IDC 2014 has just finished a week ago so I asked Mario and Gianni from Magia 2000 to answer a few questions about this amazing convention and their work.
1. Now that IDC 2014 has finished, tell me how was the feedback from the collectors regarding this year’s event?
The 2014 event was a huge success and we are so overwhelmed by positive feedbacks and love from collectors. We really appreciate how people reacted to all the efforts we did to customize this event much more this year than ever. The theme was very attractive and fascinating and brought collectors to take part to each and every single activities, like Fashion show, ooak competition like never before. We have confirmed the hotel was the perfect venue for Idc, classy and elegant but with wide room and extremely nice to details and it was great to be there once again. It was an incredible weekend with collectors from all over the world and I’m so happy the flight strikes didn’t compromise the events. I want to thank every conventioneers who really fought to be there despite of any transportation problem, we had fun!
2. I can’t believe this was the 4th year of IDC. How did the convention evolve from the first to this year?
Yes, we can’t believe it too, as I started dreaming of this convention as a National event , only for less than a hundred Italians and it became so popular all over the doll community in the world and in only few years. Of course I must thank all the big companies, as Mattel and Superfrock and many other ooak artists, who really invested in my project to make it real and possible. Through the years, I invited different persons in the committee and helpers to have more support or feedbacks and it was incredible how, despite the in & out of committee, we could keep the original passion for this event. It’s not an easy task to welcome 250 persons, as we were this year and with so many different expectations, but we believe this is the best way to make people have fun and feel welcome in Italy. There is lot of work behind the scene, drama and difficulties which we faced as usual, with passion and trying to smile! I and Gianni work with Mattel Italy as designers and graphic free lance, so that was the biggest connection which help the event with sponsorship and more, and then we are in this business and hobby from over 15 years and we strongly involved all our friends, as Marl Davidson, as sponsor or any other convention we usually attend. It’s a great way to make the community alive and united. Then Marinella was in charge of Salesroom and competition, as she is very well known in this and welcomed all dealers and artists as usual.
3. I know IDC goes foodie is next year’s theme. Tell me more about what you are planning for 2015. I know most of it is a secret, but maybe a few details.
2015 is the year of the Worldwide EXPO in Milan, and it will begin on 1st May 2015, so few days before the IDC, which will take place always at Melia Hotel on 16th and 17th May too. The Expo is one of the biggest event in world, with over 140 countries coming to expose their products and next year’s Expo theme is about nutrition and food. Italian cuisine is worldwide renowned as the best and so we chose to celebrate this connection. We mean to discover the connection between dolls and the food, so we are expecting to have tons of dolls dressed like food, vegetables and see dolls in the kitchen, we are still working on the whole project but we are sure the collectors have more imagination than ever, especially when the theme is not that obvious, you get the most incredible result.
4. I’ve seen a lot of articles in the Italian traditional media about your event. How do non-collectors react to IDC?
Yes, this year we had an incredible reaction from Media, tv, radio and magazine spread the Barbie and doll passion to non-collectors and I have to tell this was super positive. I believe that dolls can open every hearts, because they connect you to your childhood and make you think about it. Of course, the first reaction is incredibly shocking, but as soon as they are involved in the convention atmosphere they are totally overwhelmed. This happens to the charity association too, which are really unaware of anything about the doll community and then, after the convention are really fascinated by this funny and pink world. 5- Well, every Barbie collector waits for the Barbie US National convention every year and of course we are flying to Nashville in less than 6 weeks, so you can imagine this was part of the original ideas we had for that big event. This year we are celebrating 15 years of hobby and doll designing career, so we want to focus our attention to what made us famous in the collectors world, what is the Magia 2000 DNA, elegance, quality, sparkling glamour and of course pink! The year started with the exhibition at the Musee de la Poupee in Paris (still in exhibition until 13 September) which brought us on a different level of inspiration so we are now working hard to follow that couture feeling more than ever. We are in a very positive moment and we are probably more inspired to colors, flowers and all the bling bling outfits!
5. You are not only organizers but you also have a table in the sales room where you display your amazing creations. What dolls did you bring to IDC this year? Tell me more about your favorite ones.
Well, every Barbie collector waits for the Barbie US National convention every year and of course we are flying to Nashville in less than 6 weeks, so you can imagine this was part of the original ideas we had for that big event. This year we are celebrating 15 years of hobby and doll designing career, so we want to focus our attention to what made us famous in the collectors world, what is the Magia 2000 DNA, elegance, quality, sparkling glamour and of course pink! The year started with the exhibition at the Musee de la Poupee in Paris (still in exhibition until 13 September) which brought us on a different level of inspiration so we are now working hard to follow that couture feeling more than ever. We are in a very positive moment and we are probably more inspired to colors, flowers and all the bling bling outfits!
6. Last but not least, a shout out to all the international collectors that follow your convention.
The Italian Doll Convention is a state of mind….yes, we are here to have fun and i know from collectors you won’t regret coming to visit our beautiful country, Milan is always charming and full of great place to visit and the EXPO will be right there, only few metro stops from the hotel. Registrations will start on September 1st and you can easily have more info on the official website
www.italiandollconvention.it. So if you never thought about Milan, this will be your year to come and visit the Expo, the city and last but not least…have dolly-fun!
Don’t you think?
