After launching earlier this year, lifestyle brand Malibu Casey has expanded into a product line. The alter ego of local prop and fashion stylist Casey Fritz, Malibu Casey was inspired by Fritz’s lifetime fascination with Barbie (he boasts a serious collection of 1970s-era Ken dolls) and his love for the beachy aesthetic Southern California—which he describes as “relaxed, easy style, with golden coconut-oil tans, sun-kissed hair, and a rainbow of sherbet colors.”
The capsule collection debuts today with a launch party at Uptown home and gift shop Pharmacie, which exclusively will carry the line. It includes note cards by Minneapolis letterpress studio Lunalux, bath bombs, pop art pillow cases and wrapping paper, and limited-edition photo prints featuring vintage Barbie dolls styled by Fritz created in collaboration with Minneapolis photographer Nicole Houff—all reflecting Malibu Casey’s colorful kitsch aesthetic.
For Malibu Casey bath bomb, F Bomb’s Jean Hawkins-Koch created a scent inspired by the banana-y, coconut-y scent of “Hawaiian Tropic” suntan lotion. And the throw pillows and wrapping paper feature a print designed by local illustrator Brian Ness, decorated with objects that evoke the California beach town, including ice cream cones, high-heel shoes, sunglasses, suntan lotion, and ocean waves. Lunalux’s letterpress gift cards feature imagery pulled from Ness’s print.
The pop-up shop featuring the products will continue for a few weeks following tonight’s opening reception and at malibucasey.com on an ongoing basis.
Launch party: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, August 18, Pharmacie, 2743 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-200-9633, pharmaciempls.com
images Courtesy Pharmacie & Malibu Casey
