It's Barbie in a burkha

purple unicorn · 11-22-2009, 12:13 AM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0XWZM3wNT

It's Barbie in a burkha: World-famous doll gets a makeover to go under the hammer for 50th anniversary

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:24 AM on 21st November 2009

One of the world's most famous children's toys, Barbie, has been given a makeover - wearing a burkha.

Wearing the traditional Islamic dress, the iconic doll is going undercover for a charity auction in connection with Sotheby's for Save The Children.

More than 500 Barbies went on show yesterday at the Salone dei Cinquecento, in Florence, Italy.
Barbie

Burkha Barbie: The iconic doll wearing traditional Islamic dress

Makers Mattel are backing the exhibition which is the work of Italian designer Eliana Lorena.

The auction is part of Barbie celebrations for her 50th anniversary this year. The UK's biggest Barbie fan Angela Ellis, 35, has a collection of more than 250 dolls.

More...

* When parting really is sweet: Divorce cakes sparked by trend for separation celebrations
* BBC radio presenter sparks complaints by playing When Harry Met Sally 'orgasm' clip on school-run show

The company director of Laird Assessors from The Wirral, Cheshire, said: 'Bring it on Burkha Barbie, I think this is a great idea.

'I think this is really important for girls, wherever they are from they should have the opportunity to play with a Barbie that they feel represents them.
Eliana Lorena

Designer: Eliana Lorena is putting Barbie undercover for an auction to celebrate the doll's 50th anniversary

'I know Barbie was something seen as bad before as an image for girls, but in actual fact the message with Barbie for women is you can be whatever you want to be.

'I have a Barbie in a wheelchair that was only out for six weeks.'

The mum-of-two's own Barbie collection is set to be displayed at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 2012.

Barbie was first launched in March 1959 by American businesswoman Ruth Handler. The doll was joined by her long-term boyfriend Ken in 1961.

Rosie Shannon, from Save the Children, said all the proceeds from the auction will go to the charity.

She said: 'We are delighted Sotheby's and the designer chose to auction the burka Barbie dolls for our charity.'

The money will go towards the Rewrite the Future campaign which helps millions of children around the world effected by conflict.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0XYuqjeO9

It's Barbie in a burkha: World-famous doll gets a makeover to go under the hammer for 50th anniversary

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:24 AM on 21st November 2009

* Comments (59)
* Add to My Stories

One of the world's most famous children's toys, Barbie, has been given a makeover - wearing a burkha.

Wearing the traditional Islamic dress, the iconic doll is going undercover for a charity auction in connection with Sotheby's for Save The Children.

More than 500 Barbies went on show yesterday at the Salone dei Cinquecento, in Florence, Italy.
Barbie

Burkha Barbie: The iconic doll wearing traditional Islamic dress

Makers Mattel are backing the exhibition which is the work of Italian designer Eliana Lorena.

The auction is part of Barbie celebrations for her 50th anniversary this year. The UK's biggest Barbie fan Angela Ellis, 35, has a collection of more than 250 dolls.

More...

* When parting really is sweet: Divorce cakes sparked by trend for separation celebrations
* BBC radio presenter sparks complaints by playing When Harry Met Sally 'orgasm' clip on school-run show

The company director of Laird Assessors from The Wirral, Cheshire, said: 'Bring it on Burkha Barbie, I think this is a great idea.

'I think this is really important for girls, wherever they are from they should have the opportunity to play with a Barbie that they feel represents them.
Eliana Lorena

Designer: Eliana Lorena is putting Barbie undercover for an auction to celebrate the doll's 50th anniversary

'I know Barbie was something seen as bad before as an image for girls, but in actual fact the message with Barbie for women is you can be whatever you want to be.

'I have a Barbie in a wheelchair that was only out for six weeks.'

The mum-of-two's own Barbie collection is set to be displayed at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 2012.

Barbie was first launched in March 1959 by American businesswoman Ruth Handler. The doll was joined by her long-term boyfriend Ken in 1961.

Rosie Shannon, from Save the Children, said all the proceeds from the auction will go to the charity.

She said: 'We are delighted Sotheby's and the designer chose to auction the burka Barbie dolls for our charity.'

The money will go towards the Rewrite the Future campaign which helps millions of children around the world effected by conflict.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0XYuqjeO9

Portnoy · 11-22-2009, 12:53 AM

How about modest arab/Islamic girl in stockings and thigh-high boots?
WAY more appealing.

purple unicorn · 12-12-2009, 12:47 AM

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/baby...niversary.html

Babylon & Beyond
Observations from Iraq, Iran,
Israel, the Arab world and beyond

« Previous Post | Babylon & Beyond Home | Next Post »
MUSLIM WORLD: Barbie's 50th anniversary Islamic makeover
December 10, 2009 | 6:31 am

Barbie_News-682_933047a

From Barbie Beach to Pilot Barbie to Hard Rock Barbie, the glamorous and iconic doll has undergone many makeovers since her creation 50 years ago, but none of her previous outfits has probably stirred as much buzz as her latest Islamic look.

It's Barbie in a burka, as it's been dubbed by the yellow press.

Wearing the traditional Islamic dress with a mesh eyehole, she went under the hammer along with 500 other Barbie dolls dressed in unique outfits at an auction in Florence, Italy, at the renowned auction house Sotheby’s to raise funds for Save the Children.

The auction, held in late November, was part of the celebrations put on for Barbie this year as she celebrated her 50th anniversary.

In her new look, Barbie also appeared in a line of stylish turquoise, lime-green, orange-colored burkas and regular head-covering Muslim veil, known as hijab.

The set of multicultural Barbies, including the burka-clad one, was dressed by the Italian designer Eliana Lorena in a project backed by Barbie's owner, Mattel.

Article-1229760-074B37DE000005DC-314_468x619-1

Opinion has been divided on Burka Barbie.

Fan Angela Ellis, who has a collection of more than 250 Barbie dolls, thought it was a good idea to introduce a veiled Barbie. That way, children living in conservative Islamic countries would have a doll they could identify with.

“Bring it on, Burka Barbie," Britain’s the Sun newspaper quoted her as saying. "This is really important for girls, wherever they are from, they should have the opportunity to play with a Barbie that they feel represents them.”

But not everyone shared such excitement over Barbie’s new conservative Islamic look.

Critics such as Barbara Kay in Canada slammed Barbie’s Muslim dress as a “symbol of oppression” and ripped Ellis’ commentary in an article recently published in Canada’s the National Post newspaper.

“I have seen some pretty tawdry advertising campaigns in my time, but I must say this one takes the cake for insensitivity. What's next in dolls that are 'important for girls' to play with? ‘Illiterate Barbie’? ‘Forced-Marriage Barbie'?" she wrote.

Instead, Kay branded Burka Barbie a “mockery of disempowered women” who, she said, have been “stripped of human dignity."

She felt the doll had no place in Mattel’s line of “diversity” Barbies.

“There can be no parallel between these travesties of multiculturalism and other 'diversity' Barbies -- brown Barbies, native-dress Barbies, pilot Barbies -- avatars that reflect the natural appearance and truly traditional garb and career choices of free women,” she wrote.

The Barbie also has managed to stir the pot in the blogosphere.

_41208244_fulla_boxed_afp203Responding to a post on the blog Kabobfest, which argues that "it's kinda somewhat cool" of Mattel to put out a veiled Barbie, one commentator sarcastically suggested the Barbie makers introduce a line of “neocon pro-freedom Barbies" to balance out Burka Barbie.

Burka Barbie is not the first Islamic-styled doll for girls.

Back in 2003, the United Arab Emirates-based company Newboy launched the Muslim doll Fulla, resulting in some fierce competition for Barbie.

Unlike the skimpy and revealing outfits of blond and blue-eyed Barbie, dark-eyed Fulla wears more modest clothes and hairdos, to the delight of the authorities in conservative Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran who previously targeted the original Barbie in crackdowns.

In 2003, Saudi Arabia called Barbie a “symbol of decadence to the perverted West” and banned the doll. Last year, Barbie came under fire in Iran when Iranian prosecutor Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi said the dolls were “destructive culturally and a social danger.”

Barbie's veiled rival has become a smash hit in the Middle East, with more than 1.5 million dolls sold in the first two years of its making.

-- Alexandra Sandels in Beirut

Photos, from top: Barbie received an Islamic makeover for her 50th anniversary. Italy's Eliana Lorena designed the 500 Barbie dolls, including Burka Barbie, that recently were auctioned in Italy. Credit: Caters. Barbie's veiled rival Fulla has become a bestseller in the Arab world. Credit: AFP

11-22-2009, 12:13 AM	#1
purple unicorn I have ALOT of Frigging posts Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 14,905	It's Barbie in a burkha http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0XWZM3wNT It's Barbie in a burkha: World-famous doll gets a makeover to go under the hammer for 50th anniversary By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 11:24 AM on 21st November 2009 One of the world's most famous children's toys, Barbie, has been given a makeover - wearing a burkha. Wearing the traditional Islamic dress, the iconic doll is going undercover for a charity auction in connection with Sotheby's for Save The Children. More than 500 Barbies went on show yesterday at the Salone dei Cinquecento, in Florence, Italy. Barbie Burkha Barbie: The iconic doll wearing traditional Islamic dress Makers Mattel are backing the exhibition which is the work of Italian designer Eliana Lorena. The auction is part of Barbie celebrations for her 50th anniversary this year. The UK's biggest Barbie fan Angela Ellis, 35, has a collection of more than 250 dolls. More... * When parting really is sweet: Divorce cakes sparked by trend for separation celebrations * BBC radio presenter sparks complaints by playing When Harry Met Sally 'orgasm' clip on school-run show The company director of Laird Assessors from The Wirral, Cheshire, said: 'Bring it on Burkha Barbie, I think this is a great idea. 'I think this is really important for girls, wherever they are from they should have the opportunity to play with a Barbie that they feel represents them. Eliana Lorena Designer: Eliana Lorena is putting Barbie undercover for an auction to celebrate the doll's 50th anniversary 'I know Barbie was something seen as bad before as an image for girls, but in actual fact the message with Barbie for women is you can be whatever you want to be. 'I have a Barbie in a wheelchair that was only out for six weeks.' The mum-of-two's own Barbie collection is set to be displayed at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 2012. Barbie was first launched in March 1959 by American businesswoman Ruth Handler. The doll was joined by her long-term boyfriend Ken in 1961. Rosie Shannon, from Save the Children, said all the proceeds from the auction will go to the charity. She said: 'We are delighted Sotheby's and the designer chose to auction the burka Barbie dolls for our charity.' The money will go towards the Rewrite the Future campaign which helps millions of children around the world effected by conflict. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0XYuqjeO9 It's Barbie in a burkha: World-famous doll gets a makeover to go under the hammer for 50th anniversary By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 11:24 AM on 21st November 2009 * Comments (59) * Add to My Stories One of the world's most famous children's toys, Barbie, has been given a makeover - wearing a burkha. Wearing the traditional Islamic dress, the iconic doll is going undercover for a charity auction in connection with Sotheby's for Save The Children. More than 500 Barbies went on show yesterday at the Salone dei Cinquecento, in Florence, Italy. Barbie Burkha Barbie: The iconic doll wearing traditional Islamic dress Makers Mattel are backing the exhibition which is the work of Italian designer Eliana Lorena. The auction is part of Barbie celebrations for her 50th anniversary this year. The UK's biggest Barbie fan Angela Ellis, 35, has a collection of more than 250 dolls. More... * When parting really is sweet: Divorce cakes sparked by trend for separation celebrations * BBC radio presenter sparks complaints by playing When Harry Met Sally 'orgasm' clip on school-run show The company director of Laird Assessors from The Wirral, Cheshire, said: 'Bring it on Burkha Barbie, I think this is a great idea. 'I think this is really important for girls, wherever they are from they should have the opportunity to play with a Barbie that they feel represents them. Eliana Lorena Designer: Eliana Lorena is putting Barbie undercover for an auction to celebrate the doll's 50th anniversary 'I know Barbie was something seen as bad before as an image for girls, but in actual fact the message with Barbie for women is you can be whatever you want to be. 'I have a Barbie in a wheelchair that was only out for six weeks.' The mum-of-two's own Barbie collection is set to be displayed at London's Victoria and Albert Museum in 2012. Barbie was first launched in March 1959 by American businesswoman Ruth Handler. The doll was joined by her long-term boyfriend Ken in 1961. Rosie Shannon, from Save the Children, said all the proceeds from the auction will go to the charity. She said: 'We are delighted Sotheby's and the designer chose to auction the burka Barbie dolls for our charity.' The money will go towards the Rewrite the Future campaign which helps millions of children around the world effected by conflict. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0XYuqjeO9 __________________ "never play leapfrog with a unicorn"

11-22-2009, 12:53 AM	#2
Portnoy I have alot to say Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,064	Re: It's Barbie in a burkha How about modest arab/Islamic girl in stockings and thigh-high boots? WAY more appealing.

12-12-2009, 12:47 AM	#3
purple unicorn I have ALOT of Frigging posts Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 14,905	Re: It's Barbie in a burkha http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/baby...niversary.html Babylon & Beyond Observations from Iraq, Iran, Israel, the Arab world and beyond « Previous Post \| Babylon & Beyond Home \| Next Post » MUSLIM WORLD: Barbie's 50th anniversary Islamic makeover December 10, 2009 \| 6:31 am Barbie_News-682_933047a From Barbie Beach to Pilot Barbie to Hard Rock Barbie, the glamorous and iconic doll has undergone many makeovers since her creation 50 years ago, but none of her previous outfits has probably stirred as much buzz as her latest Islamic look. It's Barbie in a burka, as it's been dubbed by the yellow press. Wearing the traditional Islamic dress with a mesh eyehole, she went under the hammer along with 500 other Barbie dolls dressed in unique outfits at an auction in Florence, Italy, at the renowned auction house Sotheby’s to raise funds for Save the Children. The auction, held in late November, was part of the celebrations put on for Barbie this year as she celebrated her 50th anniversary. In her new look, Barbie also appeared in a line of stylish turquoise, lime-green, orange-colored burkas and regular head-covering Muslim veil, known as hijab. The set of multicultural Barbies, including the burka-clad one, was dressed by the Italian designer Eliana Lorena in a project backed by Barbie's owner, Mattel. Article-1229760-074B37DE000005DC-314_468x619-1 Opinion has been divided on Burka Barbie. Fan Angela Ellis, who has a collection of more than 250 Barbie dolls, thought it was a good idea to introduce a veiled Barbie. That way, children living in conservative Islamic countries would have a doll they could identify with. “Bring it on, Burka Barbie," Britain’s the Sun newspaper quoted her as saying. "This is really important for girls, wherever they are from, they should have the opportunity to play with a Barbie that they feel represents them.” But not everyone shared such excitement over Barbie’s new conservative Islamic look. Critics such as Barbara Kay in Canada slammed Barbie’s Muslim dress as a “symbol of oppression” and ripped Ellis’ commentary in an article recently published in Canada’s the National Post newspaper. “I have seen some pretty tawdry advertising campaigns in my time, but I must say this one takes the cake for insensitivity. What's next in dolls that are 'important for girls' to play with? ‘Illiterate Barbie’? ‘Forced-Marriage Barbie'?" she wrote. Instead, Kay branded Burka Barbie a “mockery of disempowered women” who, she said, have been “stripped of human dignity." She felt the doll had no place in Mattel’s line of “diversity” Barbies. “There can be no parallel between these travesties of multiculturalism and other 'diversity' Barbies -- brown Barbies, native-dress Barbies, pilot Barbies -- avatars that reflect the natural appearance and truly traditional garb and career choices of free women,” she wrote. The Barbie also has managed to stir the pot in the blogosphere. _41208244_fulla_boxed_afp203Responding to a post on the blog Kabobfest, which argues that "it's kinda somewhat cool" of Mattel to put out a veiled Barbie, one commentator sarcastically suggested the Barbie makers introduce a line of “neocon pro-freedom Barbies" to balance out Burka Barbie. Burka Barbie is not the first Islamic-styled doll for girls. Back in 2003, the United Arab Emirates-based company Newboy launched the Muslim doll Fulla, resulting in some fierce competition for Barbie. Unlike the skimpy and revealing outfits of blond and blue-eyed Barbie, dark-eyed Fulla wears more modest clothes and hairdos, to the delight of the authorities in conservative Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran who previously targeted the original Barbie in crackdowns. In 2003, Saudi Arabia called Barbie a “symbol of decadence to the perverted West” and banned the doll. Last year, Barbie came under fire in Iran when Iranian prosecutor Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi said the dolls were “destructive culturally and a social danger.” Barbie's veiled rival has become a smash hit in the Middle East, with more than 1.5 million dolls sold in the first two years of its making. -- Alexandra Sandels in Beirut Photos, from top: Barbie received an Islamic makeover for her 50th anniversary. Italy's Eliana Lorena designed the 500 Barbie dolls, including Burka Barbie, that recently were auctioned in Italy. Credit: Caters. Barbie's veiled rival Fulla has become a bestseller in the Arab world. Credit: AFP __________________ "never play leapfrog with a unicorn"

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