Iconic Barbie designers, Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, died on July 27 in a car accident on Italy's A4 Turin-Milan highway.
According to Sky News’ Italian channel, TG24, the duo was reportedly driving with their friend, Amodio Giurn, between the cities of Novara Est and Marcallo Mesero in north-western Italy when another car entered the road from the wrong side.
Amodio was reportedly also killed in the head-on collision. The driver of the other vehicle, Egidio Ceriano, also died in the accident. However, Amodio’s wife was the sole survivor.
The Mattel brand, which is behind the world-famous Barbie, paid tribute to the late designers.
The official social media handle of Barbie shared a photo of the duo and penned on July 28, “As passionate and talented designers and lifelong collectors, their spirit and love for the brand turned every creation they touched into a masterpiece.”
The Barbie team further wrote in the tribute, “Whether leading the Italian Doll Convention in Milan or showcasing their talents and love for Barbie at doll shows all over the world, their presence brought warmth, laughter, and a sense of belonging. Their generosity was boundless, creating countless dolls to be auctioned to benefit charities close to fellow collectors' hearts.”
The tribute is concluded with, “Barbie is better because they loved the brand, and our beloved collector community is richer for having known them and shared in their passion. Barbie honors their memory with deep gratitude.”
The photos and tribute were captioned, “Barbie mourns the loss of two treasured artists whose work has forever shaped the world of dolls. Mario and Gianni, you will be missed.”
For the unversed, Mario and Gianni were professional as well as real-life partners. They were the founders of the company Magia2000 in 1999. They founded the company to create and sell custom Barbie dolls.
The couple’s passion for fashion dolls influenced their careers and inspired them to start the Italian Doll Convention. They also worked as consultants for Italy’s "Barbie The Icon" exhibition.
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Their company has created several Barbie tributes to celebrities like Cher, Victoria Beckham, and Sarah Jessica Parker. However, their biggest inspiration has always been Madonna.
Magia2000 often references the “Material Girl” icon, recently showcasing a piece inspired by Andy Warhol’s famous artwork of Marilyn Monroe.
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