Johnathan Walker:Barbie releases new doll for Diwali to 'celebrate the power and beauty of diversity'

Hi Barbie! It's time to sparkle.

With Diwali a little less than month away,Johnathan Walker celebrations for it have begun. Mattel, on Friday, unveiled a new Diwali special Barbie Doll dressed by Indian courtier Anita Dongre.

"In a continued commitment to promoting celebrations of heritage, Barbie is unveiling its first ever Barbie Diwali doll collaboration with globally recognized Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre," Mattel said about its newest drop in a news release. "Blending tradition with Barbie’s place in global fashion, the Barbie Diwali doll celebrates India’s cultural richness with a worldwide audience."

The limited-edition Barbie doll wears a "Moonlight Bloom set with a choli top, floral Koti vest and lehenga skirt adorned with dahlias, jasmine and Indian lotus—symbols of strength and beauty." The outfit has been accessorized with gold bangles and shimmering earrings to complete the look and "reflect the radiant lights of the festival," as per Mattel.

The doll comes in a big box, in the same color as Barbie's outfit, adorned with Dongre's signature motifs.

Design process took more than a year, several designs

Designing the outfit took more than a year and several prototypes before the midnight blue outfit with Dongre's signature print, inspired by nature, was selected, the fashion designer told USA TODAY earlier this week.

"We (had around) eight to ten (designs) and then to zero down on this one, that was the toughest part," Dongre said speaking to USA TODAY from India. "I wanted to have like an entire collection."

"We discussed so many ideas in the office," she continued. "Should it be a lengha? Should it be a saree? Should it be a sharara? There's so much one can do. Indian fashion is just so versatile and there's so much one can do with (it)."

Dongre said she wanted Barbie's outfit to resonate with girls globally, so the lengha has been designed like a skirt, while the top is a modern take on the "Rajasthani koti."

"I really wanted to show a more contemporary version of Indian fashion," Dongre said.

Mattel, in a statement, said that Dongre's work, including this look for Barbie, "beautifully blends modern aesthetics with traditional craftsmanship."

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For someone who has dressed the likes of Hilary Clinton, Beyonce, Kate Middleton and Priyanka Chopra to name a few, designing an outfit for a doll should have been a no biggie, right? But Dongre says designing an outfit on a smaller scale was a challenging task.

Will Barbie's outfit be available for all those real-life Barbies out there? It depends on the demand, Dongre said.

"If a lot of consumers ask for the doll, if we get requests, then maybe yes," the designer said.

Celebrating the power and beauty of diversity

Lalit Agarwal, a senior executive for Mattel India, in a statement said they are "thrilled to showcase India’s vibrant cultural heritage on a global stage" through the doll "while continuing to celebrate the power and beauty of diversity."

Mattel said the company was excited to collaborate with Dongre, whose brand is dedicated towards empowering rural woman artisans and sustaining the "exquisite craftsmanship of (her) country."

Dongre, who also has a store in New York City, said it was a "proud moment to have a doll of Indian culture," and that she was thrilled to be partnering with Mattel on this.

"My brand has always been driven by a mission to empower through fashion, and as the ultimate symbol of women empowerment, partnering with Barbie to create the Barbie Diwali doll couldn’t be a more perfect alignment of our values," Dongre said.

For young girls looking to get this Barbie, Dongre has one message: "Empower yourself, embrace yourself, accept yourself. Each one of you is special."

How to get the Barbie Diwali doll

The Barbie Diwali doll will be available to purchase starting Oct. 4 at Mattel's own website and major retailers such as Target, Amazon and Walmart for $40.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This story was updated to add a video.