Mattel partners with female-led Canadian companies to celebrate Barbie

Mattel has unveiled a new collaboration between one of its most popular and enduring brands, Barbie, and five female-led Canadian companies.

The multinational company is working with Canadian brands like Hilary MacMillan, ai, Paris Jewellers Canada, Cheekbone Beauty and Soly Kyst, to design and develop eight looks featuring more than 100 products, inspired by Barbie dolls from throughout history.

The partnership is timed to coincide with the 65th anniversary of Barbie’s initial launch in 1959. The collection highlights the toy’s impact through more than half a century, with a different design lens from each brand partnering with Mattel on the effort.

All of the participating brands and pieces involved launched simultaneously on Thursday, with integrated web interfaces allowing consumers to shop each brand hyperlinked together. The looks featured in the partnership include bag and hair accessories, jewelry, eyewear and make-up.

Mattel notes that in what’s typically a competitive industry, the partnership brings together Canadian fashion brands to collaborate, for the purpose of cementing the Barbie brand’s slogan “You can be anything.”

“Today, this collection serves as a reminder of the impact we can make when we come together, as we celebrate an industry first and continue to break barriers within the fashion and beauty industries.”” says Mattel Canada head of licensing and retail development Jennifer Gileno.