Summary:
- Mattel and Italian fashion brand GCDS have launched a limited-edition Polly Pocket collaboration through Mattel Creations
- The collection includes a redesigned compact toy and clothing capsule inspired by Italian culture and Milanese aesthetics
- Products are available starting July 16 on gcds.com and July 18 on Mattel Creations platform
Mattel has announced a collaboration with Milan-based fashion house GCDS for a special edition Polly Pocket collection. The partnership, revealed on July 16, 2025, marks the latest expansion of Mattel's design-focused Mattel Creations platform.
The collaboration centers around a redesigned Polly Pocket compact that incorporates Italian cultural elements, including Milanese street scenes and local imagery like gelato. GCDS Creative Director Giuliano Calza designed the collection, which also includes a clothing capsule.
This represents the third collaboration between the brands. GCDS first featured Polly Pocket in their Spring/Summer 2019 Milan Fashion Week show in 2018. The brands reunited for a special Heart Bag design during GCDS' Fall/Winter 2024 runway show called "Toys for Adults", which featured a transparent shell that opened like classic Polly Pocket compacts.
Calza, who co-founded GCDS with his brother Giordano in 2015, described his personal connection to the toy brand. "Ever since I was a kid, the moment I thought of something beautiful, those pastel cases would appear in my mind like a reflex", he stated in the announcement.
Chris Down, Mattel's Chief Design Officer, positioned the collaboration as part of the company's strategy to blend nostalgia with contemporary design through the Mattel Creations platform.
To mark the launch, the brands hosted an event in Milan on July 16 featuring installations and the opportunity to purchase items from the collection. The event included themed food offerings for attendees who made purchases.
The collection became available on gcds.com starting July 16 at 6:30 PM CET, with availability on Mattel Creations beginning July 18. Quantities of the compact are described as limited.
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Kristin Kaye
Insatiably curious about human expression, she immerses herself in literature, theater, art, and dance. Her academic journey led to degrees in Modern Literature, where she delved into The Furioso, and Historical Sciences with a focus on Contemporary History. Her studies took her to the prestigious Erasmus University Rotterdam, broadening her international perspective.
Her passion for culture isn't confined to personal enjoyment—it spills onto the pages of various publications. There, she explores not only artistic endeavors but also civil rights issues and the myriad ways human culture manifests itself. For her, writing about these topics isn't just a profession; it's an irresistible calling that stems from her deep-seated fascination with the human experience.