Barbie Dolls Get Second Life as Marbled Tech Accessories
Brighton design studio gomi has teamed up with Mattel to recycle discarded Barbie and Ken dolls and accessories into portable speakers, power banks, and tracker tags. The recovered doll material is combined with plastic-bag waste and hand-marbled, giving every product a unique pattern. The speakers also use repurposed electric bike batteries and undergo sound testing before sale.
gomi, a Brighton design studio, collaborated with Mattel on the Childhood Memories Collection. It transforms discarded Barbie and Ken dolls and accessories into Bluetooth speakers, power banks, and tracker tags. Recovered doll material is mixed with plastic-bag waste and hand-marbled, so each item has a unique pattern.
Speaker internals rely on reused electric bike batteries and are sound-tested before sale. They are screwed together rather than glued, allowing repair and upgrades, and offer 32 hours playback after a two-hour charge. The casing is IPX6 water-resistant. Trade-in, repair, and upgrading services plus public doll collection support circularity.
This collaboration may appeal to Barbie fans and eco-conscious tech buyers, turning sentimental items into functional accessories. It could encourage more toy take-back and repair habits, while giving Mattel and gomi visibility in circular design. Consumers might value unique marbled products, though price and durability may shape adoption. It may also prompt other brands to explore partnerships that keep hard-to-recycle plastics out of landfills.