Balmain and Barbie Collaborate on Toys, Fashion, and NFTs

The distinctive color of Barbie, which has become pink, also goes well with the fashion universe created by Balmain. Olivier Rousteing, who has been the creative director of the fashion house for over 10 years, often uses pink shades in his collections. In the '50s and '60s, the founder of the fashion house, Pierre Balmain, who was famous for his wonderful evening wear and high-fashion dresses, also loved pink.

Rousteing and the Balmain creative team have made sure that the new Balmain x Barbie limited edition collection retains the style of a fashion house, but also reflects Barbie's playful world. The collaboration seems to open a new chapter where toys and fashion meet. The collection was created in collaboration with toy manufacturer Mattel, which has previously developed joint projects with other fashion houses like Gucci and Coach.

According to Rousteing, the Balmain x Barbie collection reflects the current French style and its design is based on the latest Balmain collections, inspired by today's Parisian street fashion.

“I am very happy that most of the products in this collection are unisex style and can be worn by both women and men. In the modern world, we should not push ourselves into the gender frame, because Barbie also spreads a message of freedom and self-expression, which really inspires us to forget stereotypes,” says Balmain's creative director.

The Balmain x Barbie collection will be released on January 13, combining the physical and virtual worlds, making some of the products in the collection available in an unusual way. On January 11 there will be an NFT auction during which those interested will be able to purchase three Barbie avatars created by the design studio FORGET ME NOT GMBH. These avatars will wear the Balmain x Barbie collection, and those who offer the highest bid will buy not only the avatar but also the real one-of-a-kind model.