RGB brings Betty Boop to life at Fred Segal

By

Chenu Alexis

Published
Dec 20, 2022

She is a cult figure in the United States. Introduced by Fleischer Studios in the late 1920s in the Talkartoons series, Betty Boop was the first female character to have her own cartoon series in the United States. Now she's back in the spotlight with an inclusive collaboration.

A secondary character at the beginning, Betty Boop became one of the icons of Fleischer Studios. Known for her short mini-skirt, high heels, sensual poses and her famous "poo-poo-pee-doo" taken up a few decades later by Marilyn Monroe, she became the sex symbol of American animation.

The Fleischer Studios company that multiplied successes with Popeye, and Superman, censored her character in 1934, when the Hays Code was applied, a code of good conduct supported by puritan America, which transformed the character into a housewife and lengthened her skirts by a few inches. 

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Still in the hands of Fleischer Studios and Mark Fleischer, chairman and CEO of Fleischer Studios, the Betty Boop character is now reappearing in Fred Segal stores in Los Angeles in a limited edition collection of sweatshirts, hoodies, sweatpants and T-shirts, created in collaboration with Global Icons. The brand-licensing agency, whose client portfolio includes Karl Lagerfeld, Fred Segal and Camp Beverly Hills, acts as the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for all the Fleischer characters.

The inspiration for the BOOP Produced by: RGB collection came when designer Antione Joyner, founder of the brand ROYGBIV or RGB  became aware of the new Betty of the People initiative launched 'to make Betty Boop more accessible to a wider range of communities around the world by showcasing the beloved character with a diverse variety of partners creating designs that celebrate community, equity, unity, and inclusion". 
 
Joyner, who emerged from the luxury sportswear scene in Atlanta said "I'm excited to be designing with such a bold, legendary character that has long been a symbol of empowerment, confidence, and self-expression. From Betty Boop's original artistic style inspired by the essence and sounds of so many Jazz Age stars to her current day stance as a figure of love, inspiration, and inclusion, I created this collection with the idea that it can be worn anywhere by anyone, and that everyone would be able to see the iconic character in themselves."

The collection is available exclusively at Fred Segal Los Angeles stores and on its e-shop with a price range of $100-$250.