A memorial is planned for Friday for the fashion designer Mario Paglino and the graphic art director Gianni Grossi, who created Magia2000 and who have been killed in a car accident in Italy.
The tribute will be held at the Basilica of San Gaudenzio in Novara.
The pair, who were romantic and business partners, were reportedly involved in a head-on collision along with Amodio Valerio Giurni, on Sunday, when an octogenarian drove the wrong way on Italy’s A4 Turin-Milan highway.
Pagliano, 52, and Grossi, 55, started the creative enterprise Magia2000 in 1999. Together they embarked on the unlikely profession of traveling to the U.S., Russia, Japan and Europe to create Italian high fashion-inspired looks for dolls that were made by collaborators, including in some instances Mattel.
Pagliano’s and Grossi’s families announced their passing in a joint post on Instagram. “We know that that Mario and Gianni have left an indelible mark on the hearts of all of you with their passion, art and creativity. Nothing will be lost, we ask that you [for] some time to absorb the pain and loss, then we will share the information about the future, certain that their spirit will continue to live through what they created.”
Long before Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie released the Mattel-authorized summer blockbuster “Barbie” in 2023, generations of children and adults have been avid about all things Barbie. It is estimated that more than a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries. Pagliano’s and Grossi’s expertise appealed to doll collectors, of which an estimated 100,000 are focused on Barbie ones alone.
Magia2000’s trademarked creations were one-of-a-kind doll designs with plenty of sequins, oversized bows, jewelry, ruffles, paillettes, handbags, gemstones and more. The duo did not duplicate or produce any series of dolls without authorization by licensing partners. Each doll reflected the designers’ and owner’s belief in originality, quality, and creativity, according to Magia2000.
Through the years Magia2000 periodically collaborated with different divisions of Mattel including ones in Italy, the U.S, and the U.K. for select projects. In those instances, they served as external freelance designers and sometimes created couture-like eveningwear. However, Magia2000 is not sponsored by or affiliated with Mattel.
A media request to Magia2000 had not been returned Wednesday, nor had one to Mattel.
In 2016, Pagliano and Grossi received the “Barbie Best Friend Award” from Carol Spencer, who started her career creating couturier and “mod fashions” for the Barbie doll in 1963. They also had a hand in Italian Vogue’s special Black Issue in July 2009, which had a collector Barbie supplement that paid tribute to Barbie and was conceived by the late Franca Sozzani. The pair also pitched in for a “Barbie Loves Alitalia” advertising campaign for the Italian airline.
Through the years the Magia2000 co-founders also donated several dolls to charity events to benefit important associations. Their creations have also been auctioned at Christie’s and Sotheby’. In 2020, the Magia2000 team dreamt up some of the outfits for OOAK Barbie dolls that were in honor of successful female athletes. Years before in 2006, they became the first foreign designer duo to create a commemorative doll for the National Barbie Collector Convention. That creation was the “Barbie Film Noir.” They also whipped up one for the 2012 convention with a wedding dress like ensemble for the “Barbie is Eternal” keepsake.
More recently, Magia2000 was said to be collaborating on a regular basis with Mattel Italy and Europe for many Barbie special projects. Their doll-size high fashion has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan and many collectors magazines.
They also created one of kind dresses and special collections for several 16 inch dolls including celebrity-inspired ones. Paglino and Grossi built a fan base for their celebrity dolls too, including ones for Victoria Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, Laura Pausini, Giorgia, Sophia Loren and Lady Gaga. But many knew them for their dolls that were for Madonna. Some of those were spotlighted in the 2009 “Simply Madonna: Materials of the Girl” exhibition in London at the Old Truman Brewery. In 2011, Magia2000 created the Italian Doll Convention, which was said to be the largest fashion dolls event in Europe at that time. It promoted the zeal for Barbie and all fashion dolls.
They also consulted on the “Barbie. The Icon” exhibition that was staged in Milan and Rome and provided some dolls from their own personal Barbie collection. Ultra-luxe doll clothes have attracted the attention of such fashion designers as Jason Wu, Christian Dior, and Diane Von Furstenberg among others.