Shopping bag (nylon)
Founded in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain, Longchamp is a French luxury leather goods company, mostly known for its iconic Le Pliage bag.
Chair (cardboard)
Designed in 1972 by architect Frank Gehry as part of the Easy Edges furniture series, the Wiggle Side Chair is the most iconic cardboard chair.
Armchair (wire)
Designed in 1966 by Warren Platner and originally introduced by Knoll International, the Platner wire series are icons of modern furniture.
Reflector lamp
Designed in 1962 by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the famous Taccia lamp is the most iconic table lamp for indirect lighting.
Jacket (varsity)
Founded in 1920 by William Peter Dehen, Dehen Knitting Company is a manufacturer of classic heavyweight college apparel.
Iconic Objects – The Book
Anyone can make a gratuitous list of 50 iconic objects. Or curate a subjective list of 100 pretty things. These lists will all include usual suspects such as the Porsche 911 and the Barbour waxed jacket.
This thing called iconic
An iconic object is something extremely successful and admired. It is coveted by everybody, the flagship model. However, it can also be a representative of an object category.
How it all began
Pick me up a blender on your way back from work, my girlfriend asked me. And there I stood, in a heavily lit kitchen appliance shop in front of fifteen neatly polished blenders.
On (good) taste
It’s human nature to judge, evaluate and express a preference. Criticism is one of man’s basic survival instincts: he simply wants to avoid things that are not good for him.
Bicycle (kid’s)
Introduced in 1969 by the Raleigh Bicycle Company of Nottingham, England, the Raleigh Chopper is the most iconic children’s bicycle.
Shirt (white)
Founded in 1957 by Luigi Borrelli, Luigi Borrelli is an Italian menswear brand from Naples, Italy, mostly known for its luxurious shirts.
Golf shoes
Founded in 1857 as the Furt and Packard Shoe Company and soon thereafter named Field and Flint Company, FootJoy is the number one seller of golf shoes and gloves in the United States.
Espresso machine (domestic)
Founded in 1976 by Carlo Ernesto Valente as a restart of the Faema company, Vibiemme is a manufacturer of espresso machines, best known for its appliances for domestic use.
Shirt (Hawaiian)
Founded in 1956 by Reyn McCullough as Reyns Men’s wear, Reyn Spooner is a fashion company, mostly known for its iconic Hawaiian shirts.
Tricycle
Founded in 1932 by blacksmith Anders Winther, Winther is a manufacturer of quality bikes for kids and adults, mostly known for its iconic model 405 tricycle.
Boots (work)
Founded in 1905 by Charles Beckman, Red Wing is an American footwear company based in Red Wing, Minnesota.
Physicians bag
Founded in 1952 by Jan Mutsaers, Mutsaers is a manufacturer of handmade leather goods, best known for its iconic physicians bag.
Bodylotion
Founded in 1851 by John Kiehl as a homeopathic pharmacy, Kiehl’s today is a cosmetics brand specialized in skin and hair care products.
Cookware (carbon steel)
Founded in 1851 by Hendrik Berk as Berk Kampen, BK Cookware is the manufacturer of the most iconic carbon steel pans.
Pen (rollerball)
Founded in 1949 as the Japan Stationery Co., Pentel is a privately held Japanese manufacturer of stationery products, credited for inventing the world’s first felt-tipped pen.
Credit card
Founded in 1850 as an express mail business in Buffalo, the American Express Company is a multinational financial services corporation, best known for its credit cards.
Doll
Founded in 1945 by Harold Matson and Elliot Handler as a dollhouse furniture company, Mattel is the manufacturer of the original Barbie fashion doll.
Car (rally)
First launched in 1994 and developed especially for competitive sport, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi is one of the most successful rally cars ever.
Women’s shoes (T-strap)
Founded in 1960 by Valentino Garavani on Via Condotti in Rome, Valentino today is a world renowned fashion house.
Mascara
The history of mascara goes back to the down of modern human civilization. Ever since Ancient Egypt, people want to make their eyes and eyelashes more beautiful
Jacket (forestière)
Founded in 1933 by Jankel Grimbert, Arnys is one of the most exclusive gentlemen’s outfitters, located on 14 Rue de Sèvres in the Parisian Saint-Germain-des Près district.
Frying pan (forged iron)
Founded in 1857 by Albert Karl Turk, Turk is one of the world’s oldest manufacturers of hand forged pans completely formed from one piece of iron.
Dining table (wood)
Hans Wegner (1914-2007) was a famous Danish furniture designer, who contributed to the popularity of mid-century Danish design.
Push-up bra
Founded in 1939 by Moe Nadler as the Canadian Lady Corset Company, Wonderbra is a manufacturer of underwear, mostly known for having designed the push-up bra as we know it today.
Football
Introduced in 1968 by Adidas for the 1968 European Football Championship, the iconic Telstar was the first football to be decorated with black pentagons.
Loafers
Founded in 1891 by Édouard Blanchard, J.M. Weston is a French luxury leather goods company, renowned for its handmade shoes for men
Women’s shoes (espadrilles)
The Castañer family has been making espadrilles since the early 19th century. In 1927, Luis Castañer and his cousin Tomàs Serra founded the brand’s first workshop.
Shrub shears
Founded in 1898 by Wilhelm Abt, who would later take over manufacturer of forks Victoria, Freund Victoria is a leading manufacturer of garden tools.
Chair (concrete)
Born in 1965 and educated at the Royal College of Art in London, Konstantin Grcic is a contemporary industrial designer who has developed furniture, products and lighting for leading companies.
Ink (watercolour)
Originally introduced in 1934 by B. Aronstein & Co. in Flushing, New York, Dr. Ph. Martin’s manufactures the world’s most iconic watercolour ink.
Sofa (lounge)
Founded in 1959 by brothers Romeo, Pietro and Agostino Galimberti, Flexform SpA designs, produces and markets furniture and furnishing accessories.
Dinnerware
Born in Vyborg, Finland, Kaj Franck (1911-1989) is considered the conscience of Finnish design. He removed everything excessive in his designs, leaving only the essentials.
Headphones (aviation)
Founded in 1935 by David M. Clark, David Clark Company has pioneered air and space crew protective equipment, with products ranging from headphones to anti-G suits.
Safety helmet
Founded in 1914 by John Ryan and George Deike as Mine Safety Appliances, MSA was originally a manufacturer of safety appliances for the mining industry.
Lingerie
Founded in 1954 by corset-maker Ada Masotti, La Perla is an Italian luxury company, mostly known for redefining lingerie as a fashion accessory.
Chair (steel)
Based in Autun, Burgundy, Xavier Pauchard (1880-1948) was a pioneer of galvanization in France. After World War I, he began to manufacture housewares from galvanized sheet-metal.
Picnic hamper
Founded in 1781 by William Asprey as a silk printing business, Asprey is a manufacturer of leather goods, jewellery, silverware and home goods.
Jacket (work)
Founded in 1889 by Hamilton Carhartt, Carhartt is an American clothing company, mostly known for its work clothes such as jackets, overalls and coveralls.
Armchair (flat pack)
Founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad IKEA is a the world’s leading manufacturer and retailer of ready-to-assemble furniture.
Pen (fineliner)
Founded in 1855 as Grossberger & Kurz Bleistiftfabrik, Schwan-Stabilo is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pens and highlighter pens.
Men’s Shoes (split toe derby)
Based in Northampton, England, and founded in 1890, Edward Green makes the finest shoes in the world ‘for the discerning few’.
Lipstick
Founded in 1984 by Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo, M·A·C· (an abbreviation for Make-up Art Cosmetics) is a cosmetics manufacturer, mostly know for its lipsticks.
Armchair (swivel)
Introduced in 1958 by Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen (1902–1971), the Swan chair is one of his most iconic pieces of furniture.
Women’s suit
Founded in 1909 by Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, Chanel is a high fashion house that specializes in haute couture and ready-to-wear clothes, luxury goods and fashion accessories.
Pocket knife (multi-tool)
Founded in 1884 by Karl and Nicolas Elsener, Victorinox is the biggest manufacturer of pocket knives in the world, mostly known for its Swiss Army knives