Gum In Grenades And Burberry Plaid. A Great Idea In Need of Better Branding - Paul Stiven Luxury Chewing Gum.

I love the idea of a luxury chewing gum brand. And there is one. Italian designer and entrepreneur Paul Stiven is the creator and brand name of a Luxury Chewing Gum being touted as an innovative new product in the field of fashion, food, fashion and life-style.

The gum is not about a particular flavor, but about the unusual packaging, which comes wrapped in famous luxury brand and trendy imagery (A Fashion Collection) and packed into hand grenades, bullets and brass knuckles (An Army Collection).




Initially, the Paul Stiven Luxury Chewing Gum gum was packaged in well known luxury branded packaging such as CHANEL, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen and Dolce and Gabbana, as shown below:



However, he must have been violating copyright laws because now the gum is packaged in fashion iconography, patterns and colors reminiscent of and alluding to the famous brand labels.

Paul Stiven Luxury Chewing Gum Fashion Collection

Colored and printed tin boxes with interior mirrors:

above: Padlock (a reference to Hermes)

above: Eye See You (this features a Krink-like dripping Double C Chanel logo)


above: Blanc Neve (or Snow White) is supposed to hint at cocaine

Printed boxes emulating Fendi and Burberry checks and plaids respectively:

above: Plot of Chess

above: Tartan

Printed Flip-top containers:

above: Skulls (originally branded as Alexander McQueen)

above: Camouflage

above: Newspaper

Packaged Sets:



above: Five different packages in Luxury Gift Box - LUBA (feminine version)

above: Five different packages in Luxury Gift Box - LUBO (masculine version)

As part of the Fashion Collection, Stiven also offers miniature "Jane" handbags (a knockoff of a Birkin) filled with gum, made of leather in various colors that comes in an orange box - like its real namesake from Hermes:



And now, what seems like it should be an entirely separate concept/website/brand...

Paul Stiven Luxury Chewing Gum Army Collection


In addition to the Fashion Collection, Stiven has an "Army" collection (Paul has served in the Army). This consists of the MK2 hand grenades of various colors filled with gum, AK 47 bullets and Brass Knuckles, both filled with gum. The hook here, apparently, is that the metal used in casting the grenades and bullets is actually taken from the Military.

MK2 Grenades filled with gum in various colors:


AK 47 Bullets Filled With Gum (expected this year):

Body To Body (brass knuckles packaging expected this year):


Stiven's site, which is like three sites in one, also offers milk and dark chocolate versions of the Birkin handbag on a stick, the Lolliciok, and says he'll soon be offering actual leather handbags, but I'm not even going to address those because they are not relevant to the gum.

The chewing gum comes in one flavor (mint-licorice), but it's the unique packaging that will appeal to fashionable chewers.

Not at all a bad idea, but with their oddly disparate items, a poorly designed e-commerce web site (he also needs to replace all the CGI with actual photos), lousy print ads, and terrible product videos, the product's potential is being hurt by the branding.

Their newest ad campaign (just launched this month in various Italian publications) is attempting to be sexy, but is simply confusing and inconsistent and looks like weird ads for slutty lingerie or sex toys. That may be purposeful, but perhaps premature. It might behoove them to first make it clear what the product is if they wish to introduce it internationally.

Some of the inconsistent and confusing ads for the gum:



And although the gum is sold in their online store (smart), you have to register just to browse (dumb). A few of Paul Stiven's Luxury Chewing Gums are offered online and in New York's Maison 24

If only they'd narrow it down to either the Fashion Collection or the Army Collection and hire a good Creative Director and Brand Strategist, they could be a huge success internationally.

Like I said at the beginning of this post, I love the idea of a luxury gum. But with this one, the branding is hurting the product. If there's ever been a client whose communications I'd like to overhaul, this is it.

www.paulstiven.it

Living Large In The Desert. The Desert Wing House by Kendle Design Collaborative.

The Desert Wing House in Scottsdale, Arizona by the Kendle Design Collaborative is an 8,300 square foot modern residence on a golf course with a copper-clad roof, spectacular swimming pool and large courtyards.

Phillip Lim's Bizarre Ankle Boots Give The Illusion Of Wearing Pumps and Fishnets.

The ‘Francis’ Mesh and Leather Ankle Boot from 3.1 PHILLIP LIM is a black leather ankle boot with a mesh covered nude suede insert. The shoe gives the illusion of fishnet tights and peep toe heel.








Almond toe. Stiletto heel. Exposed zip down back. Leather lined. Cushioned leather insole. 70% Sheep Leather, 30% Polyamide Upper, Leather Sole.

USA:
$625
buy the Francis Ankle Boots here

UK:
£565
buy the 3.1 Phillip Lim Francis Ankle Boots here.

If I Were A Baby, Here's How I'd Like To Roll. The Aston Martin X Silver Cross Surf Carriage.

Launching in April is one special, and pricey (£2000), baby carriage. The Surf Aston Martin Edition Pram, a collaboration between luxury sports car brand Aston Martin and high-end baby brand Silver Cross, will be issued in a strictly limited edition of 800 and sold exclusively through Harrod's.



For generations, Aston Martin and Silver Cross have represented the finest in British design, engineering, craftsmanship and luxury. Each combines a peerless heritage at the very forefront of their field with a commitment to innovation; a determination to uphold the greatest traditions of British engineering excellence in the contemporary age.






Now the legendary sports car marque and the company that invented the modern baby carriage have come together in a unique and unprecedented collaboration. Issued in a strictly limited edition of just 800 pieces, the Silver Cross Surf – Aston Martin Edition is a modern masterpiece. It marries prowess with luxury to create a truly exceptional environment for baby, perfect for parents who insist on giving them the very best from day one.







Each pram will come with its own certificate of authenticity and an engraved brushed chrome plaque to confirm that it is one of a limited edition.

Details:
• Surf – Aston Martin Edition chassis finished in anodised aluminium and magnesium alloy
• Surf – Aston Martin Edition seat unit finished in luxurious Alcantara® and leather
• Surf – Aston Martin Edition carrycot finished in Alcantara®, performance fabric and leather
• Alcantara® harness and buckle protector pads
• Performance fabric hood and apron
• Winter footmuff with windproof performance fabrics
• Sun shade and rain shield
• Folding detachable shopping basket
• Suitable from birth
• L98cm x W58cm x H92-100cm
• Chassis 7.5kg, Body 3.8kg

Price: £2000

The Surf Aston Martin Edition is exclusively available at Harrods (Regrettably, this product is non-exportable.)

Art Nouveau Clovers by Raphael Kirchner In Honor of St. Patrick's Day.

A little art flashback for you in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

Here's a look at the beautiful series of "A Quattre Feuilles" or "Clovers" created in 1899 by Austrian Art Nouveau artist Raphael Kirchner (1876 - August 2, 1917).



Produced in postcard format, like the majority of his work, these were printed as color lithographs (both green and violet versions were produced) with metallic pigment (the hearts and titles are in gold) on card stock.






images courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Some of the used postcards can be found for auction on Ruby Lane or Ebay.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Chairs, Clothes and Objects Made Entirely Of Paper By Vincent Tomczyk.

the above chair is made entirely from paper

Artist Vincent Tomczyk likes working with paper because, in his own words, "my art requires me to be part craftsman and part engineer." His clothing, chairs and other objects crafted from various types of paper and foamcore are hard to discern from the originals because the likenesses are uncannily realistic.

Below are selections from his Versisimilitudes and Virtu Collections:


above: Vincent Tomczyk, Americana, paper jeans, 2011, paper, canvas, silk and nylon thread, 15 x 9 x 11 in.


above: Vincent Tomczyk, Shirt and Tie, 2010, Mulberry and various other papers, 23 x 30 x 4 in.


above: Vincent Tomczyk, William S. Burroughs, Diptych, 2012, printed paper and woven paper, 23 x 14.5 x 1 in.


above: Vincent Tomczyk, Wallet, 2011, Paper, nylon thread, 4 x 3 x 0.5 in. (folded)


above: Vincent Tomczyk, Paper Eames Chair LCW, 2012, Various papers, hand painted, 22 x 23 x 28 in.


above: Vincent Tomczyk, Ubiquitous, 2012, foam core, 22 x 20 x 32 in., Private Collection


above: Vincent Tomczyk, Black Swim Cap, 2011, Painted coated paper, canvas, glass beads, 8 x 10 x 3.5 in.


above: Vincent Tomczyk, Bergère, 2012, Various papers, 26 x 26 x 36 in.

Artist's Statement:

My art centers on objects to stimulate visceral connections. These compositions represent biographies of people, experiences and interpretations of intangible ideas. Although my work can be categorized as realism, my intention is to distill the emotion of an object, then through expression, reconstruct it into my view of its essential self - free of function.

As an artist working primarily with paper, my art requires me to be part craftsman and part engineer. I learned a lot about how to construct things by working at my father’s side, in his workshop. I’m compelled to produce work that is visually poetic by using a medium that defies perceived limitations.

I am currently working on a series of paper chairs. I am interested in how personal chairs can become over time - almost taking on the characteristics of their owners. Chairs provide a sense of dignity - from hand carved stools in Africa, to thrones in Europe. Conversely, chairs are ubiquitously a part of our public and social lives, bringing humanity together in small groups or en masse. - Vincent

Upcoming exhibition:
Gallery 825 / Los Angeles Art Association
Solo Show: Vincent Tomczyk / OVERLOOKED... May 4 - 31, 2013
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 4, 2013, 6-9 PM
825 N La Cienega Blvd Los Angeles CA 90069

Vincent Tomczyk