A Stunning Sequel: 2023 Lunar New Year Barbie Doll Designed by Guo Pei

One of Barbie Signature's most notable collaborations in 2022 was its partnership with Guo Pei, the renowned Chinese couturier. She is renowned for balancing artistic heritage with contemporary innovation, through her signature craftsmanship and the intricate embroidery that has become a hallmark of her work.

Her first doll celebrated the Lunar New Year with her, and for our latest team effort, they've made a sequel! The 2023 Lunar New Year Barbie doll designed by Guo Pei arrives in store today, with enough time for you to get yours before the Christmas festival begins on January 22. The Gold Label doll is available for $80, with a limit of three (3) dolls per person.

Barbie doll designer Joyce Chen led the Barbie Signature team on all of our past acclaimed collaborations with Guo Pei, so she was a natural choice to lead this project as well. “The inspiration for this year's Guo Pei Lunar New Year doll comes from a design from one of Guo Pei's previous collections, which we have scaled down to fit Barbie,” says Joyce. “It is in a traditional Chinese royal blue color, with embroidered details with golden dragons that represent good fortune and strength.”

As with many of Guo Pei's custom creations, the embroidery is beyond spectacular. Recreating it on a doll scale is a challenge that the team enthusiastically accepts. “The intricate embroidery is one of the most striking details on this doll,” says Joyce. "We were able to capture all the colors and detailed artwork within this more modern silhouette of a traditional Chinese dress."

They have accessorized the resplendent two-piece couture look with gold earrings, a statement gold pom-pom ring, and gold pumps. Joyce also noted that the doll has a stylish inverted bob hairstyle, giving her a more unique look.

Another member of the team who has worked on all previous Guo Pei dolls is packaging designer Laydiana Chiv. For her, the design of the doll is extremely important as she considers how to present it in a doll box. “Every dress Guo Pei designs tells a story. I saw her dresses as reflections of the different steps and rituals of the Lunar New Year, which take place over several days,” says Laydiana, reflecting on the 2022 and 2023 doll designs.

“When I saw the doll above, all I could think of was a traditional and elegant ceremony for the Lunar New Year celebration,” explains Laydiana. “For the new doll, Guo Pei's bold but detail-oriented designs include mythological elements such as dragons and clouds, which made me think of a more fun, modern celebration. “So we tried to highlight this way of celebrating the Lunar New Year.”

But how does that translate into a packaging design, one that complements the doll box above and also stands on its own? “We further examined the geometric shapes of the dress and, in this case, the doll's bob haircut,” explains Laydiana. “All these details are very square and with sharp edges, which we highlight with the squares cut out for the window. For the back panel, we chose to highlight the dress fabric with its rich royal blue. And we added a print finish, Spot UV, to give texture and shine to the surface of the box.”

Whether you give her as a gift to a Barbie fan celebrating this traditional festival, or purchase her for your own tradition and festive display, the 2023 Lunar New Year Barbie doll designed by Guo Pei is a fantastic addition to any doll collection. . Be one of the first to get this exquisitely designed doll today.