Amazon teamed up with Belgian fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg to produce a series of limited-edition, dressed-up Echo Dot speakers. The $59.99 DvF designs—Midnight Kiss, Ikat, and Twigs—will only get made if their pre-order goal is met by Aug. 13.
Amazon introduced Day 1 Editions program Build It in February with a trio of smart products, including a nutrition scale, cuckoo clock, and sticky note printer (only the printer is being released). Customers are invited to weigh in on new items by pre-ordering their favorites, and if a concept reaches its funding goal in 30 days, Amazon will build it. Supporters pay a special early-bird price and are only charged if and when the product ships.
Since their launch on Wednesday, the three prints are already gaining interest. Midnight Kiss leads the pack with 20% of its pre-order goal met in one day, while Ikat and Twigs are also in the running with 10% and 4%, respectively. Each motif tells a story, be it lips for talking to Alexa or the designer’s signature colors in one of her first-ever patterns. Assuming crowdfunding targets are met, the special Echo Dots are estimated to start shipping between December 2021 and March 2022. But bold skins (and slightly higher price tag) aside, these Echo Dot devices are no different from their more muted siblings.
As part of this collaboration, Amazon will donate an undisclosed sum to Vital Voices, a non-profit selected by von Fürstenberg, which works with women leaders in the areas of economic empowerment, political participation, and human rights.
