Mexican Designer Collaborates With Barbie for Día de Muertos Doll

Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster might be in the rearview mirror, but Mattel still has some Barbie-related collaborations to showcase the popular doll, including one for Día de Muertos.

Renowned Mexican designer Paola Wong of ready-to-wear brand Pink Magnolias collaborated with Mattel on the 2023 Día De Muertos Barbie Signature doll. The collaboration “celebrates the festive holiday and both brands’ iconic color.” 

The design features Barbie in a two-tiered tulle gown embroidered with heart and sugar skull details. The finishing touch is a floral headpiece featuring golden leaves, completing a stunning look that feels very in line with the spirit of the holiday. Barbie is also wearing calavera makeup in matching colors.

The collection also includes a Ken doll, dressed in a blue jacket with embroidered bone details at the lapels. The Ken doll features a sugar skull accented hat and calavera face paint. 

Finally, the Día de Muertos series includes an additional Barbie, because if we’ve learned anything from the movie is that Barbie is the main star. While the first Barbie listed above was wearing a lighter pink outfit, this one was wearing a hot pink ruffled dress decorated with sugar skulls and colorful flowers. Delicate orange butterflies crown her calavera face paint, and she is holding her own tiny ofrenda.

The designs are all by Mexican-American designer Javier Meabe, who also worked on a Día de Muertos doll for 2019. This specific collection is Mattel’s second haute couture collaboration for Día de Muertos, after collaborating with Mexican designer Benito Santos last year.

As for Meabe working with Wong, Meabe said, “I’m a huge fan of Paola’s work. Her use of metallics, sparkles, pastels, and ruffles are always so cute and fun.”

The Día de Muertos Pink Magnolia Barbie will be available on October 4th, 2023 at 9 AM PT on the Mattel Creations website. The alternate Barbie and Ken looks are now available for purchase.