If you were a resourceful Barbie collector as a child, then you probably have fond memories of turning your room into the best atelier in town, designing, cutting, and sewing new ensembles for your Barbie.
You might have even imagined yourself growing up to make a career out of this childhood hobby. Celebrity stylist, costume director, creative consultant and overall style maven Shiona Turini, doesn't have to imagine, as she has just collaborated with Barbie on a digital campaign where she designed a collection for the doll to celebrate Black History Month in the U.S.
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In an Instagram caption, announcing the news, Shiona wrote;
"I grew up obsessed with [Barbie] and while she was one of my first fashion icons, I clearly remember searching shelves for a doll that looked like me and coming up empty handed. The first black Barbie was introduced in 1980 - in a sparkly red dress with an Afro pick in her hair. Here she is, on her customised throne, surrounded by friends created and styled by me. I hope other young children, and adult Barbie lovers, are as excited to see themselves reflected in these dolls as I am.
"Thank you @barbiestyle - for collaborating with me to create barbies with braids, finger waves and everything in between. Chicks by the layers, all different flavours. And even a curvy doll, in a crop top, with waist length twists. Baby Shiona is PROUD. Representation matters and I’m so grateful to be a part of this moment."
Yep, the stylist even has a Barbie that is dressed like her thread for thread, and honestly, we'd do the same thing too given the chance.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Shiona expressed that she'll "never forget being in New York as a young black girl and finding a Black Barbie, and especially a Black Barbie birthday set," adding that "Barbie is a historic brand that was inclusive before it was trendy.”
In the article it's also mentioned that the "first African-American Barbie, Christie, was released in 1968, then Black Barbie hit shelves in 1980, and Mattel (the famed toy manufacturing company behind Barbie) has since launched petite, plus-size and curvy dolls with a variety of skin tones, eye colors, hair textures and more."
READ MORE: Barbie to receive CFDA fashion honour previously awarded to Michelle Obama and Janelle Monáe
PEOPLE also highlights that this is a four-part campaign, boasting an array of non-traditional Barbies, "including a doll in a wheel chair, plus-size and curvy dolls, dolls with Afro hairstyles, traditional braids, wigs, bald heads and more."
It's also further revealed that "with more than 20 stylish looks, each collection features a different aesthetic inspired by Turini’s own life, career and personal style. The fashion guru says the campaign is rooted in the idea of “community and sisterhood” because many of her photoshoots are group-oriented and collaborative."
We can look forward to seeing the all black collection, monochromatic collection, and even one inspired by the Queen & Slim movie - for which she was the costume director - featuring snakeskin and mock-croc items.
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