Daily Front Row

2009 February 6

Barbie's Brand-New Bling

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(NEW YORK) Fine jewelry is not something generally entrusted to our youth, but Barbie is no ordinary doll. In celebration of Barbie's 50th anniversary, Barbie-inspired designs by designers from Alexander Wang to Diane Von Furstenberg will walk down the runways at Bryant Park, paired with a special collection of baubles and bags by Bulgari. The jewelry brand is also celebrating an anniversary--its 125th--with a soon-to-be-launched exhibition on May 20 at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome.

"Luxury has a very simple, clear philosophy: it expressed absolute values like quality, beauty and exclusivity, creating an emotional bond with people, said Richard Dickson, Barbie general manager and senior vice president. “This concept is magnificently represented in the jewelry collection that Bulgari has dedicated to Barbie. The unique and sophisticated creations that make up this collection offer a precious interpretation of Barbie's qualities."

Beyond a catwalk collaboration, the two brands have teamed up to support the Save the Children “Rewrite the Future” campaign aimed at supporting education programs for 8 million children in war-torn regions. “Barbie has always been an icon of style inspiring the dreams of generations of girls around the world. She still perfectly interprets the spirit of the times today, by deciding to support us in the ‘Save the Children’ campaign to guarantee an education for children afflicted by hardship,” said Nicola Bulgari, vice chairman of the Bulgari Group.