Saturday, October 25, 2008

Hewlett Packard and Vivienne Tam


Hewlett-Packard and Vivienne Tam. When you first read these two names, you ask yourself what brings them together. Such a question is more than justified when you’re talking about an information technology corporation and a fashion designer, as it seems impossible to find a common denominator of the two.
But fashion is everywhere, and the world of computing systems does not make an exception. Nowadays, more and more manufacturers embrace a very intense sense of style and release “fashionable” products. Design has become an important and imperative aspect, added to the technological features, and that’s why HP announced its decision to work together with the world-renowned Asian fashion designer Vivienne Tam to create the Vivienne Tam Special Edition notebook.

The new design was unveiled during New York’s Fashion Week at Bryant Park, where Vivienne Tam had a fashion show, and is a red hot 10-inch HP laptop with her signature peony design. The new HP Vivienne Tam edition laptops were revealed down the runway looking like the latest designer clutch bags. “Like the Chinese symbol for <>, fashion and technology are modern examples of two things that are better together”; this is the explanation the company gave on their official website for the decision to bring an infusion of fashion to the HP technology. And we must agree: this is one innovative and extremely intelligent strategy a computer company could come up with in the attempt to convert its products into high fashion must-haves.

“When I was approached by HP to create a special edition notebook, I could see the design in my head instantly”, confesses Tam. “The notebook is a true reflection of the needs of a modern woman who cares about fashion, but is also passionate about her technology. I wanted to create a notebook that would appeal to women of all ages, ethnicities and income levels across the globe”. The result is a notebook of gleaming red and bursting with peony flowers on the lid. The peony design ends somewhere inside the notebook, under the keypad. Another important feature is an extra special enter key which represents the Chinese symbol for double happiness. The design was inspired by Tam’s “China Chic” style, recognized all over the world. Moreover, Tam also designed an elegant embroidered sleeve that will come in package with the notebook to help keep the exterior protected.


There are no technical specifications revealed to the public and the same goes for pricing and availability. However, the digital clutch notebook is presumed to be released in January 2009 in North America, with worldwide rollout to follow.