The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Fashion Design Classes recently partnered with Melissa ISD Elementary Schools to create culturally-inspired Barbies for Multicultural Day.

The students researched cultures represented within the school district to design an outfit for a Barbie. They found inspiration from websites, fashion magazines, or by talking to someone knowledgeable about their chosen country. They used available classroom materials, including donated fabrics, to design and create the outfits, even adding cultural jewelry for authenticity.

The students faced challenges in sizing the outfits and mastering certain sewing techniques. They also organized fashion shows for Multicultural Day across the four elementary campuses, handling everything from coordinating with parents and student participants to managing music and presentations to ensure the shows ran smoothly.

The culturally-themed Barbies are currently displayed in the MHS Library and feature cultures such as Croatia, France, India, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Russia.