Fashion Forum

Koibox, an alternative beauty & cosmetics company, has been the topic of debate amongst beauty bloggers & makeup alley patrons. The company was most recently featured in Lucky magazine, and has become increasingly popular especially in the blogosphere & several beauty websites.

So what is the problem you might ask? Someone, who shall remain anonymous, over at the incredibly popular website, MakeUp Alley, received some koibox nail polish as a gift and decided to check out the rest of the line on their website. She just so happened to be browsing with her eight year old daughter and was shocked to see a nude model covered in white powder and posing suggestively on the homepage with a strategically placed display of nail polish between her legs (Koibox...Koi = fish) The online patron found the image to be offensive and decided to write a letter to the marketing department of koibox. Given that Koibox is a relatively small company it is not surprising that she received a response directly from the owner & CEO. Please read further to see his response:

"Well (name omitted) seeing as how you took the time to voice your opinion and elucidate your rather obviously limited knowledge of branding, packaging and design, I thought I might also take some time too respond. First of all thank you for showing an interest in our product glad you liked the color of Uncle Vince unfortunately everybody does so that makes you.. not so astute. As for the packaging, we let the professionals determine what is good and what is bad. When we designed the packaging for KOIBOX it was a deliberate move to "wrap" the bottle in a manner that was different and unique, that is what good branding and package design is about..stirring interest and conversation. I say this in confidence given the award KOIBOX received from Communication Arts Magazine 2002 Design Annual..Best of Packaging. The award was given along side a few other notable companies like Evian and Skyy Vodka...but what do any of us know about package design especially Communication Arts Mag! I am certain that you don't even frequent a newsstand that carries such high brow periodicals.As for your second issue. To begin with we did not intend to sell this product to women that are pent up with personal biases towards the beauty of the female body, in fact the reason we chose such a demure and unclothed women was to fortify the notion that all women are beautiful and the same in general terms...it is color and accent that makes them different to the eye of the beholder. You will notice that the model was dusted in white and posed in a manner to suggest that she was not the focus or the impetus for our campaign..the polish is. I feel sorry for your daughters that they should grow up in an atmosphere that obviously has disdain for the female body and anatomy..remember they too carry the same equipment and should be proud of it. As far as you and your friend are concerned...sounds like one guy was dumb and the other was glad of it. The TITS stay. Go find another product to bitch about... Quaker.


Best,
**name omitted but it is the CEO of Koibox***

PS. check our feature out in the March Issue of Lucky Magazine..just another publisher that doesn't know anything about women."

Wow! What do you guys think?

Wow isn't he a lovely chap, though not seeing the image they use I cant comment on the appropriateness of it, the response is just a little bit insulting, but also we don't see the letter that set him/her off.

I like the man.

I can actually see this as a move that will get them a lot of publicity, and a lot of fans. I'd really like to see the original letter to the CEO.

Frankly, I think the woman who wrote the original letter needs to get with the program. Nipples in fashion? Heaven help us. And if she's worried her 8 year old is going to suddenly learn that people have nipples... well the kid is going to grow up with issues.

I have to say, when I read the description "nude model covered in white powder and posing suggestively on the homepage with a strategically placed display of nail polish between her legs" I had the mental picture of some tacky porn-star style photo.

I went to http://koibox.com/ and I don't find the photo offensive, or even very 'suggestive' for that matter. She may be nude, but there's nothing all that sexual about it IMO. On the one hand the response of the CEO is really arrogant on rude... but on the other, good on them for not bowing to the customer and just telling them to shove it, because at the end of the day it's their product and they can market it however they want.

Here's the super offensive nipple in question

Hmmm ok, I was picturing something slightly different... lets just say one bottle of nail polish rather then a selection... I think I may have a dirty mind.

I personally don't find the image even remotely offensive and wonder why anyone would. Maybe it's just a clever marketing ploy by Koibox to stir up interest in the company. I'd never heard of them prior to this.

My vote is not offensive - that is rediculous! :) Or probably a smart marketing ploy

If the woman does find it offensive, I'm guess she's the puritan from the Quaker box.

i think the response letter was pretty damn rude. Even if the woman was being a prude you shoulg generally respond graciously "sorry you were offended, thnk you for your opinion" and then file the complaint in the bin. But you never make the customer feel like an idiot for voicing their opinion which may somehow go against your sitting-on-a-pedastal-looking-down-on-the-world opinions. And the picture? FISHBOX is the name of the brand (koi= fish) and they have it covering the womans "bits"... I think its a bit suggestive. I dont think i would want my six year old looking at it but then its her fault for having the kid there in the first place.