Ken first appeared in 1961 wearing a red and white striped shirt and red boxer shorts. For Spring Summer 2027, his wardrobe has had a péro makeover.
The Delhi-based label, founded in 2009, unveiled Dream Dress-Up, its collaboration with Barbie, as the opening show at Lakmé Fashion Week. Spanning womenswear, menswear and childrenswear, the collection reimagines the wardrobes of Barbie and Ken through péro’s playful design language. As founder and creative director Aneeth Arora built Ken’s new wardrobe, she says, the looks kept evolving until he started looking cooler than Barbie.
We spoke to Arora about revisiting Ken’s original look, the research and craft that shaped the collection, and what men new to péro can expect from its approach to dressing.
Let's start with the collection in your own words. What are you most excited about?
It feels like being a child who has just got a Barbie and is dressing her up, and then Ken comes along as a bonus. We didn't want to do what everybody thinks of as the stereotypical Barbie. We decided Barbie has everything in her wardrobe: flounces and frills, miniskirts, tight dresses, swimsuits. That's how the name Dream Dress-Up came about. The approach to Ken has been exactly the same. We've been doing menswear, so it was a very good opportunity to do it on Ken. If this is a modern-day Barbie, it's also a modern-day Ken. We've covered his journey, from the red and white stripes the first Ken wore to what Ken would be today.
Playful dressing runs through the collection. What does it mean for a man to dress playfully today?
It's about having a unique voice and style, and a unique way of expressing it. That's what I see in the current generation. They know what they want, and they put things together in their own way. There's a lot to be inspired by, so we drew on how Gen Z and Gen Alpha dress, and we took that approach for Ken too. Textile is central to péro, so Ken is dressed in the textiles of India, but in a very Ken way and a very modern way.
How different was it to design for Ken than for Barbie?
Both icons are known for being dressed up. The boxes come with options, accessories and clothes, so the approach was the same for both. Barbie started in 1959 and Ken came along in 1961, and when we studied both wardrobes there was so much inspiration that it became seamless. I used textile crafts I've worked with for 17 years. Within that one year of the collaboration the collection evolved a lot, because we were getting to know both icons bit by bit. We kept adding layers to the wardrobe, and then a final layer to make it relevant for today.
For a man who hasn't been introduced to péro, what should he expect from the brand?
Our approach has always been to offer separates, not ensembles or looks. If somebody looks at our classic shirts, we have the man who believes in wearing minimal clothing covered. But there's a lot of playfulness on the other side, so there's a little something for all kinds of men within the range. The idea was to offer a wardrobe to the péro wearer. It's not only meant for Ken. It's meant for all the men out there, and each of them will find a piece for himself.
The overall look or styling might come across as young, playful and sometimes over the top, but when you look at the single pieces, they're all very wearable and relatable. I think every man will find a piece for himself in the collection.
Did you approach craft differently for this collection?
No. Textile has always been central to péro, so we kept that approach going this season. But because we had so much reference to draw from, it's a new take on the traditional crafts and textiles we've been using for 17 years.
What gives Ken his personality in the clothes?
In the style guides we were given, there were phrases and graphics that go on the clothes, and we had to form words using Ken. So you'll see words like "Kentastic" and "Kentational." That's part of why I find him cool. I'm fascinated by the fact that there are so many people within one Ken. He's not just a particular kind of guy or man.
Is there any crossover between the men's and women's wardrobes?
Yes. One good thing about this wardrobe is that Ken wears Barbie, and sometimes Barbie wears Ken's clothes. The era is very retro-inspired, so there are bombers, polo T-shirts and jerseys that are kind of unisex, and they share clothes. Every time I see Barbie in a Ken jacket or bomber, it looks like a jacket borrowed from a friend. It's a different wardrobe for her, and she looks very cool.
Finally, three words for the collection, and for Ken?
For Ken, I'd say he can do it all, because one of the garments also says that he can do it all. For the collection: nostalgic, playful and current.