DESIGNERS at Mumbai’s premier fashion event are putting together a special show to showcase 50 years of the Barbie doll.
Barbie, the iconic doll that has helped young girls pass countless hours in a make-believe world that mirrored real life glamour, turned 50 on Monday (March 9).
Indian designers will be competing in a contest to dress Barbie, with the winning designs on show at the Lakme Fashion Week later this month.
“We thought it would be nice to give Barbie an Indian twist, especially since she is such a huge brand,” said Rahul Bhowmik, India’s marketing head for Mattel.
Throughout her life, Barbie’s hair and fashions have reflected real life haute couture and fashion trends.
Fans mobbed a show at New York’s Fashion Week in February, where models took to the runway in 50 new designer outfits to celebrate Barbie’s life of fashion.
The show in Mumbai will be the second of its kind.
“We want the designers to create cutting-edge looks, but they don’t all have to be Indian,” Bhowmik said.
Though inspired by Barbie, there are no plans to replicate the designs on the actual dolls, he said.
