Carlyle Nuera is the lead designer for Barbie Signature at Mattel. He is a 2010 graduate of the Otis College of Art and Design.
Nuera’s debut design was that of the Filipina Barbie doll known as Mutya Barbie, which recalls the glamor of old-school Filipino beauty pageants. It was released by Mattel as part of the brand’s Global Glamour Collection. The design was inspired by Nuera’s heritage and his family.
“The name ‘Mutya’ means pearl or beauty or muse; it’s a girl’s name; and it is also used in the titles of beauty pageants in the Philippines,” said Nuera, whose mother Ruby was Miss Tacloban in 1976. Tacloban is a large city in Leyte province.
Nuera, who has dreamed of designing for the Barbie Collection since childhood, looked to Filipino culture and fashion for inspiration. He chose the Kira sculpt for the face, which is a favorite of Barbie collectors that has not been used for almost fifteen years. The doll was then dressed in an organza terno with the classic big butterfly sleeves.
“The print on the organza terno references textiles of the different tribes in the Philippines as well as the sun icon from the flag,” said Nuera. “The embroidery on the hem is inspired by the Philippines national flower, the sampaguita. The details of Mutya Barbie’s jewelry refer back to tambourine jewelry as well.”
This is not Mattel’s first Filipina Barbie. In the 1990s, Mattel partnered with Richwell Trading Co. to produce Barbie dolls dressed in traditional costumes specifically for the Philippine market, and in 2012, Philippines Barbie was released as part of the Dolls of the World Series.
