No matter how much you talk about wearable tech it is never enough. Fashion and technology are walking hand-in-hand at various platforms reinventing the wheel of how and what we wear. In that league, Nik Bentel Studio, which has been pushing the boundaries of product design and fashion to exemplary levels has come up with a 4-channel mixer and speaker that women can carry like a bag.
What? A sound system that doubles as a bag? Boombox, are you listening? This uncanny bag + speaker + mixer doesn’t have your heavy, box-like aesthetic; instead, it takes on a chic appearance – sort of like EDC for women. It is inspired by Nik Bentel’s own Tati Bag, which has a nice leather sheen and top flap, which pulls up from the body of the bag to reveal the interior section. The Tati Fête Bag: Speaker + Mixer shares the same appearance, but with a transparent body revealing its electronic guts, yet being aptly functional.
Designer: Nik Bentel Studio
This unconventional speaker-mixer hybrid continues on Bentel’s exploration of unusual yet functional. It may not thrive on the bulky aesthetic of the boombox, but it does wear the same usability fabric, where you can carry quality music along, playing in the hand instead of above the shoulder, right behind your ear.
The speaker bag is designed to be your personal sound system but will be available in limited quantity. The onboard mixer features a functional 4-channel audio mixer and would set you back $400. It is available in two: black and white color options. Each of these speaker bags is made by hand in the designer’s New York studio through precision-machined translucent acrylic, which showcases the circuitry and hardware inside, and delivers a nice retro-modern appeal.
Instead of the original inspiration’s leather top flap, this 8″ x 12″ x 1–2″ bag features a magnetic closure and is powered by DC 5V. Equipped with a 4-channel mixer, the built-in speaker is compatible with CD players, phones, and amplifiers, and includes both 3.5 mm and 6.3 mm stereo jack plugs. It connects wirelessly via Bluetooth and supports a stereo/mono switch for added mixing flexibility. Designed to be carried as handbag, this mixer combines functionality and fashion, making it both a statement piece and a tribute to music culture. For a music lover, it’s a stylish way to show their passion.
A cool aspect of this speaker bag is a built-in LED display that shows decibel levels in real time. The adjustable display is made of a 16-bit two-color LED matrix and is nicely positioned to create a fun visual flair. The controls on the speaker bag are simple, you have a main volume knob and four-channel knobs for each option.
The post What If Your Handbag Was Also A Hi-Fi Wireless Speaker? first appeared on Yanko Design.