For Barbie, life has always been plastic. Now, it’s virtual as well, with Barbie making her first foray into the digital world with a series of exclusive NFTs. Everyone’s favourite perennial style icon Barbie – alongside Ken and the gang – has teamed up with French luxury fashion house Balmain for a collaborative collection that includes wearable pieces and digital tokens.
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Creative director Olivier Rousteing has created a genderless Barbie x Balmain collection inspired by Barbie and Ken, consisting of over 50 pieces of ready-to-wear and accessories. “Barbie and Balmain are embarking upon a distinctly multicultural, inclusive, and always joy-filled adventure,” Olivier Rousteing of the collaboration in a press release.
A fan of Barbies from a young age, Rousteing is looking to challenge preconceived notions and make the dolls accessible to boys and girls alike. “I was not really allowed [to play with Barbies], to be honest, because my dad was a bit worried about me playing with Barbie,” Rousteing told WWD. “A lot of little boys want to play with Barbie and sometimes they’re not allowed to. Sometimes, society wants to put you in a box.”
Modelled by a diverse group of men and women, the genderless Barbie x Balmain capsule collection draws upon the archival codes of the French fashion house, incorporating the labyrinth monogram designed by Pierre Balmain in the ‘70s, dramatic shoulder pads, and oversized gold buttons within the world of Barbie. In addition to the photographic campaign styled by Charlotte Stockdale and Katie Lyall and shot by Norbert Schoerner, the collection is also modelled by CGI dolls, with three NFTs featuring Barbie and Ken available for sale.
The Barbie x Balmain collection will be available from 13th January onwards via the Balmain webstore and in select physical stores.
Words by T. Angel
