Shiri Zinn: High End Sex Toy Design

14 Jul 2006 Category: Fashion, Features, Products

Shiri Zinn is a self-made woman! When she graduated from London’s renowned fashion school St. Martins in 2000, the press went crazy about her final art works. Why? Because she made a whole collection of sex toys for women out of the finest materials you can imagine: snake skin, quartz crystals, Swarovski crystals, feathers, fur and silver. Realizing her success and that her pleasure products were unexpectedly “accepted”, Shiri took a deep breath and dived right into the market. Her toys now sell like hot-cakes, owned by celebrities such as Kate Moss or Baby Spice and are considered a must have fashion accessory.

PingMag talked to Shiri Zinn about how she actually made it in this hard industry, what it takes to design a super-quality sex toy as a woman and how the whole designer sex scene is evolving.

Written by Uleshka

Shiri, your latest products were just exhibited at CELUX (which is the exclusive membership club salon in the penthouse of the Louis Vuitton building in Omotesando, Tokyo) as part of a “bedroom-boudoir installation”. Well, in terms of glamour and high fashion luxury leaders, I don’t think you could get any higher than that… Isn’t that incredible, that such a high class brand like Louis Vuitton offers to present such products?

But before we get into the branding sides of your designs, could you tell us quickly how it all started? Why did you decide to design sex toys in the first place?

Because there are simply no strong designers in this field. I did lots of very controversial products, but when my tutor Naomi Filmer at St. Martins saw a quartz crystal dildo that I designed, she encouraged me to make a whole collection.

That is where all the press came from initially. People heard the shocking news, that “someone was doing sex toys” at this renowned school, but when they actually saw them they realized that my products were not tacky and cheap, but very well designed and respectable accessories. That actually started a whole new niche.

I was selected for the Bombay Sapphire Glass award, won the International Erotic Award… but although I formed a new market, I didn’t even think that I would ever really go and produce them… that idea only came up when I went on a vacation to the south of France and realized, that celebrities would buy my sex toys like crazy.

What do you mean? Did you take a box full of dildos, travel to St Tropez and ask celebrities if they wanted to buy them?

Literally, yes! I had a friend in Monte Carlo, clever guy and good business man and he encouraged me to show my products at one of the places where we would always go and drink punch together with some very wealthy people. I thought about it, took all the money that I had left and invested into 30-40 pieces, which are really expensive to make. I then wore beautiful clothes from my friends’ boutique at a little catwalk inside this club in St Tropez, but as I walked I carried my toys. People wanted them and I sold at €2000 a piece. That was when I realized: Oh! These things actually sell!

Coco de Mer, probably the most romantic, sensual and high class erotic retail store run by Body-Shop Anita Roddick’s daughter Sam, was one of the first to support you and sell your products. What is your connection to Coco de Mer?

Coco de Mer is amazing! They are my kind of “mother-ship”: they spread my name and supported me completely. Sam Roddick opened this shop with a very, very strong concept of exploring the bodily senses at a similar time when Myla opened their store. Both brands were created by women for women and with a whole new integrity of looking at sexuality and pleasure design. They achieved tremendous changes in the general awareness of people and also in the choice of products.

Coco de Mer really acts as a compass for what every one else in this industry is trying to do. Their philosophy is essentially different from Myla, in that respect that Coco de Mer doesn’t shy away from sexuality and allows their toys to look like what they really are: pleasurable, beautiful sex objects. Myla’s products feel much more detached from sex. Their toys look more like “objects” and could be placed anywhere in your home - but that means, that they still consider sex to be something, which needs to be hidden and ashamed of. That is not my philosophy at all.

Myla have asked big name designers like Tom Dixon or Marc Newson to design sex toys for them (and they did) which put sex toys in a whole new perspective. What do you think about those toys and how do you see your own products in relation to them?

Well, it is the concept of designer sex, which is probably what puts us in the same bracket here, but what I am trying to do is very much in your face. However, Myla and their press were fantastic and the way they marketed the product brought a big change to the industry. That was a stepping stone for other people in the market.

Somehow I can’t help but ask myself how men can actually have so much confidence in designing a product which is for such a mysterious and truly feminine thing as the female orgasm!? Obviously something like Tom Dixon’s black Bone or your pink Minx are two entirely different objects…

Maybe women understand that different things turn a woman on. I think that some designs tend to be aware and maybe even manipulate the fact that women are afraid of their sexuality and ashamed. In that respect I - as a woman - am very focussed on doing something that would make you very proud of your sexuality and not be ashamed of that at all.

If you look at my products: the design is actually completely mad! It looks like a big pink ice cream coated dick! (laughs) But I made it really strong in it’s aesthetic value, glamourized and accessorized it to a point where it was accepted as a designer object without hiding anything in its sexual appeal. People accepted it almost as pop art with a funny twist to it.

I believe that if a design is good, you can go all the way with it. You can move boundaries because it is about how you design an object. It is not about shying away from what the object is or trying to make it acceptable for respectable consumption.

So how do you choose the shapes and designs for your toys then? What is your concept?

I did lots of research about the shape in the traditional way. All my materials are very, very high quality and definitely non toxic and my technology is essentially simple. Romance and the whole atmosphere of a playful use of pleasure objects are a very important part of pleasure design, so it is not only the object as such, it is the glamour and the fantasy about it.

The main reason I decided to create a sex brand, apart from that there just isn’t any good design in that area, was that I used to have some serious sexual blocks. I went to a tantric master, he used crystals on me and it unblocked me. I then began to design a dildo using a quartz crystal - this limited edition is now actually the best seller of my Couture Collection at Coco de Mer!

The work may look superficial in the design but it is not - it is coming from a deeper place! I think that is very important when you design a sex brand, that there is an experience, a lesson learnt, a true ambition behind it.

Your first big celebrity toy was the Pink & Red Glass Piece dildos, which cost £1000 each. Next to this exclusive range, you now also created a vibrator called the Minx (about €240), which is the mass produced vibrator version of that original design. The vibrator market is huge though and products like The Rabbit sell like crazy, especially since that was pushed so heavily through Sex and the City. What does it take to produce a good vibrator in your opinion?

For me, technology is not as important as quality - quality of the materials, artistry, image and the actual orgasm it gives you. My piece is really designed for the first time vibrator user - very romantic - or for somebody who has every type of vibrator but wants something really beautiful for a change! First and foremost it is an object to be proud of like Gucci shoes or a Prada handbag.

As a woman, I know how the female orgasm works and I know that it basically just needs to be a very strong gradual speed motor - as silent as possible. That is a simple thing and simple things are the best, I believe.

The Rabbit is actually very complicated, un-hygenic, tacky and cheap looking… but still a great product in order to get 3 orgasms in one. The problem is just, that it is toxic - within the legal limits - but! That is also why Coco de Mer don’t sell them.

You actually have three degrees in design and your products are exceptionally beautiful. Where do you get your ideas from?

Mostly archeology or antiques. In Japan, for example, you had those beautiful antique and erotic prints from the 14th -18th century which really inspired me. The first double ended dildo ever noted came from ancient Egypt 6th century A.D. and my double ended piece was inspired by that. It is a £1000 piece, has 60 Swarovski crystals in the middle, hand crafted aqua-blue glass - overall very gorgeous.

How many people are actually involved in the manufacturing process and what is the difference in the production of your super-exclusive and your cheaper range products?

Regarding the high end Couture Glass & Crystal Collection about 8 to 10 people (3 small studios). I collaborate with the people who make the statues on the top of the Rolls Royce, the Monte Carlo Grand Prix Trophies and my setters put the diamonds on the De Beers trophies… those kind of guys! And then I tried to get a similar quality out of China for my mass produced version. Oh my God!!! That was the worst year in my life!

Trying to get a product with detail and quality, not being happy with the regular motors they put in all the vibrators, wanting this handmade and that handcrafted and this jewelry finish… it can only kill you! But then I realized one thing: the power to nag is the strongest power that a woman has! It doesn’t matter how small you are - and my manufacturer is the second biggest in China for this field - my ability to nag him was stronger than anyone else! (laughs) - and this is how I finally got my product.

Do you think that most people who buy your products, also feel comfortable using them immediately? I mean - I am more than happy to see, that this whole industry seems to change drastically, but I think that there are still a lot of taboos (I don’t even know how many of our readers will be shocked by this article…). Do you think that products like yours can actually influence the sexual behavior of a women or preferably a couple?

I am happy to send you one, if you want to make a review or so? I really want you to understand the quality of this magnificient product. If you hold it in your hands, it is very heavy, has jewelry finishes all over, lots of details, a detachable fur or feather tail, it has an engraved stand and an incredibly strong motor which I worked on for half a year alone (because they didn’t understand that I wanted frequency as opposed to the vibration level to be strong - that makes a difference to the quality of orgasm).

And then there is the box… Most packaging, even if it is high end, has a nice box which is still made out of cardboard. I am probably the only one to make a snake skin box with a satin lining. I keep sending trucks from one factory back to another until they got all of them right and I even pay double for it! Why do I pay double for it? Because if it lies in the hand of some lady, I want it to be 100% perfect.

I am mad mad mad for quality, because this is what I believe in! I don’t know if that is romantic… but it is definitely more than technology, something more precious - to indulge in.

Well… I don’t know what to say… I guess I am very tempted by your offer… (blush) But first of all: thank you so much for your long and detailed interview. Lots of truly interesting new things to hear!

44 Comments

1. Ahh, thats an awesome collection. The indepth study of human needs along with offering high quality materials, good design & detailing.

   Posted by: Paavani on July 15th, 2006 at 3:59 pm

2. Poor animals :( they turned into sex toys

   Posted by: kuswanto on July 15th, 2006 at 4:07 pm

3. I am impressed, really very impressed.
   I didn’t know that this industry evolved to such a level. As a man anyway, we don’t pay TOO much or maybe not Enough? attention for the sensitivity of a woman…. well anyhow apart from the amazing quality in design and thought, I’ve been impressed - real food for thought! Excited to see how it will progress!

   Posted by: ill p.e. on July 15th, 2006 at 6:30 pm

4. hey! don’t get me wrong! I am not a “Frauenversteher”!

   Posted by: ill p.e. on July 15th, 2006 at 6:32 pm

5. I kind of like the fact that you mis-spelled L(O)uis Vuitton…. could Uleshka be possibly the only one in Japan who DOESN’T have one of their hand-bags?

   ;-)

   Posted by: jenny on July 15th, 2006 at 6:40 pm

6. it’s interesting the way women masturbating can be a lifestyle and exploration of their psyche and universal praise to all of existence, and men are sad lonely unfulfilled if they do similar. Is this not just a continuation of male dominance over sexuality on all the planet ? I wonder if they masturbate in refugee camps in darfur ? And is the purchasing of one of these diamond studded vaginal prodders by the rich and famous an affront to their boyfriends/husbands / ex-so-and-so in their tabloid reported bust-ups . . . has the vibrator become a weapon, in the sexual battle, and in the cold war of greed (I’ll show you my expensive tat if you show me yours) ? What about us poor people? DO we really have to pay 300 pound/dollar for 3 different types of orgasm in one? And will we be any better for it? What’s going on ?

   Posted by: desitter on July 15th, 2006 at 7:19 pm

7. I get your point, desitter, when it comes to how much you want to pay for such a tool of pleasure, but that is more of a general question I believe (why do people want to be “proud” of a gucci bag in the first place?) - but not a bad question! What makes me happy is, that finally people or call it the market seem to understand that men and women like different things (technology <> romance) and YES! masturbation is important! if YOU don’t like to touch your own body, how can you claim that you like BEING touched at all??! I don’t know ANY women who would disagree on the fact that sex with yourself has made you a better lover!

   Posted by: janis on July 15th, 2006 at 7:36 pm

8. Shiri’s approach and creativity has brought quality, sensuality, and sexiness to the erotic market place. Her products look fantastic as individual works of art but at the same time perform wonders where it counts (so I am told)! Her range certainly sits at ease in the branded
   world of luxury goods.

   Posted by: Rob G on July 15th, 2006 at 7:44 pm

9. thanks janis. This article has prompted all sorts of thoughts in my little head. I certainly have nothing against masturbation, self-touching, technology to make it easier, elegance of the objects that do so etc . The crux, the crotch, of the matter for me is : sex being the fundamental act, making us the men and women we are - and the dualistic universe, and so on - masturbation a happy and free opportunity for pleasure for all - Now, with the advent of the wonderful devices above, there is a kind of hierarchy of this pleasure, vibrating frequencies lovingly tuned for the chosen few. A gucci bag, the beauty of which I cannot perceive, but if people want to pay then fine, it doesn’t harmonise with their pelvic movements and send them to new heights of physical pleasure.
   The idea of sex, an aspect of sex, as an exclusive product, feels sinister. But then, I forgot about the oldest profession . . .
   Also, i think the “men like different things” is rather an error of our society. it’s hammered into you when you’re too young to think.
   But there’s nothing to be done. Owners of super orgasm machines, share them with your neighbour, loan them to the poor!

   Posted by: desitter on July 15th, 2006 at 8:14 pm

10. ahhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhh………lol

    Posted by: ankit on July 16th, 2006 at 3:27 pm

11. yawn yawn

    Posted by: Bobby Leon on July 16th, 2006 at 11:13 pm

12. Rich people jacking off, what’s new?

    Posted by: Wiley Wiggins on July 17th, 2006 at 4:10 pm

13. This is crap. ROTFL

    Posted by: Just me on July 17th, 2006 at 7:31 pm

14. yeah yeah - dumb guys comments, but what do you expect ;-) well done pingmag! keep up the good work!

    Posted by: sylvia on July 18th, 2006 at 1:43 am

15. a light saber huh?

    Posted by: oishi man on July 18th, 2006 at 3:24 pm

16. Mink fur? What the f*** do you guys support horrible shit like this?

    Posted by: Peter Jillleson on July 18th, 2006 at 9:25 pm

17. Thanks for spotting the wrong “Luis” - corrected now ;-)

    I’d like to share some thoughts about WHY I actually wanted Shiri Zinn on PingMag, since I have the feeling that people might not fully get my intention…. If I hadn’t done a lot of research for this article as to HOW the “sex toy market” has developed in the last years, then discovered Shiri Zinn and found that she was highly influential, I might not have written this article. However - she WAS and is a pioneer. There was absolutely nothing like there is now at the time when she started to design products in this sector: nothing appealing to a women’s eye (a crucial erogenous zone), nothing non-toxic, no sex toys that invited to play. Through her designs, she simply changed the market together with Coco de Mer and I highly respect those achievements.

    Whether you are into sex toys here or not may even be secondary. What counts is the fact that Shiri was brave enough to try - despite all the difficulties and the frustration when working as a woman in this strong, male dominated market and being stigmatized as “sex”- designer forever.

    She aimed at the very very top, developed an extremely well-crafted product and sold it to people who are - whether you like it or not - followed and admired by masses and therefor highly influential. I don’t think she could have picked a cleverer strategy in order to change people’s mind sets. It HAD to be that expensive, exclusive and eccentric - otherwise it just wouldn’t have worked.

    The fact that now Louis Vuitton (even though I can’t even spell them right, which might reveal something about how much I usually care about what they do) is now exhibiting her products only shows how far she has come in terms of “making pleasure design acceptable” - and this surly is quite an achievement.

    Of course, not everyone wants or can spend that much money to buy such an exclusive product and not everyone agrees on using real fur or snakeskin (including me) BUT the aim here was to show what a single person can do and to look at what we have now: FINALLY a very women friendly market with sexual awareness and enhancement courses and a whole range of different products to choose from, which could only develop BECAUSE of people like Shiri Zinn.

    My deep respect for that and the fact that she alone created a well known high end brand from scratch with extremely well designed products.

    Posted by: Uleshka on July 19th, 2006 at 6:31 pm

18. Thanks Uleshka I appreciate your
    vote! Just to mention my boxes are
    mass produced in patent snakeskin and I supply only the feather option with the “Minx” Design; (the name “Minx” which has nothing to do with the mink animal). I refuse to mass produce in fur so there is no need to worry!

    Posted by: shiri zinn on July 20th, 2006 at 5:34 am

19. nice

    Posted by: sk-soraa on July 25th, 2006 at 2:38 am

20. The perfect bachelorette party gift for the bride (or everyone if yer that rich)!

    Posted by: Mia on July 31st, 2006 at 7:32 am

21. There’s a song by C+C Music Factory: “things that make you go huuhhhm!”

    Some people spends a lot of money with Vuitton, other people in selected wine, some people in the Car Audio (and ya know Car Audio is complex and Expensive). iF you are fan to spend a $10, 000 USD in Photographic Equipment would be so hard to you understand why I spend $10, 000 USD tu maintain 2 Bulls in the prarie, bulls as used in Spain to Bullfights :D

    And iF some girl or some homosexuals purchase a dildo by £1000 ’she’ could not understand why someone spends £10 000 in a collectible Marilyn Monroe Dress —

    Things that make we go mmmmmmmhh - we won’t understand to others and they won’t do to us .. not all, bue sometimes :D

    Posted by: Jorge Mtz Dv on August 4th, 2006 at 11:54 am

22. I’ve always wanted to design dildos and vibrators but I guess its hard to do for a man. I bought my girl a 200 yen vibrator from japan and she gets off on it. never fails.

    Posted by: jimmy on August 5th, 2006 at 1:37 pm

23. I also am currently in the first production phase of my designs which are in the same category. I find it wonderful that there are others who feel that the art of pleasure isnt only for the pornographicly minded, and have a true understanding of how to find and hold that delicate line between taboo and creativity.

    Posted by: james V. Ferraro III on August 7th, 2006 at 11:57 pm

24. as a beginner in the field of design while my products are more theme related than any, I think its great that someone truly can place the art of aquiring pleasure into an artistic form. you are a true inspiration. And I wish you the best.

    Posted by: james V. FerraroIII on August 8th, 2006 at 3:05 am

25. Also I know what hell it can be working out of asia, my production is located in bangkok thailand. While material has proven to be readily accesible it still remains the one un-marketable spot on the planet for what we do. or is it? Wish me luck.

    Posted by: james V. FerraroIII on August 8th, 2006 at 3:08 am

26. i’m woman so ve hot ever best to it

    i love u

    Posted by: asin on August 11th, 2006 at 8:26 pm

27. Rather than berating and nitpicking this amazingly talented, thoughtful, and ballsy artist/designer for the entire worlds problems, why not praise her for being a dynamo? I think it is unfair to put the burdens of the world on the shoulders of one person, because your miffed you can’t afford her products. Yes, it is a concern and I agree with you that there are more important issues in the world than vibratos, but I think it’s unfair to demean the creativity of the artist because her work is not as high minded as you would like it to be. But lets face it the world is shallow and most people are probably more concerned about they or their partners orgasms than they are about global conflict, which is not to sya it’s right, but it is the way people are. Don’t chalk up all the problems of humankind to the deisgner sex toy industry. I say kudos for her to following her passion, challenging ideas, and making money at it!

    Posted by: SB on August 18th, 2006 at 3:02 am

28. Please send me erotic se styles

    Posted by: nmwinga1322@yahoo.com on September 12th, 2006 at 7:04 pm

29. Why is it such a shock when we find out that celebrities (who usually experience very lonely, high stress lives)masturbate?
    I remember a interview in a prominent magazine where the celebrity described how she takes herself out(dinner, movie, shopping and great sex via masturbation at the end of the night)for a date. It impresses me that Kate Moss and Baby Spice are so open with their lives. If more celebrities were like this, the whole subject of masturbation would not be such the repressed issue that it is now in society
    Celebrities were human before they were famous and their needs for sexual release and relaxation have not changed with their fortune and fame.
    Whether the human is a billionaire or impoverished, whether the method is your high-end vibrator or your own finger(s), the orgasm is a very pleasant gift bestowed to us.
    Enjoy it!

    Posted by: human on September 14th, 2006 at 11:58 pm

30. Good lord… Those are some of the tackiest excuses for a glorified cucumbers I have ever seen.

    Once again our social and economic betters have proven they have no taste whatsoever, just so long as it is expensive and exclusive.

    Posted by: sievetronix on September 17th, 2006 at 11:13 am

31. cool toys!!!!

    Posted by: moon on November 14th, 2006 at 10:09 am

32. My god, is this you, Shiri Zinn? From your long lont cousin, Adrienne. Nice work, I like it. The colours are fantastic and so are the designs.

    Posted by: Adrienne Zinn on November 24th, 2006 at 12:23 pm

33. email me: auntiaudrey@yahoo.com.au
    Adrienne

    Posted by: Adrienne Zinn on November 24th, 2006 at 12:24 pm

34. This is very interesting site…

    Posted by: Anna on December 10th, 2006 at 6:11 am

35. Great article but if you are interested in the world’s finest sex toys check out http://www.scarletamour.com
    Nothing comes close!!!!

    Posted by: Nicole on December 21st, 2006 at 5:18 pm

36. Very interesting read and great story.

    To Nicole I checked out the site Scarle Amour and wow!!!!! amazing!!!! I am very interested in finding more about the brand. Where are they located in Japan?

    Posted by: Micheal on December 22nd, 2006 at 12:14 pm

37. WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THIS VERY CREATIVE YOUNG LADY. GO SHIRI. WELL DONE.

    Posted by: DAVE on January 24th, 2007 at 4:00 pm

38. Hello+people%21+Nice+site%21o

    Posted by: Bob on January 28th, 2007 at 10:44 am

39. Thanks so very much for taking your time to create this very useful and informative site. I have learned a lot from your site. Thanks!!

    Posted by: Kim on January 30th, 2007 at 7:53 am

40. Pretty nice site, wants to see much more on it! :)f

    Posted by: Nicole on January 30th, 2007 at 7:53 am

41. Unusual use of materials to produce a fine piece of work - some would say art.
    Excellent

    Posted by: Kama on March 23rd, 2007 at 9:50 pm

42. I think that Shiri’s stuff is awful - all of it. Let’s look at it for what it is, an expensive replacement of a cheap replacement for a dick!! Not really difficult to do is it ? If there were no more like Shiri tomorrow then it would be safe to say hers is one of the few careers the world would not miss - AT ALL It’s the truth and we all know it. Shiri - get a proper job

    Posted by: normal guy on August 9th, 2007 at 7:23 pm

43. Ok Normal Guy I’ll go
    hunting for a better job straight away because I want to be normal and accepted by other normal people.

    Posted by: shiri zinn on September 3rd, 2007 at 6:56 am

44. Hello

    Very interesting information! Thanks!

    G’night

    Posted by: hiutopor on September 17th, 2007 at 9:23 am

• Similar Articles
• » An interview about Sense & Sensuality
• » RFID Aesthetics
• » First spring at Isamu Noguchi’s Moerenuma Park
• » Funny Shaped Japanese Watermelons
• » Soup Stock Tokyo - Masamichi Toyama

• Share and Enjoy:
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• Systemdesign: creating products, services and environmentsCategory: Technology Worldwide
  July 7, 2006
• Web 2.0 in JapanCategory: Features Internet Japan Worldwide
  July 6, 2006
• Studio Visit: Hudson-PowellCategory: Graphics Internet Typography Worldwide
  July 5, 2006

Notice

As of December 31, 2008, PingMag and sister site PingMag MAKE are both on extended hiatus, and will not be updated for the foreseeable future. We are eternally grateful for your fantastic support over the years.

Search