Forever 21 is hopping on the natural train with this “I’m Beautiful” tee. What do you think ladies? Would you cop it?
Forever 21’s “I’m Beautiful” Afro Tee
• Sep 1, 2012 • Sep 1, 2012 • Sep 1, 2012 • Sep 1, 2012 Best Sellers
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Um, no. Besides, isn’t there a contradiction between wanting to be like a Barbie (European ideal of beauty) and being proud of the black hair that you were born with? I would probably be ok with this if the word “Barbie” wasn’t splashed across the front.
you caught that too.. lol.. i was like nah, i’l pass. no barbie/ nicki minaj /mattel connection for me. plus I would rather give my money to a black-owned business if possible.
there’s nothing special about this t‑shirt really.
No I wouldn’t as it Is rrying sell barbie with a fro! at least if you going to try have a picture with black features on it.I got so excited but after seeing the first comment i was sad as they’re trying reach the naturals but on THEIR terms. 🙁
love natural hair. been natural my ENTIRE life, would NEVER support forever 21. EVER. the provenance of their merchandise is questionable and they rip off the work of small, independent designers. google “feral childe forever 21”. i would much rather wear my hair natural and make that statement than wear it on a tee, anyway. i kind of appreciate their sentiments, but i reject the source.
I think it’s a great shirt, but they couldn’t a model with a fro to rock?
i have mixed feelings. it seems like forever 21 is trying to be encouraging but in the same instance coming off a bit phony. like the comment above stated, a bit of the band wagon jumping going on. no i would not buy the t‑shirt i don’t need validation from forever 21s new money scheme and they’re not going to benefit from what they think, that as a natural black young woman, are my insecurities.
No they are trying to make money off of a market that is growing…the natural hair movement…you will see ALOT More companies trying to bank off of it too. We need to make OUR OWN stuff that represents us and profit off of it.….I would rather line the pockets of a fellow black women than forever 21 pssh!
PREACH! Thank you! This natural hair “movement” has changed not only how we see ourselves in the physical sense, but also the mental and communal sense as well!
On that Sentiment please feel free to Support me as I am a Black woman with businesses: http://www.afrobabyz.com (Baby and children’s wear but ladies range is coming soon):D
Blessings Sisters x
something about the white barbie unsettles me. I won’t buy/wear it.
in addition to my previous comment, the model herself isn’t a black female. what’s up with that? Are they saying that they validate the fro or a natural’s prerogative to ROCK it?
How can you tell the race of the model? We don’t see her face. Could just be a lighter skin person. I think the shirt is cute!
Who cares what colour the model is? So only Black people can wear things with an afro on it? Models are nothing more than human “clothes hangers”. The point is to show the t‑shirt, not the model. Do you only hang your clothes on black hangers too? Should leopards get offended when humans wear leopard print clothes?? It’s like you try to find racism and when you can’t find it you invent it.
Apparently a lot of us care. Save your rant for when society as a whole showcases the beauty of all women, not just size 0 white women. As for the hanger comment, i’m going to give you a pass by imagining that you are under 18.…..and white.
I’m not mad at all! Well at least this is a reasonable priced shirt, where as other companies and ladies selling natural picture tee’s from #30 dollars and up. I think its cool I just wished it didn’t look so faded and worn out, I would purchase.
To Niki
You complain about the $30 shirts but then go on to say how faded /worn out this one looks. Quality products are not always cheap 1, and 2 at least the $30 shirts have women who look black on the shirt and have black women modeling them. This could easily be a white girl with curly hair (Annie), not a black woman with black features rocking a fro.
Something about the phrase “black woman with black features…” really gets under my skin. There are features that have been stereotypically assigned to black people but we are a diverse people with varying textures, skin tones, nose widths and lip sizes.
‘kay PC police, would “features that are almost exclusive to those with blacks skin” be better or how about “Features exhibited by the vast majority of black skin possessors” ?
Those uneasy w/ the term seem to have issues w/ being linked to certain features =/
Those uneasy w/ the term seem to have issues w/ being linked to certain features =/.….…..THIS
I like that comment Barbara!
Errrr.…ummmerah.…No.
LOL!!!
OK.…its cute and everything BUT.…how many white girls are you really gonna see on the street wearing this.…NONE. You will see more black women wanting to buy this and of course the money made off of this tee WILL NOT go back to black people I can guarantee you 100%. Another thing I am not too excited about is the fact it says I’m Beautiful.…UMM like we don’t already know that. Who said we weren’t? And its almost like it validates that we are with our natural hair…I don’t need validation from Barbie. We need to start creating our own… Read more »
Agreed!
+1000000!!!!!! I am not supporting any non-black business trying to capitalize of off black people. NEVER! I support black businesses only! What a lot of blacks don’t realize is that the money they spend at non-black establishments doesn’t flow back to black people and black families and therefore we as people gain nothing from these purchases. I wish more blacks would realize that in order to get and REMAIN wealthy, you have to be a business OWNER/PRODUCER, not a just a CONSUMER. And in order to be a business owner, you have to have a market. When blacks keep spending… Read more »
Speak the truth, my sister! Let common sense prevail!
What’s Barbie got to do with it??
+1
my thoughts exactly! that part still doesn’t make sense to me. I’m beginning to like it less and less now as I read other comments.
Ummmmmm NOT…I guess the BARBIE company has set the wheels in motion for other companies to make a profit of what we are trying stand for. Just doesn’t make sense. Everybody is trying to make a profit one way or another.
Seriously a white model chick with straight hair wearing a I am beautiful AFRO BARBIE tee. Get real.
The design particularly alluring so no.
*isn’t
Its cute 🙂
I love the meaning behind it!!!! (even if its Barbies signature lol um.. :/
Check out my new channel! UK natural: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGWGTBsV5BI
actually just went onto their website, something seems fishy about how they source their merchandise…hmm.
AH!!… as mentioned below, it is a throwback style from the 70’s/80’s.
I would buy this shirt depending on the price, it’s nice and simple! Even though I never owned a Barbie. #tomboy
Companies have stock models, they’re not going to go looking for one with an afro just for one t‑shirt. Saying that, I would personally never wear this t‑shirt *while* I had an afro anyway!
You’d be surprised the number of companies that have been sued for copying someone else’s work. Most pay off the offendee quietly. I won’t go naked because of that. LOL! 😛
*something is popular*
*people/companies try to make money off the popular thing*
*people act shocked and offended as if they’re new to the world*
O_o
Not shocked or offended at all to tell the truth I hadn’t pay attention to the face features untill I read comments, but at first sight I wasn’t feeling this barbie thing (pink color and the writing). The shirt looks like one to go to bed or for little girls at least… Just not feeling it 🙂
Um, I’m gonna vote no. I’m not a fan of the Barbie brand, so I wouldn’t be too excited about rockin’ their logo. And I’m irked by the faux-validation.
They could of put it on a black, natural haired model.
As I scrolled down, I noticed the model of all things. If you’re gonna have a shirt for natural women… where is the natural model? & never in my 21 years of life have I seen a black barbie with a fro. I no doubt shop at Forever 21 but that picture rubbed me the wrong way.
They had them in the 70s and now at Walmart (last time I checked). Just because you haven’t seen them yet doesn’t mean they don’t make them.
y is a white girl wearing the tshirt?! i luv the shirt but im confused…lol
Uh I am going to have to say no. I am a BARBIE fan and love all the multicultural Barbies and own a vintage Barbie T ‑shirt that I love rocking with my fro but this actually made me feel uncomfortable. They have black Barbies but this face obviously is not one and them and “I’m beautiful ” on top of that it’s giving me a phony back handed compliment feeling.. And agree with others what’s up with the model! I don’t like FOREVER 21 anyway and I am very disappointed in Mattel and Barbie at this failed attempt to… Read more »
I also would not buy this shirt, for many of the reasons listed above. And I don’t think it’s meant for someone like me — why would I wear “I am beautiful” and a picture of a Barbie with a fro when I already have a real fro growing out of my head? Who would that message be for? I already know my fro is beautiful, so I don’t need my shirt to say it, and I feel like the fact that I’m maintaining a fro (especially in our current cultural climate) makes it clear to other people that I… Read more »
Barbie is NOT “hopping on the natural train”. This is a throwback to the Black Barbie from the 70s/80s. Look it up. I bought my throwback Black Barbie t‑shirt from Hot Topic years ago, way before going natural became as popular/common/talked about as it is now. The original slogans was “She’s black, she’s beautiful, she’s dynamite!” because the makers of Barbie were responding to our pointing out that blacks were not marketed as beautiful in the mainstream media. This is a retro shirt just like Forever 21s other retro shirts that feature old toy’s and cartoons.
+1 Complete Agree. It is a throwback tee like other ones they produce. Nothing to do with natural hair. It is a nod to the Christie doll from 1968.
http://www.fashion-doll-guide.com/Black-Barbie-Reproduction.html
http://www.mfd.net/product/black-barbie-reproduction-gs-2010–2506.cfm
Thank God someone else knows. I feel like a lot of people are jumping to conspiracy theories and not taking time to just think about it logically. Barbie’s logo is on it because they had something to do with it. How come no one’s first thought was “hmm i didn’t know Barbie made a black doll?” instead of this “its all a ploy by the man” type stuff. Forever 21 can’t just use the Barbie logo and slap it on a random shirt, they’d get sued for copyright fraud.
Because the doll on the shirt is white, for one. And not everybody knows about the Christie doll. Not about being illogical.
Conspiracy theory? We’re complaining about the features of the supposedly black baarbie as well as the model who’s wearing the T. No conspiracy, just poor delivery.
I dont’ think there is anything wrong with the tee. It is a throwback tee so the it doesn’t matter who is wearing it. The model in my opinion does not have to be Black because it is not a nod to Blackness but to a retro Barbie that happens to be Black. I also don’t think the dolls face has to look Black because the actual barbie didn’t have “black features” since it was basically a white barbie doll that was brown with a fro. At most one could argue that her skin could be brown but based on… Read more »
If the barbie happens to be black and it’s suppose to spur me to buy it since I’m both natural and black, then…the model should be black as well.
LOL. I feel you.
No. So contradictory! Why is Barbie on the front? The model does not appear to be black and she has straight hair. Plus there are fellow naturals who sell T‑shirts without the contradiction.
That is what happens when you market something and have NOT Ddone your research.Would you market fur PETA? Lol
*done
*would you market fur TO PETA?
We have always known we are beautiful, hair and all. Im not really crazy about that statement, but I am well aware that somebody started that lie along time ago that we are not and some believe that lie, but with that being said I still think the shirt is cute, shooooot, I do look like barbie with a fro!
Love it! I got one of a Black Barbie w/fro that says She’s Dynomite! from Charolett Russe…I’d buy this one too
I went straight to their website to buy, but couldn’t find it. Why are there so many negative comments about ‘a shirt’ that’s, at the end of the day, a positive thing. Leslie, you and I are ‘glass half full’ girls…way to go. Now how do I find this shirt?! 😀
Right!I love the original but it was sold out 🙁 As for this post, I’ am one that is always up for a good debate but this post surprised me. Not saying people’s opinions or feelings are wrong but I really don’t think it is that seriously or blatantly trying to be offensive sometimes we overthink things or need to pick and choose our battles. But I think the shirt is cute, I am not really a t‑shirt girl so for that I won’t be buying but as someone mention I could see this being a sleep t‑shirt.
+1 binks
shoulda’ had a black girl model for this…
The market has been opening up for quite some time right now and unfortunately all businesses are getting in on it while the money train rolls on. As long as the natural hair community keeps behaving like only natural hair is the be all to end all these all natural hair merchandise will continue to fly off the shelves. We create the demand they are merely supplying.
A good way to support local, small, business in the US is by going to Etsy (www.etsy.com) or check out your local scene in person in your town/city/community. Get to know the artist selling on Etsy, find someone you want to support, on there or in your area. There are people making stuff like this, but you may have to pay more ($30+) ’cause 1. They’re made in someone’s home here in the US, not in some sweatshop oversees when companies here want to save themselves money. 2. The products are often made by hand, by a person sewing each… Read more »
I’m a visual artist and I totally agree with you, especially when it comes to Fine Art. People seem to not be able to access the value and work that is put into it. Support your local artists!!!
http:latoyamhobbs.com
NO…
Um no. Im light bright darn near white but i can see the chick on the shirt is white they couldnt at least find a black women to b on there or this only for mixed chicks? I mean putting barbie on there is like throwing peanuts at me and.…well u know the rest.
I like forever 21. Not everything I buy is black owned so yeah if it’s cute I’ll buy it. I believe they are celerbrating the black Barbie doll with a limited edition tee, no shade here
I’d buy it. First, people complain there isnt enough ‘black’ showcased beauty in the mainstream society, ummm isnt F21 trying???
#2, why should the model be black?? Dont black people wear straight weaves?? An afro doesnt have to be worn by black people only sheesh.
We need to stop dividing society. Its about time we became unified. I love the t shirt and ad buy it
‘WE’ need to stop dividing society?! Oh, so now black people are to blame for the division and the hate that so permeates american society? good to know.
Yes WE are to blame for some of the division in our community. I get more compliments from other races on my natural hair and style while I get questions on my hair from sistahs, like ‘what are you doin to your hair?’ , ‘you locking up’?, you gonna get a perm? And such, my hair stylist even tried talking me into a relaxer and she was successful after constantly asking for me to relax my hair, cause she did not understand my want to walk around with ‘nappy’ hair as she said. But right after she relaxed it, I… Read more »
What does the t‑shirt have to do with the division in the black community? We’re talking about a shirt that supposedly is trying to attract black natural women but the model is white and the barbie has white features as well. At first glance this could easily be a grown-up version of Annie versus a black barbie. You’re the one who wrote a post about why does the model have to be black and how F21 is trying…trying how? by showing me a picture of a white barbie with curly hair? So to answer your first question, does the model have… Read more »
I meant ‘J’ wrote the post, but my answer applies to both of you.
No, for keeping the division up. Everyone Is to blame for keeping the division up. Thats what I meant
I’m gonna go ahead and say no to this one.
NO. I am not a barbie… why make a Tee Shirt to signify afro’s and then have Barbie as the signiture?
No I wont but this, it seems silly.
Also, see what barbie thinks about afros here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpuPU1QE9hY&feature=youtu.be&t=1m41s
WOW! Where and how in the heck did you find something like that..
Not rocking the white girl with the afro…not gonna happen.
I like how a white girl is donning the shirt, tho.… And I understand the Barbie is paying homage to the one’s from back in the day, but those feature are awfully European… It’s not that hard to depict a Black woman or doll (whatever) in a contour drawing.. Just saying. They tried.
I was all on it until I saw the word Barbie in pink at the bottom of the tee. So with that him nooo go for me!
GET OVER IT! As someone else mentioned, BLACK women are NOT the only ones who wear Afros. A lot of Black women are wearing Brazilian, Indian, Malaysian, and anything else virgin. This is a retro shop and it is a stock model. This model probably never wore this shirt and just signed rights to have her photo use for marketing purposes. “I’m Beautiful” should be the main focus of the photograph. I know plenty of Black women who don’t have “Black” features. By the way, what in the heezy are “black features?” And who decided that natural hair is only… Read more »
My sentiments as well…we really don’t have to always think racial, as far as supporting blacks, you would be supporting a few of them by buying this shirt because they work for the company and they do earn paychecks for their work…I’m disturbed by the majority of the comments on this topic…and I know most of us go to the beauty supply store who are mainly owned by Asians… Or buy curl formers who are made by whites…why does this have to be a RACE issue?…ugh! Love. Live and let live.
Thanks!!! I agree with you as well. The comments are just.… ughhhh
girl!!! you couldnt have said that any better.…..speechless i second all of that you just said @Shenna
I wouldn’t buy it because it doesn’t look that great. It looks like a poor imitation of the black Barbie t‑shirts Hot Topic sells/sold (like Kamilah mentioned) which is probably why it says “Barbie” at the bottom.
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Barbie_tee.jpg[/img]
Oh yeah, my point was… WHO SAID THIS BARBIE IS/WAS MEANT TO BE BLACK????
People complain when society doesn’t embrace us women of color. Now they are; even if its because its in style, we are still complaining. Whether this t‑shirt is seen as a women of color or not, it is still representing an Afro, which clearly women of color have and are rocking! So i say, yes i will it buy it and i hope to see more and better quality items in known/big time retail stores so i don’t have to go all the way to BROOKLYN or shop online to find a store that represent me and my style:)
yessssssss!!! Agree!!!
I agree. First off, let’s stop acting as though we all only buy from Black Businesses. And I think a lot of you are blowing this out of proportion. It’s a t‑shirt, thats it. Nicki Minaj does not own Barbie. I bet most of you making these anti-Nicki comments are the main ones bumpin’ her album. It’s a t‑shirt y’all. Black Barbie didn’t have blonde hair, so I like seeing t‑shirts that show her with afros. There have been Barbie’s with afros. It’s a cute tee that I think represents how much natural hair is being more accepted in mainstream… Read more »
I’m laughing because it’s called the “Relaxed I’m Beautiful Barbie Tee”. Oh the irony. Of course, relaxed is related to the style of the shirt, but still … LOL
In all seriousness, I’m not mad at the shirt, but I’d rather support an independent black owned company (with a reasonable price). Note to black owned companies: PLEASE MAKE MORE SHIRTS WITH THIS NECKLINE. It’s much more flattering than the ones that cover up the collarbones (esp. if you have a large chest).
The only thing I don’t like is the “I’m Beautiful” phrase on the shirt as if its somehow needed. The pic of the Barbie with the beautiful afro doesn’t need any explaining as any one with eyes could see that.
Would they need to explain/include that phrase if instead it was a picture of a woman with straight flowing hair?
THANK YOU!!! The mentality of most of the women on this post is like a beggar. Yes we as a people have been and still is mistreated and unnacepted. What pisses me off is that you wail and screan for the world to accept you!! You rocking a shirt of a woman with an afro screams ‘tell me i’m pretty’. It’slike me wearing a shirt with my oic saying ‘i’m beautiful’. You’d be thinking … okay that girl has issues. Abeg you women need to stop crying for society to accept you and acccept your damn selves!! If you accept… Read more »
My Friends my biggest apologies. I came of more angry than I intended to but as I typed it just got to me. I will not however, take back anything I’ve said. Nothing at all, I just apologised for the over angry tone that came across.
And to add on sth else. I think the model being white has a meaning. They dont want only black people wearing it. If a black model would have worn it, other races would have shyed away.
dont you think its beautiful if you walked around and saw an asian (e.g) girl wearing it. Lets not hate. Some of these comments sound really racist and are disturbing.
Forever 21 is trying to profit from the afro hair trend.
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First off, let me say, I’ve never had a problem with Forever 21, and I thought the shirt was cute. Looking at the comments, I’m confused. Maybe I’m missing something, but what features is the Barbie supposed to have that would make her “Black”? Her nose is average sized, not super narrow, not big either. Her lips are pretty full, but average sized too. And her eyes are cartoony-sized big. She’s pretty. Where’s this big debate coming from?? If her features were any more “Black”, people would be writing it off as a caricature. Besides, Black people have a lot… Read more »
Never. I can’t stand these companies that ignore black people until they think they can make money off us. That is why I make most of my own hair and skin products. I’ve even got my mother to teach me how to sew so I can make trousers, dresses etc. that fit my fat arse instead of skinny arse clothes you find in most stores. I feel great having liberated myself. It also means I can avoid chemicals in clothes, skin and hair products. I don’t even use toothpaste, bicarbonate of soda is a great natural toothpaste and it doesn’t… Read more »
I LOVE THIS T… HOW CAN IT GET IT???
I ordered the shirt! I think the drawing is pretty! Didn’t take offense at all!
I wouldn’t buy this shirt, mostly because it’s a knock off of the Hot Topic Black Barbie shirt. Are they really trying to market to kinky haired black women in particular, or just their normal consumer base? I would say that it’s the latter. F21, Urban Oufitters and other “trendy” clothing providers occasionally do offensive and racist things, but I wouldn’t consider this one of them.
So after about the 70th negative comment I could take no more. I have this shirt in Grey from Torrid and I Love it. Per prev arguments the “barbie” doesnt look “white” its just a white shirt, she looks slightly diff in grey, also I have gotten compliments from all kinds of people, black, white and otherwise. I also noticed the whole not supporting “Non-black” establishments as we all use our PCs, mac books and Apple products (just to name a few) to rant on how we only support one race is irony at its best! I literally am so… Read more »
I was about to go and read them, but, after this comment, I don’t think I will. I can imagine what they say, “Why is the model white/Asian/not black? Why does the girl on the shirt look white? Why not use a model with a fro? Well this company did this, blah blah blah.”
Girls on this site get so up in arms over the wrong things and it’s annoying.
Wow. It’s a t‑shirt, not a conspiracy. I would buy it and wear it. If it’s not to your taste, cool. When we look for the negative we will be sure to find it.
’][;pI like the shirt, but I would like it even more if a black person was wearing it. Not trying to sound racist, but there is a black women (barbie) with a fro on there. “I’m Beautiful” makes me think of the “Black is Beautiful” Moment. So yeah
sorry , my dog was pressing keys while i was typing
i dont see anything wrong with the shirt, in fact im proud that they are marketing a shirt that has a black barbie on it! i never bought a shirt with characters on it never mind a barbie not for myself or daughter. partly because i dont do charactes that dont reflect myself (being black). i feel that young black girls should feel like they can relate to the images they see wheter it be on their clothes or the toys they play with. will i not let my child play with a barbie because she is white? would i… Read more »
I have my own t‑shirt with fro on facebook. I am Beauty Fro