Toy tracks to trendsetters: Mattel's Ruth Henriquez on the Hot Wheels-B-Hype collab

Gulf Business

16-06-2025

What happens when the world's bestselling toy car brand meets one of the Middle East's most influential streetwear labels? You get a high-octane fusion of nostalgia, identity, and style.
In a first-of-its-kind regional collaboration, Hot Wheels, the iconic franchise from Mattel, has teamed up with B-Hype, the Dubai-born streetwear brand known for its retro flair, cultural attitude, and celebrity drops. Launched in May, the limited-edition Hot Wheels x B-Hype collection reimagines the high-speed spirit of Hot Wheels through a fashion-forward lens, marking a milestone in both brands' evolution.
This collaboration is more than a merch drop. For Mattel, it is a strategic step in extending Hot Wheels' cultural relevance beyond the toy aisle and into lifestyle spaces — alongside previous global partnerships with fashion giants like Gucci and Puma.
For B-Hype, the drop reflects its ongoing mission to blend childhood nostalgia with cutting-edge streetwear, amplified through regional identity and global aspiration.
We caught up with Ruth Henriquez, head of Licensing, Publishing, and Location-Based Entertainment at
Hot Wheels has been an iconic brand for generations. How would you describe its evolution from a beloved toy into a broader cultural and lifestyle symbol
?
Hot Wheels has come a long way since its launch in 1968. What began as a toy car line has become a global franchise that fuels imagination, creativity, and pop culture moments.
More than just toy cars, Hot Wheels represents bold colors, performance design, and a passion for cars — elements that fans have grown up with and want to bring into their daily lives.
Today, it lives far beyond the toy aisle — from fashion drops with the likes of B-Hype to digital games, high-value collectibles, and cultural events. It is a brand that blends with modern-day relevance, continually reinventing itself while staying true to its high-energy, design-led roots.
How do franchise partnerships support Mattel's evolution into a full brand ecosystem?
Franchise partnerships are ultimately about giving consumers more ways to connect with the brands they love, whether through fashion, gaming, experiences, or collectibles. These moments extend engagement and help keep brand culture alive across generations.
Mattel is home to a wide portfolio of brands, each that started its story in a unique way. Whether it is Hot Wheels as a toy car or Thomas & Friends as a book — now our brands stretch far beyond that original storytelling and have a full franchise ecosystem through partnerships such as the one we have just launched with B-Hype.
It is not just about products, it is about unlocking moments that reflect how fans live, play, and express themselves today.
Are there any figures you can reference about Mattel's franchise partnerships globally?
Hot Wheels is the number-one selling toy in its category, with over eight billion of them sold across more than 150 countries.
It is a brand with truly global scale, and when we introduce it into new categories like fashion, collectibles, or gaming, the response is instant. Limited drops, like our collaborations with Gucci or Sean Wotherspoon, have sold out within minutes.
We also see increasing engagement through gaming and digital activations, as well as consistent sell-outs of specific collaborations — proof that Hot Wheels is resonating deeply across age groups and platforms.
A key trend fueling this growth is the rise of adult fans. In some markets, adults buying for themselves now account for up to 25 per cent of toy industry sales, and Hot Wheels consistently ranks among their top choices.
These fans are drawn to products that combine storytelling, design, and cultural relevance. They want to collect the next cool thing from their favourite brands — making franchise collaborations a powerful tool for brand engagement.
What inspired Hot Wheels' expansion into fashion, and how does it reflect broader cultural trends?
The inspiration really came from our fans and the culture at large. We saw that Hot Wheels had evolved far beyond toy — it had become a symbol of personal style, nostalgia, and creative identity. We know fans love the bold colors and signature graphic language of Hot Wheels and were looking for ways to bring that love into their wardrobes. At the same time, fashion was embracing retro icons, with childhood brands making a comeback as cultural statements.
This move also reflects wider cultural shifts. Today, people are blending their passions — fashion, gaming, art, and toys — in ways that feel personal and expressive. Nostalgia has become a lifestyle, and Hot Wheels sits right at the intersection of that trend.
Wearing a Hot Wheels hoodie is not just a style choice, it is a nod to childhood, creativity, and individuality.
Streetwear thrives on storytelling and collaboration; both core to how we build franchises. Whether it is a drop with Gucci, BAPE, or local brands like B-Hype, these partnerships give fans new ways to engage with Hot Wheels while reinforcing its place in culture. It is about showing up in the right spaces, with personality.
Some collaborations have even featured details like 'Racing since 1968' or dual Arabic-English branding — small but meaningful touches that make the brand feel both global and personal.
Read:
What attributes of the Hot Wheels brand make it a natural fit for fashion and street culture?
Hot Wheels has always stood out for its bold visuals, high-energy spirit, and deep roots in car culture, which translate naturally into streetwear.
The iconic flame logo, vivid colour palette, and striking graphic language were practically made for apparel. You see it in collaborations like B-Hype, where the design DNA carries through effortlessly.
But it is more than just looks. Hot Wheels has always embodied individuality, creativity, and a bit of rebellious edge; values that align closely with street culture. It is expressive, collectible, and deeply nostalgic, which makes it feel right at home in a space where fashion meets fandom.
We did not want this to feel like a uniform. It is more like a toolkit for personal style; fans can mix and match pieces to make it their own.
How do you stay true to Hot Wheels' brand values as you expand into lifestyle and fashion?
We are very intentional about how we show up in fashion. Every collaboration must reflect the essence of Hot Wheels — adrenaline, creativity, and that challenger spirit. Some ideas — even exciting ones — get turned down if they do not reflect the brand's core. What we greenlight is deliberate.
In fact, in our collaboration with B-Hype, we aligned one simple goal: to reflect the boldness and creativity that defines both brands. The result was apparel that feels as high-energy as the brand itself.
Why is the Middle East an important region for Mattel's franchise strategy and brand expansion?
The Middle East is a priority growth region for Mattel, and one where we already see strong engagement with our brands. It's a market with a deeply rooted appreciation for storytelling, design, and family-oriented experiences—values that align closely with what Mattel stands for. The region also has a young and diverse population, with a strong appetite for creativity and innovation, making it an exciting environment for franchise-led growth.
With a flagship store in Dubai Mall and deep ties to local fashion culture, B-Hype was a natural partner. They describe themselves as a bridge between '90s hip-hop and today's generation, which fits Hot Wheels perfectly.
We have seen firsthand how much love there is for our brands — from the enthusiastic response to the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in Dubai, to the growing community of collectors and fans of all ages. These moments confirm that our brands resonate in ways that go beyond product; they tap into shared passions and lifestyles.
That is why partnerships like Hot Wheels x B-Hype are so important. Working with respected, culturally attuned local partners allows us to ensure our brands show up in a way that feels authentic and relevant.
As we continue to expand, we are committed to doing so in collaboration with the region, building long-term relationships and experiences that reflect the unique character of each market.
Have you observed any specific consumer insights or trends from the Middle East that influenced Mattel's Hot Wheels franchise strategy in the region?
Certainly, one of the most striking insights is the region's passion for automotive culture. From supercars to street racing, there is a deep connection to performance and design, which aligns naturally with Hot Wheels' DNA. That understanding shapes everything from how we tell brand stories to which activations we prioritise in-market.
We have also seen that Middle Eastern youth value a balance of cultural authenticity and global relevance. That is why our partnership with B-Hype felt like the right move as it reflects a strong local voice while tapping into international streetwear trends. Their aesthetic — blending retro references with bold, modern expression — mirrors how young consumers here are redefining their identity.
Taken together, these insights help us ensure Hot Wheels does not just arrive in the Middle East, it integrates in ways that are meaningful and lasting.
And finally, can we expect more collaborations like this in the future as part of Hot Wheels' lifestyle and cultural expansion?
Absolutely. Hot Wheels x B-Hype is part of a broader lifestyle and cultural strategy, and it is just the beginning. We are not interested in one-off moments, we are building long-term momentum that connects our brands to the spaces our fans care about most.
Globally, we have exciting collaborations in the pipeline. And in the Middle East, the success of the B-Hype partnership has only reinforced the opportunity to do more. We are actively exploring new ways to show up—whether through fashion, art, music, or unexpected cultural intersections. These are not just brand exercises, they are creative collaborations that appeal to trendsetters, tastemakers, and global audiences alike.
While Hot Wheels has been the focus of this conversation, it is just one part of a much larger portfolio. Mattel is home to some of the world's most iconic franchises — from Barbie to Masters of the Universe to UNO — and that makes us a uniquely desirable partner for brands across fashion, entertainment, retail, and beyond.
We are a brand powerhouse with storytelling at our core, and that is exactly what makes our collaborations stand out, and why you will be seeing many more.