Mirrors Of The Month: A Reflection On Famous Brands
In this edition of Mirrors of the Month, we're taking a look at some exquisite pieces of marketing history from well known global brands.
Being a household name is all about marketing. In the age of the internet we're bombarded with adverts every time we look at our phones, but for the long established businesses featured in todays article, that wasn't always an option. Below, we'll be taking a look at some of their marketing from way back when, along with a foray into their fascinating histories.
Levi Strauss & Co - Est. 1853
This unique Levi Strauss mirror features a stand-out historical design showing workwear from the American Civil War.
Levi Strauss & Co. was founded in San Francisco, California. It was originally started as a branch of the dry goods wholesale business owned by Levi's brothers in New York.
During the American civil war, Levi Strauss sided with the Union and the company donated large sums of money to Sanitary Commission, which gathered funds to assist in caring for the health of injured Union soldiers. As a staunch Republican, Levi opposed anything that would break up the Union and believed Lincoln was the right leader to end the war.
In 1873, Levi partnered up with Jacob Davis to obtain a patent for the technique of using rivets to reinforce denim workwear, making it hardier and longer lasting. This lead to the product we all associate with the Levi's brand today: Blue Jeans.
Moët & Chandon - Est. 1743
Moet & Chandon are an exclusive brand that have produced elegant champagne for almost three centuries.
The company was established in 1743 by Epernay wine trader Claude Moët, who started shipping his wine from the Champagne region to Paris. From the earliest days, their wine clientele included nobles and aristocrats of the time. An increase in demand for sparkling wine during the reign of King Louis XV saw the company grow, and today they produce over 28 million bottles a year.
The design on this art nouveau mirror was created by Alphonse Mucha, and portrays a vibrant depiction of a young woman in a flowing dress surrounded by natural elements.
Heineken - Est. 1864
The scene depicted in this magnificent lightbox mirror is one that most of us will recognise, but have you ever wondered about the backstory behind the beverage?
In 1864, Gerard Adriaan Heineken took over the Haystack (De Hooiberg in Dutch) brewery in Amsterdam. Aged just 22 years old, he had little brewing experience but, in contrast, he had plenty of courage, self-confidence and entrepreneurial spirit. Nevertheless, it would take another nine years before the Heineken that we know today would be created, following the company's decision to employ Dr. Elion to develop the distinctive brew.
Now, Heineken owns over 165 breweries in more than 70 countries. It produces 348 international, regional, local and speciality beers and ciders and employs approximately 85,000 people.
Ray-Ban - Est. 1936
Best known for their Wayfarer and Aviator sunglasses, Ray-Bans were developed in 1936 to reduce glare and improve visibility for pilots at higher altitudes.
The original inventors, Bausch & Lomb, were contracted to produce variations of the glasses en-masse for the US armed forces during World War II. After the war, the military surplus became available to the general population, cementing their popularity for decades to come.
This advertising mirror was likely to have been used as a shop display. The instantly recognisable Ray-Ban logo is moulded into the design, with the metal backplate in a vivid red tone that instantly draws one's attention.
Own A Piece Of History
We hope you enjoyed reading about these iconic brands. We're passionate about the stories that can be told through unique furnishings and look forward to sharing them with you.
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