This cannot be happening.
Wanna dress like a Barbie?
Mattel is gearing up to launch a Barbie line of clothes, accessories and perfume for adult women.
June 14, 2004: 9:43 AM EDT
By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money staff writer
NEW YORK (CNN/Money ) - Barbie is about to break out of her curvaceous plastic mold and turn into a living breathing person. At least that's what toymaker Mattel hopes will happen when the company launches its Barbie line of clothing and accessories for women later this year.
El Segundo, Calif.-based Mattel (MAT: Research, Estimates), the No. 1 toymaker, showcased its new Barbie brand of vintage T-shirts, cocktail dresses, shoes and coats this week in New York at the International Licensing show.
Mattel spokeswoman Elissa Goldman said the clothing collection, which debuted earlier this year in Japan, could be in U.S. stores as early as this fall.
"Mattel opened five Barbie stores in Japan this year and the collection is hugely popular," said Goldman. "Barbie has been around for 45 years and most girls and women have emotions tied to her. We're treading carefully with this concept in the U.S. market because the company wants to make sure it makes sense here."
Mattel recently launched the Barbie vintage-inspired T-shirt, priced at about $50 at the high-end department store chain Nordstrom (JWN: Research, Estimates).
Mattel debuted its new Barbie fashion line for women this week in New York.
Said Goldman, "The collection is inspired from the clothes that Barbie wears since she's is perceived to be a fashion icon in her own right. But it's also a mixture of contemporary fashion trends."
And there is also a Barbie fragrance and cosmetics for adults in the works, Goldman said. "With the whole collection, Mattel is exploring new markets and extensions for the Barbie brand. One area that looked obvious is the adult market since there are many women who are already Barbie fans."
--*Disclaimer
Wanna dress like a Barbie?
Mattel is gearing up to launch a Barbie line of clothes, accessories and perfume for adult women.
June 14, 2004: 9:43 AM EDT
By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money staff writer
NEW YORK (CNN/Money ) - Barbie is about to break out of her curvaceous plastic mold and turn into a living breathing person. At least that's what toymaker Mattel hopes will happen when the company launches its Barbie line of clothing and accessories for women later this year.
El Segundo, Calif.-based Mattel (MAT: Research, Estimates), the No. 1 toymaker, showcased its new Barbie brand of vintage T-shirts, cocktail dresses, shoes and coats this week in New York at the International Licensing show.
Mattel spokeswoman Elissa Goldman said the clothing collection, which debuted earlier this year in Japan, could be in U.S. stores as early as this fall.
"Mattel opened five Barbie stores in Japan this year and the collection is hugely popular," said Goldman. "Barbie has been around for 45 years and most girls and women have emotions tied to her. We're treading carefully with this concept in the U.S. market because the company wants to make sure it makes sense here."
Mattel recently launched the Barbie vintage-inspired T-shirt, priced at about $50 at the high-end department store chain Nordstrom (JWN: Research, Estimates).
Mattel debuted its new Barbie fashion line for women this week in New York.
Said Goldman, "The collection is inspired from the clothes that Barbie wears since she's is perceived to be a fashion icon in her own right. But it's also a mixture of contemporary fashion trends."
And there is also a Barbie fragrance and cosmetics for adults in the works, Goldman said. "With the whole collection, Mattel is exploring new markets and extensions for the Barbie brand. One area that looked obvious is the adult market since there are many women who are already Barbie fans."
--*Disclaimer