gomi Barbie speakers repurpose worn Barbie and Ken dolls into limited run marble patterned Bluetooth speakers, power banks, wireless chargers, and item trackers, the Brighton studio said.
How old dolls become new tech
Brighton design studio gomi is asking the public to mail in Barbie and Ken dolls they no longer play with, along with a name and a short memory about playing with the doll, the company said on its website.
gomi melts the collected dolls and mixes the plastic with other waste plastics, then presses the blend into a marble patterned outer shell, the studio said. The pieces are released in monthly, limited batches, and gomi says no two finishes are the same.
Product range and specs
The Childhood Memories Collection includes four products, the company said: a Bluetooth speaker, a 10,000mAh power bank, a 15 watt wireless charger, and a small tracker tag.
gomi lists the speaker at approximately $395 (originally 3,100 HKD). According to gomi, the speaker uses a full range neodymium driver plus a passive bass radiator, offers 32 hours of battery life, supports Bluetooth and AUX input, can be paired for stereo playback, and is rated IPX6 for water resistance.
gomi lists the wireless charger at approximately $65 (originally 510 HKD), with 15 watt fast charging and smart thermal control, the studio said. The power bank is 10,000mAh and includes USB A and USB C fast charging. The tracker tag is listed without full technical details on gomi’s product page.
Materials, construction, and repair policy
gomi says the speaker and power bank use recycled electric bike batteries and that the products are assembled with screws rather than glue so parts can be replaced. The speaker back panel and buttons are aluminum alloy, the studio said.
gomi offers lifetime repair and a two year free repair or replacement policy for defects, the company said. gomi also intends to run trade in and upgrade programs so parts circulate into future products instead of going to landfill.
Design history and brand partnerships
gomi was founded by Tom Meades after he graduated from the University of Brighton 3D design program in 2017, the studio said. The company name is taken from the Japanese word for garbage.
gomi first gained attention by crowdfunding Bluetooth speakers made from recycled plastic shopping bags, saying each speaker used about 100 recycled bags. The studio won the Ro Plastic Prize at Milan Design Week in 2021 and has since collaborated with brands including Heineken and Paul Smith, gomi said.
Why this collaboration matters
Unlike many brand collaborations that use only color and logos, gomi says it has physically turned Barbie dolls into material for the collection. Mattel formally licensed the project and gomi’s product pages display a ©2026 Mattel notice, the studio said.
gomi emphasizes that Barbie plastic is only part of the recycled mix; the studio says the claim of a 100 percent recycled plastic shell refers to the proportion of recycled material overall, not to the share of Barbie material alone. The company sells the collection only through its website, and shipping outside the United Kingdom is not yet specified.
Availability and pricing strategy
The collection is released in monthly limited editions determined by the recycled material available, gomi’s website says. The studio notes every piece is unique, and the speaker’s first batch is sold out on the site.
At approximately $395 (originally 3,100 HKD), the speaker is priced above many mainstream Bluetooth speakers of similar class, gomi said, reflecting hand finishing and a sustainability premium. The studio frames the supply variability as part of the appeal, while acknowledging that buyers who want a particular marble pattern may not find an identical item later.
Photos and credits
Photos in this story are from gomi, as published by designboom and Yanko Design, according to gomi’s press notes and the studio’s website. Mattel formally authorized the gomi by Barbie products, gomi’s product pages show.
For product details and to send dolls, gomi’s website has submission instructions and terms for contributors, including an incentive discount code for early donors, the studio says.
