Sophia Webster Salutes Barbie with a New Adult & Children Shoe Collaboration

Aug 20, 2015

To celebrate Barbie wearing flat shoes for the very the first time - with a new articulated ankle feature - Barbie has collaborated with UK footwear talent Sophia Webster on a coordinating collection of women's and children's shoes.  Entitled Barbie by Sophia Webster, it is based on Sophia's favourite styles re-imagined exclusively for Barbie.

Delighted at the prospect of wearing her very own Sophia Webster flats, Barbie still couldn’t resist a couple of heels.  There will be 6 adult styles comprising 2 sneakers, 1 flat sandal, and 3 heels, including Sophia Webster’s inimitable Chiara sandal with its signature butterfly-adorned stiletto heel, and 3 children’s versions, each derivative of their adult counterpart.

Sophia Webster says: "Creating a shoe collection for Barbie has always been my dream project, but getting to be a part of her embracing flats for the first time made it extra exciting, and deeply personal.  I love that this concept strikes a balance between dreams and reality - the idea of getting Barbie in some hi-tops and setting her loose in East London instantly appealed."

Barbie by Sophia Webster launches exclusively in Selfridges London on Thursday 27 August, in both the womenswear designer shoe gallery and childrenswear department.

A film by Sharna Osborne, starring Columbian singer and songwriter Kali Uchis, feted as the most exciting voice from Virginia since Missy Elliot, will be released later this month.  In the film, Sophia Webster introduces Kali, who is modelling the Barbie by Sophia Webster adult collection, to London, hitting various culturally diverse locations East, which are very personal to Sophia’s own experience of living in the British capital.

This collaboration is a continuation of the Barbie Fashionista campaign, which celebrates diversity and individual style with 23 new dolls, featuring 14 different facial sculpts, 8 skin tones, 18 eye colours, 22 hair styles, and 23 hair colors, as well as fashions inspired by global fashion and beauty trends and authentic style.

No collaboration with Barbie is complete without a doll, and Sophia Webster has dressed a limited edition Barbie.  Housed in a specially designed box, the Barbie by Sophia Webster doll wears a pair of ‘Riko' hi-top glitter sneakers, behind which other miniature-sized style options are displayed.

Other Barbie by Sophia Webster stockists will include: Selfridges Manchester Trafford and Manchester Exchange, On Pedder (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Jakarta, Beijing), Level Shoe District in Dubai, and both Sophia Webster and Selfridges websites.