If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives)

Funky Find Of The Week: Porcelain Airsickness Bag Vases

Disposal Series

Air-sickness bags were the inspiration for a series of vases and dishes designed by Hedwig Rotter of Vienna for Mano Designs.

The silk-screens are old designs of asian airlines, india airlines and thai airlines.
This project is part of a continuous work themed material 'transformations'.
Each piece tells a story allowing different associations - a humorous look at a common object.
And yes, they are available for purchase. (see link below).

Material: porcelain, screenprint
Dimension (H/W/D): big vase: 19 cm x 10,5 cm x 8 cm, small vase: 13 cm x 14 cm x 7 cm, bowl: 27,5 cm x 10 cm x 6,5 cm
Weight: big vase: 850 g, small vase: 520 g, bowl: 500 g

Buy them here (under accessories)

My 15 Minutes of Fame

Above: the photo by Jay Clendening, accompanying the article in the LA Times

In todays' Los Angeles Times, reporter Alana Semuels did a story on social shopping networks for which I was interviewed. Imagine my pleasant surprise at the color 5" x 7" photo of myself (and my dog, Indie) accompanying the article, smack on the back page of the business section!

Here is the article:

By Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 24, 2007

Laura Sweet may be the Internet's Oprah Winfrey -- for objects shaped like guns, that is.

Just as millions look to the billionaire talk show host for tips on books, health and beauty, hundreds turn to Sweet's "gun-shaped stuff" page on www.thisnext.com for hair dryers, television remotes and vases with the contours of firearms.

Sweet, who trolls the Internet every day for cool and wacky things that might be worth acquiring, has recommended 1,590 products on the Los Angeles-based website. "It has kind of pointed me out as a design maven," the 42-year-old Beverly Hills resident said as the holiday gift-buying season entered its final days.

So-called social shopping websites like ThisNext are uniting people the world over through their love of conspicuous consumption. By mentioning a product, a self-appointed authority can convert it from unknown junk to a must-have in moments. That's made superstars like Sweet popular with manufacturers trying to spread the word about their products.

So far, ThisNext has recorded more than 155,000 clicks on items based on Sweet's recommendations alone.

On Kaboodle, another social shopping site, members can check out recommendations from "featured Kaboodlers," who have lists of things they want, including "things for my cat" and "accessories and jewelry." The site had 4 million unique visitors in November, up from 1 million in June, and has sold ad space to major brands such as Crest and Visa.

"We're drawing on the wisdom of the crowds," said Manish Chandra, Kaboodle's founder and chief executive.

The crowds have eclectic tastes. Among the products made popular by online advocates: Walkie Bits, which are little turtles that move across tabletops; a faucet that changes colors based on the temperature of the water coming out of it; and a $50 watch that says NOW on its face instead of giving the time.

Morgan Bennett, creator of the watch, said sales spiked after the public relations director of ThisNext persuaded him to post the watch on the site. It hadn't been advertised anywhere else.

"One guy picked it, and then boom, some guy from Norway was looking at it," Bennett said. "Now they're pretty much sold out."

Although the sites provide links to places online where shoppers can buy the products listed, many members use them for getting ideas rather than shopping. When they intend to buy something, nearly 70% of U.S. consumers start their online shopping at a specific merchant's website, and only 0.08% start at Kaboodle, according to research firm EMarketer Inc.

For those who post on such sites, the lure of being known by peers as a person of impeccable taste is irresistible. Emily Boss, a member of ThisNext, said it's an ego boost when people e-mail you to compliment you on your fashion sense or mark your review as funny. She's part of the new ThisNext Maven program, selected by the company's staff as one of the site's more prominent tastemakers.

"There's definitely a feeling of being influential in a community that has a celebrity aspect to it," she said.

The sites have even made shopping celebrities out of fictional characters. Lizzie Nichols, a character in a series of novels by Meg Cabot, has a ThisNext fashion-and-beauty-favorites list, which includes underwear and fake eyelashes. (Fake shoppers, apparently, need fake eyelashes.)

Cabot's own list doesn't tell people to buy her book, but she is one of many people on the sites who have products for sale. Boss, the ThisNext Maven, works for an e-commerce company and sometimes recommends things her company sells.

Indeed, it can be difficult to tell whether an expert who suggests a purchase has a special interest in promoting it. Most of the websites try to block companies from posting -- rather than advertising -- their products.

But such companies as L.A.-based Marketingworks, which sells word-of-mouth marketing services, sends its "brand ambassadors" to various websites, including social shopping sites, where they set up profiles and talk about products the company is promoting.

Brand ambassadors "don't just go in there and converse," said Marketingworks Chief Executive Chas Salmore, "they have a loose, structured script to use to talk about the value of a particular promotion."

For Classic Media's "The Original Christmas Classics DVD Box Set," for instance, brand ambassadors were told it might be effective to say something along the lines of: "What's your favorite Christmas Classic? A lot of people really love 'The Little Drummer Boy.' 7 Christmas Classics are together in one DVD Set called 'The Original Christmas Classics.' I have the inside scoop because I work for them."

Salmore said the company wasn't spamming, but rather providing useful tips and inside information about things like upcoming sales and sweepstakes.

Many members and recommenders on social shopping sites say they don't care if someone has a vested interest in a product as long as he or she is honest about ties with the company.

As a popular recommender on ThisNext, Sweet gets lots of offers of swag and has accepted a free gift from a company she later reviewed. But she said her word-of-mouth couldn't be bought.

"I'm very particular about what I post," she said. "I'm not shilling for anyone. I'm just talking about things I like and admire."

alana.semuels@latimes.com

And congrats to Matt Condron, David Buckingham and Thisnext!!!

Since this nice little bit of press, I've been fortunate enough to receive some more wonderful mentions. For more recent press or an If It's Hip, It's Here press kit, please contact me.

Thanks so much!

Ego Lifestyle's New Galaxy Collection. Another Addition To the Luxury Notebook Line

Mention luxury and laptop and most people think Tulip's Ego Lifestyle Notebooks. As they should. Portable laptops with built-in chrome handles covered in exotic skins and lacquers, as well as studded with diamonds. But now, they've come out with yet another luxe edition, the Swarovski crystal-studded Galaxy Collection.

As their own press release reads:
"Glitter and Glamour. The Ego-Galaxy collection has a glittering appearance as it is embedded with hundreds of Swarovski crystals. The leather on the skins originates from Italy and has been treated with a special laser technique, resulting in a unique decorative pattern. The Ego-Galaxy collection contains four samples: orphine (set with transparent-, opal- and champagne-coloured Swarovski crystals), cosmos (with green-, purple- and emerald-tinted Swarovski crystals), celestial (with the spring colours of 2008, yellow-, opal- and sea green-coloured Swarovski crystals) and aura (white and purple tinted cow skin, with deep purple coloured Swarovski crystals)."

Above: One of the new Swarovski-studded paisley leather Galaxy Collection notebooks by Tulip Ego. Sold exclusively through www.ego-lifestyle.com

About us (in their own words)
The company, established in 2003, is engaged in the design, production, distribution and marketing of luxury lifestyle products. To that end, Ego Lifestyle works closely together with leading international companies and organisations in the fashion, luxury and lifestyle sectors.

We came up with a totally simple idea a few years ago: a notebook that you can carry like a bag. The idea was transformed into a full-scale and unique project and after years of research and development we are proud to present 'ego': the world's most luxurious notebook and portable dvd player in one.

Cornerstones
The Ego brand has been built around three main cornerstones, (1) Easy Going (easiness of use), (2) Luxury and Design and (3) Mobility. These cornerstones form the basic elements around which each Ego product is build.

Focusing on optimal user experience, Ego concentrates on keeping close control on all of its activities. Therefore, each Ego is handmade in their own European Ego ateliers from the finest handpicked and superior quality materials.

Heritage
Ego has strong roots in development and marketing of electronic technology. Ego Lifestyle B.V. originated from Tulip Distribution and International Holding that was entitled to the exclusive rights of the Tulip brand from Tulip N.V., Europe’s leading computer manufacturer in the 70’s. Tulip N.V. still holds the first European license of Microsoft Corporation.

Building on this past technology know how, Ego started developing independent activities in 2002. Founded by Huub van den Boogaard, the Ego concept engendered immense press attention from all over the globe as turning the market around.

Completely breaking with traditional design and use of computers, Ego became the first to integrate luxury materials and groundbreaking design into highly functional handmade luxury electronics.

Each Ego is a unique handmade lifestyle piece of electronic jewellery equipped with the latest proven technology.

Handmade
Every ego is manufactured at our high-quality atelier using dedicated craftsmanship to make sure that every ego is unique and features unsurpassed excellent product quality and finishing. Completely personalised to match your desires, it could be your ego.

Changeable skins
The notebook's changeable skins mean you can always make it match your successful contemporary lifestyle by simply changing the outer skin using the clever locking mechanism. The skins are available separately in leather or with a lacquer finish.

Our design team selects only the finest quality materials to ensure every ego meets the highest standards of excellence.

Truly personal
The current world of mass production triggers the desire for exclusivity and personalisation. Ego enables fulfilment of this desire by offering a large selection of choices in finishing, artwork, fabrics and the finest quality leather. Unique, because every ego is handmade at our own high-quality atelier.

Ego Lifestyle B.V. is located in an historical building in Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.

Above: their least expensive cover.

Above: a special diamond studded cover that sold for $30,000.

Below are just some of their exotic skins and leathers (click on pic to enlarge):

Diamond and Platinum Collection

Ego Diamond & Ego Platinum, a remarkable lifestyle piece of electronic jewellery equipped with the latest proven technology.

The skins of the Ego Diamond & Ego Platinum are made of superior quality leathers. Ego features a broad selection of leathers that can be selected to create the ultimate personal luxury experience. All skins are set with gold ornaments set with sparkling diamonds.

Based on the Ego Signature, the Ego Diamond and Ego Platinum provide you with the ultimate personal experience. Like an haute jewellery piece, both the Ego Diamond and Ego Platinum can be tailor made to your specific desires. Use of materials like 18 carat white gold, polished platinum, and Top Wesselton V.V.S. 1 quality diamonds make the Ego Diamond and Ego Platinum articulate luxury statements.

Truly unique, as the skins can be encrusted with a gold or platinum logo, letter or initial set with diamonds. The Ego Diamond carries your personal signature on the inside on the spacebar.

Limited Editions

Monique Colligon

An exclusive fusion of unique fashionable design and ultimate functionality.
Ego MC, when haute couture meets technology.

Following its roots, Ego joined forces with famous Dutch Couturier Monique Collignon to establish the ultimate link to fashion. This cooperation resulted in the Ego MC, a completely personalised electronic fashion statement.

With outer skins specially designed by Monique Collignon with the Collignon logo embossed in four different colours and leathers, the signature of Monique Collignon on the keyboard, the special limited edition number and name engraved in two 18 carat white gold ornaments and the personalised handwritten card by Monique, the Ego MC is a fusion between haute couture and luxury electronics.

Jan des Bouvrie
Ego by Jan, the premium luxury notebook designed to embody your expressive style.
A fusion of two revolutionary brand synergised into a unique cooperation ego by jan.
Dedicated attention has been given by jan des bouvrie to add functional design to the already revolutionary design of the ego notebook.

Special handpainted/ airbrushed and signed Spiderman edition by artist Andy Davis:

Please visit their site for technical specs and additional information.

Buy any of the above ego notebooks here.

Update: Their newest Ego for Bentley:

available in various colored leathers, learn more here.

And then you've got to check out their hip versions with sayings and more here.

Ego Lifestyle B.V.
Parade 15
5211 KL 's-Hertogenbosch
The Netherlands
T +31 (0)73 692 95 00
F +31 (0)73 692 95 09
E question@ego-lifestyle.com

Kudos To Some of My Fave Artists: Karin Jurick, David Buckingham & Scott Rench

Karin Jurick
Congratulations to my dear friend and talented painter, Karin Jurick on her being chosen as a finalist in the competition for "People & Figures" by International Artist Magazine Competition! Her painting "Strictly Pedestrian" was chosen as one of the featured pieces in the Dec/Jan issue.

Above: Karin Juricks' Strictly Pedestrian Visit Karin's site here.

David Buckingham Congratulations to another good friend and talented metal artist, David Buckingham of Buckingham Studio, Los Angeles. Some of his fabulous wall-mounted 3D soldered metal letter art was commissioned for the masthead of William Safire's column in today's New York Times Magazine !

Above: screen grab from NY Times Magazine online

Of course, the online version screws up the colors, but in the actual magazine they look great and more like the original seen here:

Visit David's site here.

Scott Rench One of my favorite multi-talented artists is Scott Rench whose work finds it's way into and onto some of the most interesting shows and collaborations. Right now he has many pieces in the fabulous Fragiles Porcelain show at Design Miami as well as a T-Shirt for sale at the ultra hip Threadless and he has even created one of the now sold out everywhere limited edition bottles of Bong Spirit Vodka.