Once again, Mattel has joined the celebration of the Day of the Dead and for this 2022 launched a special collector’s edition of Barbie dolls , which fuses elements of Mexican culture with those characteristic of this celebration.
This year’s special Barbie for the Day of the Dead was created in collaboration with Mexican designer Benito Santos, who was commissioned to create the special clothing for this doll, whose brown hair is intertwined in a braid that forms a crown and with her face painted like a catrina.
In an interview with Milenio, Benito Santos indicated that for the creation of this special Barbie outfit for the Day of the Dead her source of inspiration is her own town, Tepehuaje de Morelos, which today, thanks to Mattel, is being known throughout the world.
This collectible Barbie also bears the name of its designer, who also took up some elements of her childhood and the holiday of Day of the Dead and how important it was for her grandmothers, whom she also now honors in her offering and above all, with this doll.
“In my town the pantheon is always visited, offerings are placed, an altar for the dead is made; It is closely linked to religion. A celebration is held for those who are no longer, in many ways, honoring the memory, my family does it. And now this little doll is going to have a very special place on that altar. In my workshop I follow that tradition that should not die, I invite my people to set up an altar. Having grown up in a town allows me to realize all the wealth that we have in Mexico”, Santos commented in an interview for the aforementioned medium.
The Mexican designer opted for a charro suit for this special Barbie of Day of the Dead, in black, with white and crimson details. The skirt has a mermaid cut and has a cut bolero jacket, inspired by some of the customs and symbols of the party.
“I loved it because when they told me about capturing what Mexico is for me on Day of the Dead, it moved me too much. I thought: ‘A lot of people in the world (because it’s an international doll) maybe they’re going to ask their parents, why do they celebrate that in Mexico?’ And Mexicans who live abroad will be able to tell their children about our wealth and traditions,” said the Mexican designer.
“I am a man who lives for women and designs for them, but I am also a big fan of gold cinema, I love seeing Dolores del Río with a shawl and braids, I am also fascinated to see María Félix with filigree earrings, I bring that influence”, added Santos in a chat for UNOTV.
The so-called “Benito Santos X Barbie Doll” has a price of $100 dollars.
And also, for this 2022, Mattel released a version of Barbie and Ken with all the characterization of the Day of Dead, just as it has done in the previous 3 years. She has a beautiful purple dress embroidered on the front, accompanied by blue heels and a headband of pink cempasúchil flowers, and he is wearing a charro outfit, where she can see a golden skull on the bowtie.
Each of them has a price of $80.
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