Nettie, the Cincinnati-based Don Draper-inspired pickleball brand, is going pink. A new collaboration with Mattel’s Barbie is set to hit stores today – featuring an exclusive, limited-edition collection of paddles, sets and accessories, the latter a new offering for the company.
Catherine Baxter, Nettie founder and CEO, told me Mattel first approached her about the partnership. Nettie then won a formal award for the project late last year. The Nettie x Mattel rollout will include a two-pack paddle set, individual paddles, a branded Barbie x Nettie waterproof sports duffel and waterproof sling bag. All will be available for purchase at select Dick’s Sporting Goods and online beginning May 22.
It’s the company’s second high-profile collab since 2023. Nettie last year partnered with "Hamilton" the musical to release its own commemorative paddle.
It’s unknown if that partnership spurred a more marquee deal with Mattel. The collection aims to celebrate Barbie’s 65th anniversary, commemorated May 9, and comes on the heels of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie release, which has grossed more than $1.4 billion at the box office.
“The Barbie x Nettie collection is a celebration of women, across several generations, finding confidence, connection and joy through play,” Baxter said in a news release. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with one of the original women’s empowerment brands, known across the world for inspiring fans everywhere to dream big, and live boldly.”
Baxter founded Nettie during the Covid-19 pandemic, when pickleball saw a huge surge in popularity. The game, a mix between tennis, badminton and Ping-Pong, still ranks as America's fastest-growing sport, and millions of new players pick up paddles each year, she said.
Nettie, in collaboration with the Mattel team, designed the line. The products mirror Nettie’s traditional “1960s, Palm Springs vibe, but with a Barbie bend,” Baxter said. The brand made its initial foothold in the market with paddles that were both colorful and vibrant and gender neutral.
The Barbie paddles come in both pink and green.
Nettie
Prices for the Barbie line range from $70 to $175. Dick’s Sporting Goods is Nettie’s biggest retail partner, and the brand is currently sold at 160 locations, a number that has doubled since it first landed in stores in 2023, although the exact store placement for the Barbie gear is to be determined.
The debut also serves as Nettie’s first foray into bags.
Baxter hinted more accessories, beyond the Barbie-branded line, are planned.
“We've been able to capture the early momentum in the category as it's grown, and we’re competitive, so it’s about making sure we're coming out with new products and interesting things,” she said. “I'm hopeful this partnership will be an exciting catalyst and boost that allow us to potentially do other things down the line.”
