One of the reasons why I love what I do is reporting on stories that start from humble roots and grow on to immense fame. One such story is that of Romanian designer of Antonio Meze. The idea of designing classy earphones aside, his vision of creating a meaningful product that can be passed down to generations, has completely resonated with me. With launch of his brand’s new Meze 11 DECO Earbuds around the bend (8th December), I managed to get us a sneak peek, and of course chatted him up for some interesting bytes.
Me:
If you met a beautiful girl, how will you introduce yourself?
A.Meze:
I would not introduce myself but engage her in some interesting conversation first. Introductions are too formal and awkward and threatening.
Me:
I read on your page the quote: Fashion fades, only style remains the same; explain this to us.
A.Meze:
It’s a quote from Coco Chanel and it inspired me while I was developing the Meze brand. I am fed up as a designer to work on projects of products that are designed to sell. Products are not supposed to just sell. They are meant to have a life. To acquire meaning for the user. To be passed or gifted as a symbolic and value carrying item. Imagine gifting a loved one or passing down the generations a badly made object that will stop working or look bad with aging. I want to make things that work well and age with dignity.
Me:
Do you discuss your work with others?
A.Meze:
I did, but not as much as I probably should have. It just felt right from the beginning. I designed many products throughout the last 7-8 years so I kind of trusted my senses. And I was very excited about what I felt that the Meze headphones brand could become. So you could say it was risky, but I really enjoyed the process, and still do. And that alone is already rewarding.
Me:
From your collection of headphones, if you had to pick two…then which would they be?
A.Meze:
Although I have a good range of products now, I’d like to focus on the Meze11DECO and the Meze11Classics. As you know Meze11DECO is launching on 8th December this year. So it’s the culmination of a lot of sweat, blood and tears.This phrase I thought up: “Perfection doesn’t exist: but it’s something to aim for” really defines how the 11DECO came to be.
Meze 11 DECO earbuds are inspired by the DECO style which represented at it’s time the luxury, glamour, exuberance, and faith in social and technological progress. The current generation of music lovers has an established musical identity and these earbuds highlight the role that the headphones play as iconic item. Ever wondered why austic instruments use wood? The beech wood body produces a balanced, natural sound. [ Buy it Here ]
The already known Meze 11 Classics earphones embody the classical values of clarity, balance and harmony. It’s simple and elegant handcrafted ebony wood enclosure delivers crisp but warm natural sound and a microphone on the braided textile cord make this an ideal hi-fi sound system and gadget for today’s big city lifestyle. [ Buy it Here ]
Me:
You are running a business as well as designing, how difficult is that?
A.Meze:
It takes all of my time and this has been so for the last 2-3 years. But I enjoy both the design side and business side as well as the travelling involved. I wish I can focus more on the designing side. The Meze team is constantly growing by hiring new talented people.
Me:
What makes your headphones stand apart from the rest of the ones out there?
A.Meze:
I am trying to enrich my creations with meaning and I am doing this by the choice of components, shapes, materials, finishes. I didn’t start with a price target but with the aim to make earphones and headphones as well as they can be made: I have the belief that if you really are passionate about something, you will eventually get to do it very well. And if you do something really well you will eventually sell it. Seems like a natural thing. We take our time in carefully designing each component and detail until we are truly satisfied.
Footnotes:
The 11DECO is the result of the in-house work of Romanian designer Antonio Meze. The Meze brand has already established itself as a niche headphones brand that creates stylish collections of headphones. The first one, called the Classics is already complete while the DECO collection that just launched will feature one more over head headphone that will be launched mid 2014.
Designer: Antonio Meze [ Buy it Here ]
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(When Sound Met Style – Wood Earphones and Headphones by Meze was originally posted on Yanko Design)
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