American apparel brand Kith has teamed up with Brooklyn furniture designer Mark Jupiter to create a stunning new housing for Bose‘s reissued 1960 speakers. These iconic speakers, which have been reimagined for their 60th anniversary, are now encased in sleek wooden structures complemented by metal bases. Kith collaborated closely with the Massachusetts-based audio engineering company to breathe new life into a design that has captivated audiences since its debut in 1968.
The outcome of this collaboration is a limited collection, with only twelve pairs produced, featuring an updated version of the original hardware. A notable enhancement is the inclusion of backward-facing speakers that reflect sound off walls, resulting in a rich, enveloping audio experience. The wooden casings not only serve a functional purpose but also elevate the speakers to the status of decorative art pieces, seamlessly blending technology with aesthetics.
Kith founder Ronnie Fieg expressed his vision for the project, stating, “The way people used to house these speakers in their home, I felt like they were more furniture pieces than anything else — even though Bose reinvented sound with these speakers.” He emphasized the importance of honoring the timeless design of the 901 speakers, which he described as “iconic beyond words.” Fieg’s deep appreciation for the speakers, along with his ongoing commitment to music and its culture, made this collaboration a natural fit.
To achieve a harmonious blend of “timeless” furniture and exceptional sound, Fieg enlisted Jupiter’s expertise to frame the speakers. Their previous collaborations, which included wooden furniture and interior architecture for Kith’s retail spaces and Fieg’s personal residences, laid the groundwork for this project. Fieg remarked, “Seeing Jupiter’s work combined with the way I listen to music, it’s a natural progression of how we work together. It’s furniture that serves a function.”
The speakers themselves are beautifully encased in two distinct types of wood: a white-washed ash and a natural air-dried walnut. They elegantly rest on pronged pedestals crafted from hand-rubbed brass, which lend a modern flair as they rise from the wooden bases. The overall design of the speaker system remains true to its original form, with Kith even sourcing the same grey-tone fabric that adorned the 1968 release for the speaker fronts.
This partnership between Kith and Bose marks a new step in decor design for Kith. However, Fieg made it clear that he is not just following a trend. “There’s no set plan for this project. I’m not trying to push furniture into our brand,” he said, pointing out that his personal interests often guide his collaborations. He is excited to share furniture design with his audience through Jupiter’s work, which is their first design for a sound system. Fieg noted that the design of music devices has become too focused on practicality. “These are items you keep in your room that should be nice to look at,” he said. He feels that over time, practicality has taken precedence over style in the music industry, resulting in a boring view of how music and speakers should look. “I love music. It’s been a big part of my life. So I want to make it beautiful,” Fieg added, emphasizing his goal to enhance the visual aspect of music.