Roots Launches Iconic Collaboration with Barbie® To Honour 50th Anniversary
TORONTO, Sept. 14, 2023 /CNW/ - Global lifestyle brand Roots ("Roots," "Roots Canada" or the "Company") (TSX: ROOT) is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an exclusive apparel and doll collaboration with fashion icon Barbie. Launching September 15, 2023, the respective brands come together to inspire Barbie and Roots aficionados to express themselves creatively while prioritizing style and comfort in any environment - from the great outdoors to the big, bustling city.
The limited-edition Barbie doll will be outfitted in Roots' most iconic styles from head-to-toe. The Roots Barbie sports a Roots Salt and Pepper™ crew sweatshirt with matching sweatpants, a Varsity Awards jacket with exclusive Barbie decals, TUFF brown boots, and a Banff weekender bag. Complementing the doll's outfit is a limited-edition, 30-piece collection of apparel and accessories across the women's, kids, and toddler categories.
"The inspiration for the Barbie x Roots doll came from the experiences Karuna [Scheinfeld] and I share as mothers of children from multicultural backgrounds," states Meghan Roach, President and CEO of Roots Corporation. "We wanted to embrace the rich diversity of Canadians and our global audience, including our young daughters. Teaming up with Barbie in our 50th anniversary year, we were excited to celebrate how Barbie has empowered young women over the last six decades to follow their dreams, something we are both passionate about as female executives."
As a trailblazer in the fashion industry for 50 years, Roots is recognized and beloved for expanding the expected parameters of style and comfort. Commemorating the significance of this milestone anniversary, Roots, in partnership with Barbie, produced a collectible item to honour the brand's rich heritage and celebrate its values.
"The Barbie x Roots Collection comes together at a meaningful moment in the brands' respective histories," said Steve Totzke, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Mattel. "As a 25-year Mattel veteran and proud Canadian, I am especially excited for this collaboration, featuring products that reflect the legacy of an iconic Canadian company, in what continues to be an incredibly celebratory year for Barbie."
Ranging from $38 CAD (BARBIE™ X ROOTS MEDIUM ZIP POUCH) to $998 CAD (BARBIE™ X ROOTS VARSITY AWARDS JACKET), the limited-edition collection equally reflects both brand identities with subtle pops of Barbie™ pink and Roots Pine Grove green, from the apparel to the leather accessories. The size range will extend from XXS-4XL to reflect both Roots and the Barbie brands' joint mission of inspiring a more inclusive future. The doll is encased in custom packaging featuring Roots' commemorative 50th anniversary logo.
"This collaboration will offer a chance to relive the nostalgia of both Barbie and ROOTS with designs and pieces synonymous with Canada, now with a twist of Barbie pink" says Jennifer Gileno, Head of Licensing and Retail Development, Mattel Canada. "This collection has something for fans of all ages and we look forward to seeing families create and share meaningful memories wearing these iconic pieces"
"Having the opportunity to work on this collection with the Barbie team, dressing an icon in our iconic product, was already exciting, but to do so in our 50th year was that much more meaningful," shares Karuna Scheinfeld, Chief Product Officer of Roots. "From having a role in designing the doll with Mattel and Barbie to crafting our handmade Barbie x Roots Varsity Jacket in our Leather Factory in Toronto, the collaboration came together seamlessly to reflect our shared values of quality, inclusion, and fun."
The limited-edition apparel collection and commemorative Barbie doll ($69.99 CAD) will be available beginning September 15, 2023 in select Roots stores across Canada, the US, and Taiwan, along with select third-party retailers.
Established in 1973, Roots is a global lifestyle brand. Starting from a small cabin in northern Canada, Roots has become a global brand with over 100 corporate retail stores in Canada, two stores in the United States, and an eCommerce platform, roots.com. We have more than 100 partner-operated stores in Asia, and we also operate a dedicated Roots-branded storefront on Tmall.com in China. We design, market, and sell a broad selection of products in different departments, including women's, men's, children's, and gender-free apparel, leather goods, footwear, and accessories. Our products are built with uncompromising comfort, quality, and style that allows you to feel At Home With NatureTM. We offer products designed to meet life's everyday adventures and provide you with the versatility to live your life to the fullest. We also wholesale through business-to-business channels and license the brand to a select group of licensees selling products to major retailers. Roots Corporation is a Canadian corporation doing business as "Roots" and "Roots Canada".
Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children's and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain, and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world's leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us online at mattel.com.
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For Roots press inquiries, please contact: Sundae Creative Agency, Marta Sadowski, [email protected], 416-559-2598; For Barbie press inquiries, please contact: The NBP Group, Dani Matte | [email protected] | 416.315.7662; Claire Holmes | [email protected] | 401.602.1954
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