LAS VEGAS—For years, creators of pleasure products have been paying more attention to their designs. Pieces are more ergonomic, they have cleaner lines, and—in some cases—look more like objets d’art as opposed to sex toys.
Now, a new company called Happy Orange Designs has taken some of the more iconic shapes of pleasure products from recent years and transformed them into T-shirts, tote bags and more that any educator or fan of sex toys would love.
Helmed by Ryan Olbrysh, a former full-time editorial designer and art director, Happy Orange Designs features vibrator-themed T-shirt and other merchandise. Based in Las Vegas, Olbrysh debuted his initial items and designs at CatalystCon in Los Angeles.
“The vibrator-themed T-shirts and tote bags had everything to do with the publication of Lynn Comella’s new book, Vibrator Nation,” Olbrysh told AVN. “When the book went off to press, Lynn, who happens to be my wife, said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to have some vibrator-themed merchandise to go along with the book?’ I decided that the designs would focus on the imagery of some of the most iconic and classic vibrators: the Oster, the Magic Wand, and the Slimline. I wanted the designs to be clean and simple, but also visually appealing.
“I think the colors I used add some punch to the designs. And turning the Magic Wand upside down makes it look like a neck tie, or an exclamation point, which people really seem to like,” he added.
Olbrysh said he knew sex toys were an entire world unto themselves, thanks to Lynn’s work, but notes he was a bit surprised to find out just how many types of pleasure products exist. When he started creating his designs, he found it difficult at times to narrow down the products he featured.
While the designs feature sex toys, in some cases the inspiration for the art isn’t always apparent. One design, called Vibrator Hieroglyphics, is a collection of line drawings of 25 different dildos and vibrators.
“I really like that from a distance it’s not entirely clear what the objects are, but once you get a bit closer you see that they’re actually sex toys,” Olbrysh said. “A restaurant server in Utah, and store clerks in college towns where we’ve traveled, have come up to Lynn to say, ‘I really like your bag!’ with a knowing wink. Hearing the positive feedback on the designs has been really gratifying.”
The initial product lineup for Happy Orange Designs was inspired by Olbrysh’s being a fan of quality T-shirts with minimalistic yet eye-catching artwork. Currently offering T-shirt, tank tops and tote bags, Happy Orange Designs is looking to add its designs to other products.
And while the appeal to those who work in the pleasure products industry is clear—“Some of the folks who’ve been most excited about the T-shirts, in particular, are sex educator sales associates at various sex shops across the country,” Olbrysh said. “For them, a vibrator T-shirt is a cool uniform they can wear to work. As one person recently told Lynn, ‘We need more sex geek apparel!’”—there are already fans outside the industry as well.
“We definitely think there’s potential for cross-over,” Olbrysh said. “In fact, we’ve sold a number T-shirts and totes to people who don’t work in the industry, but simply love the idea of wearing a T-shirt with their favorite vibrator on the front, or going to the grocery store with a tote bag covered in sex toys.
“The shirts and totes are fun and whimsical, not to mention great conversation starters,” he continued. “People are surprisingly comfortable wearing these shirts and carrying the tote bags, which we think is a testament to the growing popularity and normalization of pleasure products more generally. We’ve shipped our products internationally to Canada, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to cities across the United States, so we’re hoping for global domination!”
For more on Vibrator Nation, the book that inpired the shirts and totes, visit DukePress.com.
In the meantime, find the complete lineup of Happy Orange Designs products online at HappyOrangeDesigns.com.
