![]() Last, but not least, her hair is so vital to her identity and is almost a character itself. I wanted to do something with it that stayed true to Merida, but also felt appropriate to my design’s aesthetic. I found reference images of hairstyles pulled up into fauxhawks with long curling tendrils down the back. There are many incarnations of this Celtic bear paw artwork, which has roots in the Pictish, Gaelic, and even Viking artwork from the region. I reworked it to include Merida’s bow and arrow. I felt the final product was a strong emblem of her story and who she is and will become. The large scale of it and its offset outline are meant to evoke street art or graffiti-like she added it to the skirt as an afterthought. One of the most striking details of my design may be the large icon of a bear paw combined with her bow and arrow on the skirt. I chose to replace it with a wrapped leather gauntlet. The waterfall pleats falling from her hips are an homage to the pleats of a kilt. She wears armor braces and a modified gorget emblazoned with patterns from the film that are inspired by Pictish and Gaelic art from the early Middle Ages. The same kind of patterns decorate the edge of her skirt and her bag (which is inspired by the traditional Scottish sporran.) She originally had three bands of faux fur around her forearm (to represent her brothers), but it didn’t execute well at such a small scale. I loved the idea of dressing her in head-to-toe tartan, which is a staple feature of punk-inspired couture fashion. Her skirt is pulled up and swagged out of her way in front, allowing her to mount a horse and ride more quickly into a battle (or a gala!). Leather belts and chains, layered up like impromptu armor, were also heavily featured. Combined with Merida’s backstory, I was able to design a look for her that incorporated punk elements and her Scottish heritage. As I was searching for design inspiration, I kept landing on grunge and punk fashion movements (à la Vivienne Westwood) where tartan fabrics played a significant role. They were draped, pleated, and swagged-similar to the early ancestors of our modern-day kilt. When we were asked to design these dolls, our task was to reimagine them for a fantastical event-like the MET Gala. WJ: As soon as I knew that I would be designing a doll for this collection, I started sketching out ideas for several characters. My early sketch for Merida heavily influenced where her final design landed. I knew that I wanted to celebrate her Scottish heritage, with which she has a tumultuous relationship in the film but learns to embrace as an opportunity to shape her clan’s future. I also wanted her to look like a leader, not a follower, with her own unique sense of style that is rooted in elements of her story. WJ: I was speechless. It really came out of nowhere, or at least it felt that way to me. The group of chosen designers were all invited to request their preferred princess(es) to design, and I offered three options (Ariel, Belle, and Merida.) I had a suspicion that I would get Merida, and that proved to be true-for which I am very grateful. Her personality, story, and cultural heritage offered boundless inspiration.ĭ23: Can you talk us through your design process? What was your inspiration for the Merida doll you created? ![]() And I’m very happy with where it got me.ĭ23: How did you react when you were asked to design this limited-edition doll? I connect with her disillusionment with others’ expectations that you fall in line with the status quo. I never felt compelled to be like anyone else. It didn’t make sense to cover up my talents or try to be good at something I didn’t enjoy. Luckily, I have a family and friends that supported my artistic ambitions while I was growing up. I am definitely not your typical 35-year-old male from Indiana. Wes Jenkins (WJ): Merida embodies the will and courage to be different. D23 recently sat down with designer Wes Jenkins to talk about his inspirations for Merida and to give us a peek into the design process.ĭ23: The Official Disney Fan Club: What about Merida do you find inspirational? Each doll in the monthly specialty series, launched in October 2021, is carefully crafted by artists across The Walt Disney Company and celebrates both the Disney Princess and the designer inspired by our heroine’s story. Disney doll and Brave aficionados rejoice! Merida, the latest release from the Ultimate Princess Celebration Disney Designer Collection of limited-edition dolls, is now available on shopDisney! The collection is part of a yearlong event spotlighting the courage and kindness of Disney princesses.
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