SA Designer Gert Johan Coetzee Partners With Barbie To Create The ‘Barbie Loves Gert’ Collection
SA Designer Gert Johan Coetzee Partners With Barbie To Create The ‘Barbie Loves Gert’ Collection. South African fashion designer Gert Johan Coetzee took to Instagram to announce his partnership with Barbie. The partnership has created a collection called ‘Barbie Loves Gert’.
The post read, “The Barbie collection was inspired by the diversity of South Africa. Barbie has collaborated with designers many times but I really wanted the African interpretation to stand out. When people look at the collaboration from around the world they must really feel inspired by the diversity of Africa, the richness of our culture and the beauty of our men and women. #BarbieLovesGert #BarbieSA #GertJohanCoetzee.”
The Barbie Loves Gert collection, comprises of 31 looks as it aims to celebrate individuality and the South African identity. “I wanted Barbie to experience South Africa to its fullest by integrating an array of South African cultural elements into the collection. Striking pink from the Pedi culture complimented by geometric patterns inspired by the Zulu culture”, Gert-Johan Coetzee explained on his website. “Using South African Beadwork in black and white, I took inspiration from the Xhosa culture, I wanted this collection to encapsulate a true South African experience.”
As brands that recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion, Barbie and Gert-Johan Coetzee continue to show the impact of representation. Gert-Johan Coetzee is a South African fashion designer. His fashion atelier is based in Linden, Johannesburg in Gauteng province. He specialises in couture red carpet gowns, he also designs ready-to-wear range . Coetzee is known for dressing South African and international celebrities at red-carpet events.
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration.
