Sitting down with a pack of crayons and creating a masterpiece is a favorite childhood activity. But for many kids, drawing an accurate picture of themselves, their family or friends hasn’t always been possible because of the limited number of skin tone options. Crayola is taking a step to change that with its new Colors of the World crayons.
The 24 new Colors of the World crayons are designed to represent 40 skin tones from across the world. The colors are made from three undertones—rose, almond and golden—and range in shade from extra light to deepest. The sides of each crayon box will feature panels with the name of each color to help kids pick the tone that best fits their creations.
In addition to the 24-pack, Crayola is also releasing a 32-pack version of the Colors of the World crayons that includes eight hair and eye color options. The hair and eye colors come in shades of red-orange, yellow, green, blue, brown and black.
Crayola first introduced products with a multicultural focus in 1992, but the collection only had eight skin tones. Now, with the help of MOB Beauty CEO Victor Casale, Crayola will greatly expand its product line. Casale has more than 30 years of experience in creating makeup to match diverse skin tones. He hopes the kids who use the Colors of the World crayons will “feel included and recognized” when they find a shade that mentions their skin color.
The announcement comes alongside recent calls for more diversity and representation, especially in America. Crayola hopes these new crayons, which have been in development for eight months, will help build a more inclusive world for children. Crayola CEO Rich Wuerthele wants the Colors of the World crayons to “foster a greater sense of acceptance and belonging.”
The Colors of the World crayons are expected to reach shelves in July. Pre-order the 32-pack exclusively from Walmart or sign up to be notified when the 24-pack is available.
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