As Barbie prepares for her 60th birthday, her fashion hits of the 50s and 60s are recreated for real women by Unique Vintage.
At a time when vintage-inspired everything is exploding, brands in the segment generate $100M in revenue, a Los Angeles-based designer Katie Echeverry of Unique Vintage, in collaboration with Mattel, has created a line of real women’s apparel inspired by 1950s and 1960s Barbie dolls. Barbie x Unique Vintage launched a fall collection on September 24, 2018 that includes iconic looks such as a 1960s Balenciaga-inspired red cherry swing coat. The fall line is a precursor to an upcoming anniversary collection set to launch in time for Barbie’s 60th birthday in 2019. A nod to Barbie as a woman capable of being anything from a space scientist to a sign language teacher, Unique Vintage has made a commitment to inclusivity and offers all items in sizes XS to 4X. With price points ranging from $88.00 to $198.00, the Barbie x Unique Vintage collection is sold on their website and wholesale in over 200 boutiques in 12 countries.
Each of the Barbie x Unique Vintage fall SKU’s are re-creations of actual fashions made for Barbie from the 50s and 60s. These fashions are exemplary cultural reflections of the time when they were released for the famed icon. As one of the largest players in the vintage reproduction apparel industry, Echeverry was chosen as a partner by Mattel in 2017.
Following the release of the fall collection, the 60th anniversary collection is set to launch in spring 2019 and will include some of Barbie‘s most iconic fashions through the decades.
“Vintage reproduction has become [quite] a thing, with our revenues up 30% alone last year,” said Katie Echeverry, Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Unique Vintage. “According to Vogue, the big trends for 2018-2019, include fake fur, capes, knitwear and 1960’s inspirations, all of which are featured in our fall Barbie selections. At MAGIC this year, collegiate was all the rage, so we’re hoping that our recreation of Barbie’s cheerleading letter sweater is as well received.”
