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Left: Colibri’s new Classic C-Series for classic elegance; Right: Technical T-Series for high-performance sports | |
Colibri, the brand of lighters established in 1928, has been relaunched into travel retail as a full-range jewellery and accessory brand inspired by the Art Deco age.
Known for its technical breakthroughs in the 1930s and James Bond movie appearances in the 1970s, Colibri was renowned for its use of new technologies, fine materials and craftsmanship.
In 2010, Colibri was bought by a company experienced in building and investing in brands.
The new range spans luxury products for men, from jewellery and accessories, such as cufflinks, to pens and leathergoods.
Inspired by the clean lines and facets of 1920s Art Deco design, Colibri’s jewellery is designed in London and made with semi-precious red jasper, onyx, malachite and black pearl, set in steel, with gun metal, silver and rose-gold finishes.
The new range is crafted from high-grade natural materials and available in three series to cater to the wide-ranging lifestyles of its buyers: the T-Series for Technical high-performance sports; the C-Series for Classic elegance; and the D-Series for style-conscious Design.
The relaunched brand pays homage to its romantic history with a range that focuses on the simple elegance of the Art Deco period, while celebrating its quirky playfulness, the company said.
“We couldn’t believe what we had discovered,” said Colibri Creative Director Laurence Lassalle. “A famous brand with an international heritage that had almost been forgotten. It was an incredible opportunity, and an open page for the travel retail market.”
Continued Lassalle: “We loved the stripped-down style of Colibri. But we also wanted to capture its spirit of inventiveness and experimentation.”
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Inspired by the clean lines and facets of 1920s Art Deco design, Colibri’s jewellery is made with semi-precious red jasper, onyx, malachite and black pearl, set in steel, with gun metal, silver and rose-gold finishes |
Colibri’s historic timeline:
1892: Julius Lowenthal, founder of the Colibri empire, is born in Frankfurt. He aims to build an international business.
The Original 1928: Determined to improve the old-style lighter, Lowenthal invents the world’s first working semi-automatic: the Swiss made Colibri Original.
Exotic design 1930s: The fully automatic Colibri Monopol lighter features a Swiss acceleration system that guarantees ignition a 100 times in a row. Today Colibri lighters are tested on customised machines to guarantee a minimum of 20,000 ignitions.
London Blitz 1940-45: Colibri’s warehouses are destroyed in a bombing raid. In response, Colibri launches the Stormgard lighter, designed for soldiers in the field.
1952: The Colibri Molectric is created, dubbed the world’s first non-battery electric lighter uses fine crystals to create a molecular charge.
Winning team 1974: Colibri sponsors the winning team in the legendary 1974 Lombard RAC rally driven by Henry Liddon and Finnish star Timo Makinen.
The Man with the Golden Gun 1974: James Bond’s arch-enemy chooses Colibri to supply his legendary Golden Gun, constructed from a Molectric 88 lighter, cufflink, cigarette case and a gold Colibri pen.
1980s: Colibri expands its business into the full range of lifestyle accessories, from classic Swiss watches to cufflinks and luxury pens.
Multiflame 2001: The Colibri Vortex and Colibri Trifecta introduce the world’s first pyramidal double flame and triple flame lighters.
For details, contact Paul Martin, tel: +44 1189 742351 or e-mail paul@lucidinitiatives.co.uk
US market: tel: +1 401 943 2100, fax: +1 401 434 2785 or e-mail info@colibri.com
Europe: tel: +32 3 232 76 76, fax: +32 3 225 04 68 or e-mail info@unitask.be
Visit www.colibri.com
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