Barbie is Officially a Buffalo Girl

It’s getting a little more difficult to keep Buffalo a secret, as the mural asks, now that Barbie’s in on the WNY action. 

Aille, a Buffalo-based company that focuses on braille-themed clothing for the visually impaired and sighted alike, has received a $100,000 investment from the State University of New York at Buffalo in partnership with Mattel to create a new line of Barbie-themed clothes that encourage and celebrate diversity and inclusivity. 

The collection, some of which is already available for purchase now, features legible braille beadwork on various pieces of clothing. 

“The braille ranges from physical descriptions to empowering statements and is designed so that the braille is the focal point of each piece,” Aille Design CEO Alexa Javanovic says. The company, whose name is pronounced “eye,” incorporates Swarovski pearl beads for the braille to make sure it’s easy for those who can read braille to see it. 

Among the items in the special collection are a black and white chevron-print dress, a black scarf, and a t-shirt in that oh-so-recognizable pink. The messages on each piece are meant to be empowering and inclusive as well. The pink t-shirt’s beads say “This Barbie is inclusive”; stitched into the chevron dress are the phrases “original style icon,” “inspiring since 1959,” “limitless possibilities,” and “fashion is for everyone.” 

The collaboration comes as Mattel released its first ever blind Barbie this summer as part of a new Fashionistas line offering. 

Javonovic almost skipped over the initial contact from Mattel a year ago, thinking it was nothing more than spam. “This step was exciting and life-changing, not only for our small business but also for so many people with disabilities who are overlooked by the fashion industry.” 

Allie Design caught the attention of Mattel Canada—Javonovic is originally from just across the river in Niagara Falls, Ontario—as a fun and exciting way to expand Barbie’s reach to help include more kids, making it possible for “all kids to feel reflected in and celebrated by the brand,” says Jennifer Gileno, head of licensing for Mattel Canada. 

The full collection, branded as Barbie x Aille Design, can be found here.