'Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie'
Barbie has been heaped with praise after launching its first-ever doll with Down's Syndrome.
Mattel, the toy manufacturer behind the iconic doll, said they have created the new Barbie to 'allow even more children to see themselves in Barbie', reports The Manc.
The legendary toy brand, which was launched way back in 1959, worked with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to make sure the doll accurately represents Down's.
The result is a Barbie with a few physical differences to the classic doll, including a new face and body shape with a shorter frame and longer torso, smaller ears, a rounder face shape, and a flat nasal bridge, plus slightly slanted almond-shaped eyes.
The beautiful new doll even has palms with one single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down's Syndrome.
Her outfit is in yellow and blue patterns, colours associated with Down's Syndrome awareness, and she wears a pink pendant with three upwards chevrons, representing the three copies of the 21st chromosome.
The first ever Barbie with Down's Syndrome. Credit: MattelThe first ever Barbie with Down's Syndrome. Credit: Mattel
The new Barbie even wears pink ankle foot orthotics to match her outfit and her sneakers have a zip detail.
Barbie now comes in more than 175 looks, including different eye colours, hair colours and textures, body types, disabilities and fashions. There are dolls with vitiligo, dolls that use a wheelchair or a prosthetic limb, a doll with hearing aids and a doll without hair.
Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel, said: "As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play.
"Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves.
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"Doll play outside of a child’s own lived experience can teach understanding and build a greater sense of empathy, leading to a more accepting world. We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play."
Kandi Pickard, NDSS President and CEO, added: "It was an honour working with Barbie on the Barbie doll with Down syndrome.
"This means so much for our community, who for the first time, can play with a Barbie doll that looks like them. This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating."
Lucy & Yak is turning its Sheffield store into a dedicated PreLoved hub for the entire weekend.
If you're all about celebrating second-hand shopping, then this is the event for you.
Since 2023, Lucy & Yak has kept a more than 42,000 Yaks in circulation through its incredible PreLoved scheme.
The concept is simple, customers bring in and return their old Yaks, and once processed receive a money-off voucher to put towards their next purchase. So everyone's a winner, basically.
Images: The Sheff
And don't worry if your old pieces are damaged, as these are lovingly repaired or upcycled by their talented Re:Yak Studio team in Yorkshire before being sold on in-store to find their new homes.
This bank holiday weekend, from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 May, the entire Sheffield store will be transformed with a huge PreLoved section for you to browse.
Images: The Sheff
It's a unique opportunity to shop your favourite second-hand Lucy & Yak pieces, with special one-off items and old gems for you to get your hands on. Get in.
The special event is the latest milestone in Lucy & Yak’s broader commitment to circularity, which also includes its (Im)Perfect sales, a Facebook Marketplace for buying, selling and swapping, and Re:Yak workshops held throughout the year - community sessions that help people mend and customise their clothing.
Images: The Sheff
Lydia Coley, Managing Director at Lucy & Yak said: “We’re so excited to bring the PreLoved Weekender to our stores this May. Lucy & Yak has always been built around community, creativity and doing things a little differently, and PreLoved brings all of that together.
"We're incredibly proud of keeping over 42,000 Yaks in circulation. Every second-hand Yak has a story, and this weekend is about helping those pieces find their next home in a fun way”
So if you're looking for a fresh new colourful wardrobe for the summer, get yourself to Lucy & Yak this weekend to shop smart.
The UK’s leading K-pop retailer is opening its first Yorkshire store in Leeds
Clementine Hall
The Merrion Centre is set to welcome one of the UK’s fastest-growing specialist music retailers.
K-pop fans, you're going to love this one.
Soft launching on Friday 22 May, K-pop Korner Leeds will open initially as a pop-up store, becoming the brand’s fourth UK location and its first in the north of England.
Recognised as the UK’s leading dedicated K-pop retailer, K-pop Korner stocks official K-pop albums, signed albums, light sticks and rare collectibles imported directly from Korea.
Not only that, but the brand has developed a strong national following through fan events, trading days, concerts and exclusive product launches.
The Leeds opening follows the success of K-pop Korner’s existing stores in London Waterloo, London Euston and Nottingham, with growing demand from fans across Yorkshire and the north driving the expansion.
Anastasia Tsappis, Director of K-pop Korner, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring K-pop Korner to Leeds and finally create a dedicated space for fans in Yorkshire and the North of England. Community has always been at the heart of what we do and we’re looking forward to building a welcoming environment where fans can meet, discover new merchandise, celebrate their favourite artists and enjoy special events together.
“Our community has been asking for a more accessible location outside London and the Midlands for a long time, so Leeds felt like the natural next step. The Merrion Centre stood out because of its vibrant atmosphere, fantastic city-centre location and strong connection to entertainment and youth culture.
“We want the opening to feel like more than just a store launch. It’s about celebrating K-pop fandom and creating memorable experiences for the local community. We’re especially excited to see fans come together for our opening events and experience the energy and excitement that makes K-pop culture so special.”
The Hoot -
27th April 2023 
