Barbie and Ken wear Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s iconic Teddy Bear coat
The legendary 1986 design — now in miniature
French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac has reimagined one of the most recognizable creations of his career. He has created miniature versions of his iconic coat made from plush teddy bears for Barbie and Ken. The new dolls are called Bearbie and will be officially unveiled on October 3 during Paris Fashion Week.
De Castelbajac first presented the original coat in 1986. It was more than just a striking designer piece — it was also a statement against the use of real fur. Over the years, the design became one of the French designer’s most recognizable creations.
Over the course of nearly four decades, the coat has been worn by numerous celebrities. Among its famous fans were Diana Ross, Pharrell Williams, Drake and LL Cool J. Two years ago, the design was given a new interpretation in collaboration with Vetements.
Now the iconic silhouette has moved far beyond the world of adult fashion — it has been scaled down to fit Mattel’s dolls.
«When I was a child, I played war with little toy soldiers. Now I’m 76 and I play with Barbie», de Castelbajac told WWD.
For Barbie, the designer created an especially colorful look. She wears a miniature version of the coat covered in multicolored plush teddy bears, high denim boots and a T-shirt dress decorated with graffiti.
The boots have a story of their own, too. According to the designer, they reference the period when he collaborated with Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. The tiny Barbie look therefore brings together several important chapters from de Castelbajac’s creative biography.
Ken was given a more understated version. For him, the designer left the coat without its colorful decoration and paired it with baggy jeans and sneakers. In another version, the coat comes in white, making the look considerably more minimalist than Barbie’s vibrant outfit.
The name of the new dolls — Bearbie — is a play on words: the English word «bear» was added to Barbie. The same motif was carried over onto the packaging. It features de Castelbajac’s signature bright colors, while the final letter in the name Barbie has been replaced with the image of a plush teddy bear’s head.
For the designer, the collaboration also has a personal meaning. He dedicated the new doll to his seven-year-old daughter, Eugénie.
Photo: Instagram @jcdecastelbajac
