Mario Paglino, 52, and Gianni Grossi, 54, Die; Designers Made Barbies Into Art
The Italian news service ANSA reported their deaths, in a car collision with another vehicle that was going the wrong way on the A4 Turin-Milan highway.
The two men, who married in New York City in 2022, lived and worked together in Novara, west of Milan. They were celebrities in the global Barbie doll-collecting community, which is vast and has numerous Facebook groups, some with more than 100,000 members.
Depending on their interests, fans 'buy Barbies that have been created by Mattel, or they buy limited-edition and one-of-a-kind Barbies that doll artists make,' Kim Culmone, the head of design for dolls at Mattel, said in an interview.
'There are different levels of people who do this sort of work,' she added. 'And Gianni and Mario really were just a cut above.'
Mr. Paglino, a fashion designer, and Mr. Grossi, a graphic art director, were hailed by collectors for their meticulous handiwork — the ruffles and extravagant bows, the embroidery, appliqué, crystals, rhinestones, paillettes and beading on silk, satin and tulle — as well as their unswerving attention to detail and their deep knowledge of fashion and art history. Most of the Barbies from their atelier sold for $2,000 to $3,000.
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