.
Black Barbie with Down Syndrome
Mattel also introduced another new doll, a black Barbie who is the second to have Down syndrome. The first was released in April 2023.
This Barbie is the second to be designed in collaboration with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), although this time Mattel went a step further and also consulted a focus group of black people in the Down syndrome community.
The first black Barbie with Down syndrome was sculpted to accurately represent the physical characteristics of people with the condition, including “a smaller frame, longer torso and low muscle tone.” She also features palms with only simple lines etched into them, a common characteristic of people with Down syndrome.
Her head was also made with great attention to detail, creating a rounder shaped face, smaller ears, a flat nose bridge, and slightly slanted almond-shaped eyes with white dots in the iris. She also comes with rose-colored glasses, meant to represent people with Down syndrome who often suffer from vision problems.
Barbie’s hair and clothing were also designed based on community feedback. Her hair is textured and braided, a request made to Mattel by the Black Down syndrome community, while her blue and yellow dress features a motif associated with the Down syndrome awareness movement. The three arrows in some of the dress’s hearts “also represent the third, 21st chromosome that people with Down syndrome have.”
“NDSS is thrilled to introduce a second Barbie doll with Down syndrome. Launching this doll alongside the new Barbie doll with blindness marks another important step in expanding representation of the disability community,” said Kandi Pickard, president and CEO of NDSS in a press release. “We are proud to partner with Barbie as she grows to reflect our diverse and beautiful world.”
Black Barbie with Down Syndrome: Release Date, Price
The black Barbie with Down syndrome is also available starting Tuesday online at the Mattel Store and major retailers for $10.99.
Barbie Fashionistas range
The Barbie Fashionistas line was launched in 2009 and features a new line of dolls each year. Mattel describes it as an inclusive line of dolls “designed to reflect the world kids see today.”
The dolls come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with many skin tones, hair colors and types, eye colors and shapes, clothing styles, disabilities, and more. The 2023 line included several different Barbies and Kens in wheelchairs, Barbies and Kens with vitiligo, the first doll with Down syndrome, and a Ken with a prosthetic leg.
According to Mattel, the Barbie Fashionistas series features more than 175 looks. The dolls aim to “advance Barbie’s ongoing goal of reflecting a multidimensional vision of beauty and fashion” and to allow more children to see themselves in their dolls and “see their world reflected through play.”