04 October,2024 12:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anita Dongre
In a groundbreaking Navratri special, Anita Dongre revealed an Indian Barbie. In a conversation with Vogue, Anita revealed that while she was growing up, Barbies weren't available in India. Like many young girls, she played with small dolls, which became a big part of her childhood.
She and her two sisters shared their dolls and spent hours acting out different scenarios, sparking endless imagination. Now, for Diwali, Dongre is partnering with Barbie to create their first limited-edition signature doll designed by an Indian designer.
Dongre revealed that she had only recently watched the Barbie movie and found it heartwarming, describing it as a lovely film. The idea for this collaboration started about eighteen months ago and marked her first time designing for a doll, especially for a brand as iconic as Mattel. For the launch, Dongre's Barbie brings a touch of Disco Barbie to the house party vibe, dressed in a blue sleeveless coatee paired with a Moonlight Bloom lehenga featuring detailed dahlia, jasmine, and lotus patterns. Designing at this scale is a unique challenge, as every detail needs to be more precise and carefully crafted, giving the process a more personal feel.
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Talking about the design, she said, "The print is very Indian. The coatee is inspired from Rajasthan." Talking about why the Barbie is not dressed in a saree or a sharara, she explained, "It had to be about what young girls are wearing today. I wanted it to be very now, very global."
Directed by Greta Gerwig, 'Barbie' stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, alongside America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman and Will Ferrell.
Along with the primary cast, the film also stars Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Ana Cruz Kayne, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans, Jamie Demetriou, Connor Swindells, Sharon Rooney, Nicola Coughlan, Ritu Arya, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Dua Lipa and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren.
Presented by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Heyday Films Production, a LuckyChap Entertainment Production, an NB/GG Pictures Production, a Mattel Production, Barbie is set to release in theatres nationwide on July 21.
(With inputs from IANS)
