The return of Barbie

BARBIE – every young girl’s favourite doll, yet controversial pop culture icon. Criticised for being too skinny and too blonde, toymaker Mattel recast Barbie in 2016 in different body shapes, skin colours and physical abilities. She was soon hailed as a feminist icon, inspiring both boys and girls to love themselves as they are and reach for their goals.

With the new Barbie movie out this week, the Barbie hype has never been bigger, spawning a marketing avalanche as businesses selling everything from fashion to makeup, doughnuts and even pasta jump on the bandwagon with their own Barbie-related products and events. Brands in Singapore, too, have seen their Barbie product lines sell out like hotcakes. In Friday’s issue of BTLifestyle, we look at the Barbie phenomenon and how it’s grown into the commercial juggernaut it is now.

Elswehere in Arts, we spotlight the artist Robert Zhao Renhui, who will represent Singapore at the 2024 Venice Biennale. Who is he and what does he hope to show at the Singapore Pavilion next year?

In Design, the Red Dot Awards are back, with a collection of award-winning products now on show, which are also available for sale.

In Food & Drink, we get a preview of Brasserie Astoria, the new casual offshoot of Restaurant Zen, and get a taste of Moroccan fare at the new eatery Tajine.

Get all these and more in Friday’s issue of BT.