Photos: YouTube Screenshots\Black PR Wire
(Black PR Wire) LOS ANGELES — DeeDee Wright-Ward, (shown below) creator of viral Naturalistas Natural Hair Fashion Dolls and CEO of Purpose Toys (the nation’s largest and most widely distributed Black-owned Culture-driven international toy company, and leader in natural hair products and culture-driven products for kids) announces the expansion of their flagship line Naturalistas, with the forthcoming release of their latest brand, “Fade Collection”!
The “Fade Collection” is a line of 11.5-inch contemporary “Cultural-Action Figures™” that aim to celebrate the warmth and influence of Black Barber Culture, our unique approach to expression through hair, and overall “Celebration of Cutz, Community and Culture,” stated DeeDee Wright-Ward, creator of Naturalistas, Fade Collection and CEO of Purpose Toys.
With the announcement of Fade Collection, the Naturalistas franchise continues to grow. Through Fade Collection Purpose Toys hopes to continue to help build the confidence and self-esteem necessary for Crown-Bearing children around the world.
“Currently there is an over-representation of molded/non-textured “surfer hair,” box braids on male characters, and sloppily rooted characters that fail to capture the ever-popular ‘taper’ and
‘line-ups’ prominently worn by men and kids within the Black community,” said DeeDee Wright-Ward.
“What Fade Collection brings to market, as the world’s first and only line of Cultural Action Figures™” to celebrate Black Barber Culture, is our signature combination of flocked, rooted, molded, and gradated (textured) Black male hairstyles, and attention to the nuances of line-ups and the all-important Fade. Through Fade Collection, we not only bring authenticity to toy shelves like never before, we also celebrate the comradery, the Culture, and the brotherhood that comes with the Black Barber experience. No more box braids for guys, sharpie-beards, plastic “surfer-hair” or complete lack of Cultural representation over here! Fade Collection is here to offer authentically styled Black male characters kids can relate to and be proud of,” DeeDee Wright-Ward added.
The Fade Collection features its debut character Greg, the first of many characters to come, who comes with a short and neat haircut and traditional line-up (‘curved’ and ‘faded’ at the temple). Fade Collection celebrates the nuances and delivers on authentic Black male hair styles. Greg also boasts a background that celebrates education, entrepreneurship, and an overarching connection to community. As many kids’ first experience with entrepreneurship in the Black community comes in the form of Barbershops and Beauty Salons, Naturalistas and Fade Collection continue to celebrate cultural pride and culture-driven excellence through play.
The Fade Collection is distributed through Purpose Toys. At a Suggested Retail Price of $12.99 (USD) available at Target starting October 2023.
About Purpose Toys
Est. 2020, Purpose Toys was founded as a pipeline to major retail for toy entrepreneurs of color. With its mission to elevate cultural talent, leadership, and burgeoning entrepreneurs, Purpose Toys provides the infrastructure and resources necessary to succeed. With the successful launch of its two inaugural brands, “Naturalistas” (the world’s first all-Black line of Natural Hair fashion dolls carried at major retail) and “HBCyoU Dolls” (the world’s first toy line to celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities), Purpose Toys has quickly established itself as a cultural behemoth and a nationwide leader in Culture-driven goods. With the mission to provide “Product with a Purpose”, Purpose Toys continues its goal to “Center and Celebrate Communities of Culture™” through Culture-driven brands.
