Stacey McBride-Irby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stacey McBride-Irby is an American doll and toy designer. McBride-Irby is known for creating the So In Style line of dolls for Mattel, featuring mixed race features and ethnicities.
So In Style
McBride-Irby grew up playing with Barbie dolls and decided to become a doll designer at age 13.[1] McBride-Irby later went to design dolls for Mattel. At Mattel, McBride-Irby designed the Alpha Kappa Alpha collector doll, to commemorate the sorority's 100th anniversary.[1] McBride-Irby would design Barbie dolls for Mattel for 15 years.
In 2009, McBride-Irby was the lead designer behind the So In Style line of fashion dolls featuring dolls with natural hair textures, fuller lips and pronounced cheekbones.[2] McBride-Irby was inspired to develop the line to create dolls that were reflective of her daughter and community.[3] At the time, So In Style was celebrated for breaking barriers,[4] but reviews on the doll line were mixed.[5]
One World Doll Project
After leaving Mattel, McBride-Irby co-founded the One World Doll Project.[6] The company aimed to make aspirational dolls for all races featuring ethnicities from around the world.[1] The One World Doll Project's Prettie Girls line created dolls that children of mixed races could connect with, featuring natural hair and articulation.[7] The One World Doll Project launched a series of commemorative collector's dolls in support of Barack Obama's 2012 election.[1] In 2015, the One World Doll Project merged with the Tonner Doll Company.[8]
McIrby
In 2018, McBride-Irby launched McIrby, a diversity consultancy.[9]
In 2024, McBride-Irby's work developing black Barbie dolls for Mattel was featured in the documentary, Black Barbie.[10][11][12]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 "New doll line aims to empower girls of all races". CNN. 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ "What Does the New Black Barbie Say about African Americans and Hair?". www.wbur.org. 2009-11-04. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ Bumpus, Jessica (2010-03-12). "So In Style". British Vogue. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ "Black Barbie turns 30 - Vogue.it". www.vogue.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2024-06-19. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ Scott, Megan K. (October 9, 2009). "Mattel introduces black Barbies, to mixed reviews". The Courier. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ "Prettie Girls! Fun, Fashion from One World Doll Project | DOLLS magazine". DOLLS magazine | Collecting Dolls. 2014-01-07. Archived from the original on 2025-10-10. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ Villalpando, Nicole (2016-09-15). "Unlike typical Barbie, kids can see themselves in Prettie Girls dolls". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 2026-02-04. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ "One World Dolls — The Fashion Doll Chronicles". Fashion Doll Chronicles. 2015-12-04. Archived from the original on 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ Swrup, Aahana (2024-06-19). "Stacey McBride-Irby: The Barbie Designer is Now a Diversity Consultant". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on 2025-06-15. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ "More Than A Doll "Black Barbie" Is Black History". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2024-07-03. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ "The 'Black Barbie' Glossary: All the People, Places, and Cultural Moments You Need to Know Before Diving Into Shondaland's Newest Documentary". www.shondaland.com. Archived from the original on 2025-10-12. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
- ↑ Williams, Rae. "Netflix documentary highlights the cultural impact of Black Barbie". spectrumnews1.com. Archived from the original on 2025-07-25. Retrieved 2025-10-30.