Detroit-born fashion designer Anna Sui is now a Barbie
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Anna Sui and Barbie. Photos: Courtesy of Barbie and Mattel
An iconic Detroit-born fashion designer who influenced '90s grunge style is now part of the Inspiring Women Barbie doll series.
The big picture: Mattel and Barbie's Inspiring Women doll series now includes Anna Sui, who was born in Detroit and grew up in Dearborn Heights and West Bloomfield.
- The doll's release celebrates the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, per a news release.
State of play: Sui is celebrated as an award-winning self-made designer who "defined the '90s grunge aesthetic and forever influenced the course of fashion history," the release reads.
- "Her groundbreaking collections explore a range of time periods and subcultures, empowering others to explore and embrace worlds beyond their own."
Flashback: Sui was born in the 1960s and grew up in the area before going to New York and enmeshing herself in the fashion underground, according to her website. Her first collection was released in 1981.
- She now oversees 50 boutique shops globally, and her products are sold in around 300 stores.
The intrigue: Mattel says Sui was heavily involved in the creation of her doll to make sure it reflected her accurately.
- She's wearing a vintage printed dress and chunky boots — a nod to a 2007 collection of hers — and her accessories are black, but her nails are bright green.
What they're saying: Sui said in the release that she dressed Barbies as a child and the toys helped mold her interest in fashion.
- "I spent countless hours designing looks for my dolls with fabric scraps leftover from my mom's sewing projects — it was a creative outlet that encouraged me to follow my dreams," Sui said.
What's next: The doll is available to preorder for $35 at Mattel Shop and AnnaSui.com. The presale started Wednesday, and the doll will ship starting June 15.