Barbie features Filipino-inspired design on Instagram

YESTERDAY, the official account of Barbie posted the second part of their “Styled By Design” series. 

This series celebrates the creativity of Barbie’s signature designers and creators and, for the second part of the series, Barbie chose to highlight the talents of Filipino-American designer Carlyle Nuera. 

Here, Nuera combines high fashion with Filipino culture and traditions. 

Thousands of Filipinos have since praised both Barbie and Nuera for this design, thanking them for their homage to the Philippines.

She is currently available for purchase on Mattel’s website for USD100.

Breaking Nuera’s design down

Nuera covered the arms of the morena doll with batok tattoos, whose designs are similar to those that Philippine ethnic groups used to adorn in the past. 

On her hands, she has janggay jewelry, which is often used by the Badjao in Southern Sulu. According to the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Foundation, they are often used by the Badjao to make their hands look claw-like as they dance, hence why Hanggay is classified as a bird dance.

She is wearing a malong-inspired skirt, which is believed to originate from Maguindanao and Marano, and is a central garment in Filipino traditional clothing. Meanwhile, her bakya platforms feature a bahay kubo pattern. 

The doll also has on terno sleeves, reminiscent of the baro’t saya worn during the Spanish colonial era. She also has a headpiece shaped to look like the rays of the sun.

“I could have designed anything but I knew this was an opportunity to do something meaningful for my people in the spirit of representation,” Nuera wrote on Instagram. 

“Being Filipino is my most foundational identity. I’ve always been proud to be Filipino, and that’s thanks to my family, my parents, siblings, cousins, aunts & uncles, the way we grew up. And now, being connected to & a part of the larger Filipino-American community, I am sooo hyped for this Barbie to finally be out in the world and hopefully make the anaks feel seen, represented, inspired and proud.”