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KAZbrella @ NY Now
The KAZbrella, the only umbrella in the world that turns its frame completely inside out, made its debut appearance in the USA at NY Now, 12th August-15th August, 2018. NY Now is an exciting bi-annual exhibition, based in New York City, which showcases innovative designs, wholesale gifts and home-ware.
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Adam Glassman, Creative Director of 'O, The Oprah Magazine' commented:
'As a hunter of all new things, all fabulous things that we feature in O Magazine, NY NOW is essential. Literally, this is the Superbowl of ALL shows!' |
KAZbrella was very well received and gained a lot of attention from passing buyers, shop owners and distributors. Many people were amazed to see the KAZbrella in action. It made people stop at the stand to gather more information about the way it works, the brand identity, the patents held for the design and how it performs in wind. They were suitably impressed!
Jenan received many compliments about his remarkable engineering and Wendy’s bespoke canopy designs were admired. Wendy’s new Limited Edition designs, Maze and Harlequin were launched at the show and are available to buy now on our website, retailing at £49.
KAZbrella - right on trend this Christmas season
Why not be different and try things the other way? Flip it on its head, make it stand out!
Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel has designed the incredible upside-down Christmas tree, which sits as the centre piece of the lobby in Claridges, London. It is making a huge impact!
This trend has been used by shopping centres, hotels, art galleries and by people in their own homes.
When opening or closing the KAZbrella, it adopts the same shape as the inverted Christmas tree, making something conventional, unconventional.
For further information and to see some exciting images of this unique trend, please visit these articles on the following websites:
KAZbrella x Wendy Limited Edition Prints
Introducing to you KAZbrella’s limited edition prints, Jazz and Kaleidoscope designed by Textile Designer, Wendy Kazim. Vibrant bespoke designs stretching over the unique, patented frame of the KAZbrella, the only one in the world which is fully reversible.
JAZZ
Jazz design is reflective of the sharp notes of Jazz music, hot oranges spiced with mellow purple and vivid green.
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope design denotes interlocking patterns, rotating wheels of maroon, blue and an edging of white.
Wendy has always been interested in geometric forms since completing her degree in Printed Textile Design. She has sold her designs to the likes of John Lewis and Libertys of London. As a husband and wife team, Jenan with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and Wendy in Textile Design, they bring together the perfect balance of engineering, innovation and aesthetics.
Our Creative director, Riann Kazim is also involved in all aspects of the KAZbrella’s aesthetics.
Jazz and Kaleidoscope are
AVAILABLE NOW
£49
Copy Cats Are Killing Creativity
Through the platform of crowdfunding sites, more and more amazing innovative products are being introduced to the world. Years of hard work designing, modifying, creating prototypes and manufacturing have resulted in products which can enhance or even change our lives.
Unfortunately, when an idea is introduced to the world there are always some unscrupulous individuals or a company who seizes the concept and produces inferior products before the crowdfunded company has had time to get their product mass produced.
This has happened to us, Kaz Designs Limited, the inventors of the KAZbrella. This is the only patented reverse folding umbrella in the world which when closed keeps the wet side in leaving the dry side to hold. Jenan Kazim, an aeronautical engineer, has spent years perfecting his design and invested everything to introduce to the world a drip free umbrella where the whole frame reverses and then tensions to give the look of a conventional umbrella.
He says, “My heart sinks every time I see a copy of the KAZbrella. I gave up a prestigious job as an Offshore engineer to pursue the design and manufacture of the KAZbrella and bring my invention to the market. The concept of a drip free, truly reversible frame is something that people have tried to achieve since 1904”.
Jenan has reviewed more than 8000 patent applications and realised that the umbrella had to be completely redesigned. We have put our heart and soul into the KAZbrella and even given it our name - the KAZ comes from our surname Kazim and we are truly a family business.
We are so passionate about it that we talk endlessly about our business; what we have achieved to where we hope to be in the future. It is an obsession. It has taken so much time, effort, personal finance and sleepless nights to get where we are and it's sickening and heartbreaking when we see cheap copies being called KAZbrellas. The imitations are made from flimsy conventional frames and only mimick the way in which the KAZbrella works. Using the name KAZbrella, the copies are available to buy on worldwide online market sites, even though we have written to them to tell them they are selling fakes and often at inflated prices.
KAZbrella was first seen on Kickstarter in 2015. Our target was exceeded ten times over and gained support and interest all over the world. However, it also planted a seed into the minds of fraudsters, as a way to make money on the back of someone else’s hard work, drive, dedication and expense. The KAZbrella has been voted as one of the top 20 innovative products by Gizmodo and its design has won the prestigious Spin Off Award for outstanding performance in technology commercialisation.
Taking a cheap conventional frame, the fraudsters were able to disguise the mechanism under a lower canopy, which does not work in the same way as the patented KAZbrella. They are fooling customers into buying something that is not the genuine article. They even use our trademarked name, KAZbrella and use our promotional material, including our videos to deceive the public into believing they are purchasing our quality, branded umbrella.
Every unique component of the KAZbrella has been designed by us in the UK and our videos have had over 30 million views over different platforms.
The KAZbrella performs exceptionally in strong wind. In the unlikely event of the canopy flipping inside out, with a press of the patented button, it comes back to its original open shape. It is the only umbrella in the world which can do that. The imitations would just snap and break.
We were not the only ones who have been mimicked. We have seen cheap, inferior copies of other products introduced on Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sites. Businesses like ours are dismayed and appalled at how the general public are being deceived by these copycats and how it is killing our enterprise before it has begun.
KAZbrella can be bought through our website www.kazbrella.com and selected retailers.
If your design has been hijacked, do get in touch and tell us your story at info@kazdesigns.co.uk
KAZbrella in the Evening Standard
Let’s take a rain check: here's what you need to survive London's rainy days
The ultimate umbrella
An umbrella will keep you dry, but the same might not be said for your desk or floor. KAZbrella (£45) solves this by turning the umbrella inside out. The wet side of the canopy is contained on the inside when closed so it’s dry to handle once you’re inside, can be placed on surfaces without getting them wet and is less likely to stay wet, minimising any damp smells. It also opens vertically and up over your head so you can save those awkward eye-poking incidents when coming out of the Tube.
Check out the rest of the article at:
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/heres-what-you-need-to-survive-londons-rainy-days-a3662986.html
KAZbrella x Design Junction
KAZ Designs showcased its unique innovation and design in its first ever exhibition as part of London Design Festival. Celebrating design and creativity from exhibitors from all around the world, we at KAZ Designs were ecstatic to be part of such an amazing event.
KAZ Designs was located in the canopy right next to Central Saint Martins which was a perfect setting for us! Within the canopy area was a selection of premium retail brands and emerging design labels selling everything from high-end fashion accessories to cutting-edge technology, ceramics, glassware, stationery and more.
THE KAZBRELLA STALL
The stall was a team effort with Tom designing and creating all the graphics as well as building wooden rails. It then took a steady hand and a lot of attention to detail by Wendy. We weren't sure what to expect but the end result was better than we imagined.
Then the public arrived.
Then the public arrived.
Jenan doing a demonstration!
It rained on the Thursday of the festival which was great for us! We had partnered with Design Junction so we helped the team stay dry with our very own branded umbrellas!
It was an exhausting few days but the reception we received and the people we met were absolutely amazing. It was a pleasure to be surrounded by so much creativity.
Thank you Design Junction!!
We had an absolute blast and we will definitely be back.
Thank you Design Junction!!
We had an absolute blast and we will definitely be back.
It's Official KAZbrella Will Be At Design Junction!
We at KAZbrella are excited to announce we will be showing at the Design Junction from the 21st- 24th September in London, Kings Cross!
The Design Junction is part of the London Design Festival 2017 which is celebrating and promoting London as the design capital of the world! With more than 200 other cutting edge design brands, product launches and installations. You will be able to participate in creative workshops as well as join in with discussions and debates at the new Talks Programme. With engaging topical issues based around this years theme 'Where Design Meets'.
You can even enjoy a spot of retail therapy; The KAZbrella will be in the West Canopy at stall 29!
Book your tickets to come see us at https://thedesignjunction.co.uk/registration/
#wheredesignmeets #architecture #interiordesign #furniture #lighting #design #djKX #LDF17
Opening and Closing your KAZbrella
Check out our demonstration video of the best way to open and close your KAZbrella!