Sarah Haran: Inspired by Barbie

Once upon a time, in 1959, a fashion icon was born - Barbie! She quickly captured the hearts and imaginations of people around the world. With her stunning looks, endless outfits, and dreamy accessories, Barbie became much more than just a doll; she became a cultural phenomenon.

 

When Ruth Handler first created the doll, the market was overrun with baby dolls, which children would imagine to mother. Handler wanted to create a doll that could mirror the child, embody her hopes and of course, live her dream life. Barbie was designed to be everything a girl could want, her changeable outfits meant she was a doctor, a fashion designer, an executive and an astronaut. For the first time, there was a doll that empowered girls to create their own destiny.

 

More than 60 years on from her debut, after a decrease in popularity as children reach for high tech toys, Barbie announced the release of their no expense spared, blockbuster movie. Featuring an all-star cast comprised of Hollywood sweetheart Margot Robbie and Heartthrob Ryan Gosling, the film has once again created the phenomena of ‘Barbie-mania.’ Since the announcement, the fashion industry has seen a sharp increase in the popularity of pink, and toy stores have once again experienced chaos as parents fight to get their hands on the iconic doll.

 

Of course, we couldn’t let Barbie mayhem pass by without creating our own nod to the toy that encouraged us to live our dreams. Mattel understands the symbolism of clothing as an expression of oneself, as does Sarah, creating bags that can be changed to mirror the wearers style. The joy of restyling our handbags has been likened to that joy we once felt playing with our Barbies. And of course… we simply love pink!

 

Much like the film, Sarah wanted to create something more than just a handbag collection, an immersive experience steeped in nostalgia. The first step was to find the perfect leather, equally girly and mature, something with wow factor. Sarah sampled many leathers, each one more Barbie-licious than the last, but when she saw the beautiful, bubble gum-pink mermaid skin reflect the light, she knew this was the perfect leather for the collection of the summer.

 

The next step was to decide on the bag. After deliberating the range, we knew Millie was the only answer. Since her launch, our fabulous ladies just can’t get enough of her, selling out on every launch and re-stock. A crossbody bag lends itself to the eye-catching leather, and there’s something sentimental about her smaller, doll-like size. Of course we added plenty of accessories to give our other handbags the Barbie treatment, kitsch bows, fabulous pompom tassels and glimmering circle deco’s are just a few of the pieces featured in the collection.

 

So how will you Barbie-up your handbags? The limited collection is available to shop here.