Brands
Barbie dons the colours of India
MUMBAI: Barbie, from the house of Mattel Toys, has launched an India-exclusive collection of dolls inspired by several cultural aspects of India. The collectibles, from the Colours of India series, will see Barbie in six different avatars, uniquely inspired by six heritage sites across the country.
Colours of India series brings to life several aspects of each iconic monument that inspired the doll-maker to create the collection. With distinct shifts of cultures at every step, each doll in the collection has found a unique muse in the beauty India has to offer. Barbie has seamlessly weaved in elements of iconic Indian heritage destinations into the collection that reflects contemporary designs in traditional wear. Inspiration from each design comes from unique architectural and design elements of monuments in India such as the ‘jharokas’ of Hawa Mahal from the pink city Jaipur, the mystical paintings from Ajanta Caves from Maharashtra, the opulent courtyards of Mysore Palace from Mysuru – the city of Palaces, the grand arches of South Indian heritage palace, Thirumallai Nayakkar Mahal in Madurai, the vibrant colours from Sikkim’s Gompas and the striking sheen of marbles from India’s wonder of the world Taj Mahal. These elements are flawlessly integrated in the dolls’ designs and packaging as well.
Mattel’s head of marketing Lokesh Kataria says, “We, at Mattel, have always encouraged development through creative play and believe that when you play with a doll, you open your mind to endless possibilities. We are elated to launch a collection of Barbie that is so close to home. With this edition, we aim to drive a local connect with our audiences by showcasing the vibrant and diverse Indian culture inspired by iconic sites across the country. Bringing a unique concept of Barbie visiting India, we intend to generate curiosity amongst young girls and inculcate in them the rich treasures of Indian heritage through meaningful play.”
The packaging designs were conceptualised by Design Orb. Speaking on the range,
Design Orb founder director Poornima Burte mentions, “This was a great design opportunity to help little children rediscover our country with Barbie. The Colours of India series firmly roots Barbie in the Indian context. Barbie is curious about India and is on a travel spree to find out more. She is inspired by every place she visits – its unique architecture, motifs and colours, and chooses to style herself in her interpretation of every place she visits. Each pack tells the story of the amazing destinations of India that span the length and breadth of our diverse country. Inspiration for the colours, motifs and architectural styles have been borrowed from the monuments of each destination. Barbie welcomes all her little friends to take this enriching journey of discovery with her.”
The Colours of India will be available at leading retail stores and e-commerce websites. In line with the theme of Barbie traveling across India, the pack also contains a mini DIY kit where girls can make a paper suitcase for the doll.
Mattel Toys has focused its efforts around the core philosophy of play with purpose where each toy developed by the global leader has an intrinsic benefit linked to it. For over 58 years, Barbie has led girls on a path to self-discovery. After over 180 inspirational careers and diverse range of collectibles, Barbie—along with her friends and family—continues to inspire and encourage the next generation of girls that they can be anything.
Brands
Godrej clarifies ‘GI’ identifier after logo similarity debate
Says GI is not a logo, will not replace Godrej signature across products.
MUMBAI: In a branding storm where shapes did the talking, Godrej is now spelling things out. Godrej Industries Group (GIG) has issued a clarification on its newly introduced ‘GI’ identifier, addressing questions around its purpose and design following a wave of online criticism. At the centre of the debate were two concerns: whether the new mark replaces the long-standing Godrej logo, and whether its geometric design mirrors other corporate identities.
The company has drawn a clear line. The Godrej signature logo, it said, remains unchanged and continues to be the sole logo across all consumer-facing products and services. The ‘GI’ mark, by contrast, is not a logo but a corporate group identifier intended for use alongside the Godrej signature or company name, and aimed at stakeholders such as investors, media and talent rather than consumers.
The need for such a distinction stems from the 2024 restructuring of the broader Godrej Group into two separate business entities. With both continuing to operate under the same Godrej name and signature, the identifier is positioned as a way to differentiate the Godrej Industries Group at a corporate level.
The rollout, however, triggered a broader conversation on design originality. Critics pointed to similarities between the GI mark’s geometric composition and logos used by companies globally, raising questions about distinctiveness.
Responding to this, GIG said its intellectual property and legal review found that such overlaps are common in minimalist, geometry-led design systems. Basic forms such as circles and rectangles appear across dozens of brand identities worldwide, the company noted.
It added that the identifier emerged from an extensive design process and was chosen for its simplicity, allowing it to sit alongside the Godrej signature without competing visually. While acknowledging that elemental shapes may appear less distinctive in isolation, the group emphasised that the mark is part of a broader identity system that includes a custom typeface, sonic branding and other proprietary elements.
Following legal and ethical assessments, the company said it found no impediment to using the identifier, reiterating that the GI mark is a corporate tool not a consumer-facing symbol.
In short, the logo isn’t changing but the conversation around it certainly has.
