Despite it appearing that Bang Olufsen have shaken off their tatty moneygrabbing approach by terminating the BeoPlay line outside headphones, and releasing genuinely interesting pieces of design like the BeoSound Level and Edge, we still see the same hackneyed "limited editions" peeking through. Maybe whomever was responsible for the past 10 years of dismal choices still works at B&O, and has enough clout to push through these embarrassing releases.
The latest release really takes us back, in a bad way, to when the only thing B&O were producing was new "limited editions". These limited editions follow a simple format: Take product, change colour, add logo of other brand, release with increased price and say limited edition". This time the offending partner is CLOT. The Hong Kong based fashion brand has partnered with numerous brands, inclduing Nike, Medicom Toy and sacai. However collaborations with those brands saw more than merely a different colour.
Bang Olufsen's press releases are predictably effusive, saying of the collab:
"With a shared passion for modern craftsmanship and premium materials, B&O and CLOT are celebrating the blend of two cultures with a new take on iconic design.
Like the rhythm of a heartbeat, music allows listeners to discover new experiences, encounter new feelings, and connect with other heartbeats in unison. From these shared connections, a common culture arises as art, knowledge and music evolve. As a result, the aluminium grill surface of Beosound A1 is tinted in a bright metallic red to resemble a blood cell that carries the essentials for culture creation as it channels music to our ears."
The price of obtaining this is £59 more than the standard model, and with nothing other than it being red and having CLOT's logo slapped on the front. If that's your thing, and you really, really can't do without a red version, good for you. For our money the £200 standard version is more appealing.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment