Roots collaborates with Barbie for 50th anniversary

Canadian lifestyle brand Roots has teamed up with Barbie to launch an exclusive apparel and doll collaboration for its 50th anniversary. 

The limited-edition 30-piece collection features apparel and accessories across the women’s, kids, and toddler categories. Items were designed to reflect both brand identities with subtle pops of Barbie pink and Roots Pine Grove green. Items range from $38 CAD to $998 CAD, and come in sizes XXS to 4XL to reflect both Roots and the Barbie brands’ joint mission of inspiring inclusivity.

The collection launches alongside a limited-edition Barbie doll outfitted in a Roots Salt and Pepper crew sweatshirt with matching sweatpants, a Varsity Awards jacket with exclusive Barbie decals, Tuff brown boots, and a Banff weekender bag. The doll is encased in custom packaging featuring Roots’ commemorative 50th anniversary logo.

“The inspiration for the Barbie x Roots doll came from the experiences Karuna [Scheinfeld] and I share as mothers of children from multicultural backgrounds,” said Meghan Roach, president and CEO of Roots Corporation. 

“We wanted to embrace the rich diversity of Canadians and our global audience, including our young daughters. Teaming up with Barbie in our 50th anniversary year, we were excited to celebrate how Barbie has empowered young women over the last six decades to follow their dreams, something we are both passionate about as female executives.”

Scheinfeld, chief product officer of Roots, added: “Having the opportunity to work on this collection with the Barbie team, dressing an icon in our iconic product, was already exciting, but to do so in our 50th year was that much more meaningful. From having a role in designing the doll with Mattel and Barbie to crafting our handmade Barbie x Roots Varsity Jacket in our leather factory in Toronto, the collaboration came together seamlessly to reflect our shared values of quality, inclusion, and fun.”