Kickstarter Spotlight: iBark Bio compostable iPhone Case

I have written about interesting Kickstarter projects a few times over the years. Through that, I somehow ended up on a PR email list somewhere, and I get a couple of emails about upcoming Kickstarter projects every other day.  There was one a few days ago that caught my attention, as I'm currently in the market for an iPhone case and the product looks really good.

iBark is an Australian start-up, founded by Toby Webber, a surfer and passionate advocate for the environment. He created the BiO Case, an eco-friendly compostable smartphone case for iPhone 6/6s (more smartphone models are on the agenda). A compostable smartphone - that does sound intriguing, doesn't it? The case is made almost entirely from Eco-Certified Australian hardwood and a resin developed from non-GMO corn starch. 

It will break down in a home compost unit in just nine months, according to the press release. To clarify, of course, it won't rot on you on your iPhone, it but it will if you ever decide to replace it and put it in your compost unit (if you have one). 

“iBark is applying a material which is currently in use, but expanding its application by modifying the structural properties to suit our specific needs.”, says Toby Webber. The result is a stylish case with a smooth wooden back and either white or black frame. 

There is an early bird special with the iBark BiO Case for $29. Delivery is expected in November 2016. As usual, be aware of the risks of participating in a Kickstarter campaign. 

Here is the link to the iBark BiO Kickstarter campaign: iBark Kickstarter

Kickstarter Projects: Howard Flacke Eyewear

I'm a pretty big fan of Kickstarter and it's great to see there are not only cool tech projects, there are regularly also fashion/design projects that a worth supporting. Some of them I find while just browsing around Kickstarter, others I find because the founder of the project emails me - as was the case with Howard, who is behind the Howard Flacke Luxury Eyewear project. 

What is it all about? In Howard's own words: 

It's called Luxury Eyewear For Everyone, I'm trying to make the elite in eyewear - genuine buffalo horn - accessible to the average consumer. Horn is better since it offers stunning one-off patterns, that are unrivaled by any other material, it's lightweight, and hypoallergenic among other benefits. 

Horn frames typically cost $1,000+ a frame (see Morgenthal Frederics, Hoffmann Horn) however by eliminating bogus markups and selling direct to consumers we're offering top-notch quality frames at a fraction of this.. We're offering them now exclusively on Kickstarter for $199.

In essence, they do what many did already with different products. Crowdfund the first production run and cut out the middlemen that make most retail products expensive. Pass on part of the margin to the customer and make a previously very expensive product more affordable. What's my impression? The designs look good, and $199 is a good price for a genuine buffalo horn glass.

The campaign will need a boost to reach their $20.000 goal within the next 14 days (they are 50% there). According to Kicktraq, which gives you an estimate if a campaign will get funded or not, they are 93% there, but will need a little boost. 

Remember that if you decide to pledge and the campaign fails, you won't have to pay. So it either gets funded 100% or no one pays, so that part is not risky for you. 

What do you think? Worth $199 of your hard earned money?

Howard Flacke Eyewear on Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1712645930/luxury-eyewear-for-everyone/description

As a small disclaimer regarding Kickstarter projects: If you decide to support a campaign, you have to understand that the project might fail, even if it is funded successfully. Delays in production, unexpected issues with shipping etc. there are a lot of barriers. All the projects I present here look interesting, but I don't have any involvement with those projects (unless specifically mentioned). Use common sense with the projects you support and understand they could fail and you might lose the money. By the way, I have supported maybe 20 projects so far and only one failed, so the risk is not extremely high. 

Kickstarter Fashion & Accessories: Wallets, Shirts and Swim Trunks

I want to introduce a new series on indochino-review.com, covering interesting Fashion & Accessory projects on Kickstarter. There have been a number of successful projects in the men's fashion area and I am keeping a keen eye on what's going on at the moment. Lots of the projects are from small, local companies and I think there are some really cool ideas out there. 

Band-it extra slim minimal wallet

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/amagpoc/band-it-extra-small-minimal-wallet

A slim wallet, big enough to hold around 10 cards  and folded cash. Seems pretty good for everyone in countries that does not use coins. You can choose from different leather options or from elastic materials. There are a lot of different material combinations possible.

Prices at Kickstarter are very affordable, starting at $13 (gets you one of the wallets). Add $3 for international delivery. The project is not yet fully funded, but it seems they will surely reach full funding until the deadline in around 2 weeks. 

Mianzi - Shirts Drool Over

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kligman/shirts-to-drool-over-literally

Available both for men and women, these shirts come both in short- and long-sleeved versions. The shirts promise to be super soft, naturally anti-bacterial, anti odor, quick drying, eco friendly and much more. 

The designs are simple and convincing with attention to detail. What makes them very special: 70% of the fabric is bamboo fibre. A great material for shirts, it's becoming quite big, I've seen a number of local shops selling bamboo shirts in Vietnam already. 

Prices start at $34 for the short-sleeved versions, add $10 for international delivery. The project is almost funded with 9 days to go. 

THE BLUE LINE by Voller - A Better Swim Trunks

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/96570449/the-blue-line-by-voller-a-better-swim-trunk

Voller swim trunks claim to be the best on the market for the price. If you join the Kickstarter project, you can get a pair for as low as $30, add $5 to even have your monogram added - add $10 for international delivery. 

Custom swim shorts, there you go. They come in various sizes and are always available as regular and long. 

There are some really good designs and the guys are already way above their target.