Gaga Goes Gaga for Girl's Fashion Toy Harumika

Lady Gaga on the Graham Norton Show, Images courtesy of BBC.

May 20, 2011 - Lady Gaga's world domination continues and now her influence has spread into the toy world as a girl's fashion design activity range is experiencing rocketing sales after replicating Gaga's outfits.

In what has been dubbed the "Gaga effect" toy maker Bandai have seen sales of Harumika rise 450% in the first quarter against the same period last year.

Plus, this week Gaga herself took the original Gaga Harumika mannequins home with her to the US.

The Lady Gaga inspired Harumika outfits were originally created in January by a top fashion designer from London College of Fashion and showcased at toy trade show London Toy Fair.

Since then Gaga's mini monsters have been flocking to re-create the icon's looks on Harumika with a tutorial YouTube video showing how to make Gaga's meat dress for the mannequins receiving over 38,000 hits to date.

Last week, the Gaga mannequins including the infamous meat dress, the Alexander McQueen red lace dress and crown, the see-through plastic dress and Philip Treacy Lobster hat, and Thierry Mugler black and gold origami dress were shown to the superstar herself during her fleeting UK visit. The designer, Anna Chong, was invited to meet Lady Gaga with the Harumika designs shown live on air on the Graham Norton Show.

Vicki Elmer, girls' product manager for Bandai, comments: "The response to Harumika this year has been fantastic and the popularity of Gaga's iconic outfits such as the meat dress has captured the imagination of girls and fashionistas across the country wishing to replicate her looks. Now that Lady Gaga herself has taken a set of Harumika home with her we expect to see sales improve even further and look forward to seeing the product go from strength to strength throughout the year."

About Harumika:
Harumika allows children to design, create and recreate endless outfits using the included mannequins without the need for scissors, glue or sewing. It works by using a special strip located on the back of the mannequin, by layering, folding and customising fabrics. Harumika sets include Harumika Style Accents - Jewel Tone (See all Dress Up Games & Pretend Play), Super Style Accents, Style Starter Sets, Harumika Designer Dress form Sets - Paris, France , Harumika Fashion Show and Go Sets - Party Scene , Style Studio Portfolio, Harumika Runway Showstopper Set and the new Lucia Mannequin.

The Harumika Bridal Collection is available now from Toys R Us and allows children to get creative and design their own wedding dresses. Harumika is tipped to be a must-have toy in 2011 as experts predict a return to traditional value-for-money, craft-making toys that encourages children to use their imagination.

Harumika starts at £6.99 - £34.99 and is available now from Argos, Toys R Us, The Entertainer, Smyths, Toymaster, John Lewis, Amazon and other good toys stores. www.harumika.eu

Related News:
Fashion Designer Creates Kate Middleton's Prediction of the Wedding Dress for Mini Mannequinns

April 26 2011 - [London] - Kate Middleton's style is creating a fashion fever across the nation as the Royal Wedding is drawing nearer.

Over half (66%) of British women think that girls will start emulating Kate Middleton's style and two fifths (40%) have voted Kate as a style icon. Kate's fashion influence has even inspired a new project, carried out by an up-and-coming graduate from the renowned London College of Fashion, creating mini replicas of her outfits.

The designer, Chloe Bayly 24, has created the range of Kate Middleton inspired outfits, including her prediction of what Kate's wedding dress will look like, using Harumika, a fun and easy to use creative toy that combines art and craft with fashion...read more