In a Barbie world.

​By Avika

I’m an (Indian) Barbie Girl, in a Barbie world…are some words I’d never thought I’d say. But, thanks to the makers of Barbie and Anita Dongre, this vision that thousands of Indian girls have dreamt of is finally coming to life. 

Anita Dongre, an infamous fashion designer who is known globally, especially for her work in making wedding gowns, has collaborated with Mattel, to bring an Indian Barbie doll hitting the stores on the auspicious festival of Diwali. 

This is a very powerful move in terms of boosting their sales. But there is definitely more to this Barbie than just the market. Keep in mind that this is not the first Indian Barbie that is launching, but rather is the first Indian Barbie that is actually taken with respect to an Indian designer, that too, Anita Dongre herself. 

Previously, all the Indian Barbie dolls launched were not just physically different from how the majority of Indian girls look, but also included things like—“sarees have shawls” which is untrue. 

The first doll was launched in 1996, with inaccurate representation and information. The next one released in 2012 where the Barbie had her own “monkey friend” and the original “Barbie in India” was nothing more than a standard blonde in a saree. 

But, the Diwali Barbie is a much more accurate representation of Indian women as it has appropriate clothing, and highlights the importance of the festival itself. It is also applauded for having darker skin as the previous ones were much paler than the darker brown skin tones that prevail in India. It not only helps us fight the colorism that Indians, especially women have faced but also empowers them to feel comfortable in their own skin. 

It’s more than a doll. Dolls like this, which accurately represent cultures, can make children feel more confident about themselves. I think if I was 6, receiving a Barbie doll that looked like me, I’d be the happiest person ever. It would have encouraged me to be a confident person and feel okay about the skin colour I was given. 

It goes on to prove the importance of listening and understanding of your audience. The criticism which is actually taken and then further incorporated to produce a better version and vision. It also gives Indian designers more space in the designing world and motivates women in different ways. ​