Twelve South

We noticed something a little familiar in the first episode of ABC’s new show “Zero Hour” — which aired online ahead of the show’s official TV launch. It’s a BookBook for MacBook…in the hands of lead character Hank Galliston (played by Anthony Edwards, formerly of “ER” fame).

Ever spot one of our products on TV or in film? Be sure to drop us a line: marketing (at) twelvesouth (dot) com!

While there’s certainly a lot to watch on YouTube (cat memes, anyone?), sometimes we come across something we’d like to share that everyone in the world hasn’t already seen. This video is neat because it’s both a great advertisement for BookBook for MacBook Air that we didn’t have anything to do with, but also cool because it’s stop-action AND produced by a kid in Japan. Check it out, and get your own BookBook — for MacBook Air, Pro, iPad, or iPhone right here.

We have to admit, when we saw the subject line “Alaska Political Insider” we did a double-take and thought: Sarah Palin! And while the email we opened wasn’t from Sarah P, or Bristol (reality show), or her husband (soon to be on a military-style Survivor reality show), it was from Dorene Lorenz, the host of the ABC show “Alaska Political Insider” so we are sure she’s had her fair share of interviews and discussions related to the (in)famous Family P!

Here’s what they’re saying about BookBook on the show:

“Hi, my name is Dorene Lorenz, and I am the host of ABC’s “Alaska Political Insider” — which airs live weekdays from 4-5pm statewide.

I am one of your first customers, and I wanted to let you know how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE your product.

Our show is audience interactive, so while I am interviewing politicians, resource development CEOs, baby musk ox, and the Unibomber’s brother and sister-in-law, I am fielding questions and comments from our viewers via text, e-mail, Facebook and Twitter.

Your product allows me to do so in a professional, visually attractive, and — I thought — discreet manner.

Turns out it is anything but discreet.  Every day I field compliments on my BookBook, and inquiries on where to buy them.

Everyone in the newsroom who has an iPhone has one, all of our Macs are clad in them, and those poor unfortunate wretches who opted to use something other than Apple rue the day they made such a poor choice.

Wanted to thank you for making such a great product, offer words of encouragement, and ask that you offer more colors or at least engraving so it is easier for us to tell them apart.”

Sounds like a very active newsroom — we hope those BookBooks have kept your gear safe from all the baby musk oxen around there! (Kidding.) Thanks so much for the feedback — we’ll do our best to keep making products you — and your viewers — will love.

While most press coverage is about our products, every now and then, a journalist will call up and ask a few questions about Twelve South: How do you come up with your products? What’s your greatest inspiration? Or “C’mon! Are there really only 12 of you people there?”

We weren’t really sure what to expect when Engadget managing editor Darren Murph emailed to inquire about getting a closer look at Twelve South. But after a few hours together, getting a feel for how and why we do what we do, Darren apparently had what he needed. The result is a terrific piece in Engadget’s Distro publication called “Opening the (Book)Book on Twelve South: Between the Covers of a Mac-Exclusive Accessory Maker,” which captures Twelve South the Company better than anything we’ve read so far.

So if you’re curious about how an “intentionally small” company in South Carolina — of only 12 people, truly — makes BookBooks, BookArcs, and other Apple-only products and has found its niche by staying small on purpose, you’ll want to read this.

Celebrity stylist/style expert Robert Verdi has got extraordinary taste. The New York Times says of Verdi, “In the stye universe, where fashion, decorating and the media are usually on different planets, Verdi travels comfortably between them. He’s a Jack-of-All-Trades in a world where good taste and the instinct for the now can be the passport across boundaries.” He’s the go-to style guru for celebs from Eva Longoria to Kristin Wiig to Hugh Jackman, and has been a featured fashion expert on The Today Show, Regis & Kelly, and The View.

Verdi just published his Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Guide, and we’re pleased that he’s selected our BookBook for MacBook Pro!

Here’s what Verdi says about BookBook, his selection for the Tech Savvy Mom:

“This gift is practical and a design must-have: a win-win for the tech-savvy mom.

Each piece is an original, just like her. Each BookBook is brought to life with hand craftsmanship and distressing, ensuring no two are exactly alike. BookBook is a vintage work of art built to protect modern day Macs and a beautiful addition to her coffee table. Plus, protecting her computer is a priority, and BookBook works far better than any floppy neoprene bag ever will.”

Read the whole Robert Verdi Mother’s Day Gift lineup here. Here’s what it looks like…

Every now and then we get an email from a Twelve South user that we’ve just *got* to share. This one came in just last night — and while we’re very sorry to hear that a MacBook Pro was stolen, we’re happy to hear that our BookBook kept a new iPad safe and sound!

Here’s the email:

“I just thought I’d drop you a line concerning your iPad case. I purchased the new iPad and immediately ordered your “book book” case for it because I thought it looked cool. Yesterday I had to run into an office for a few minutes, so I left my laptop bag and my iPad in the back of my car. When I returned to my car I was horrified to see my window had been smashed and my laptop was no where to be found, but sitting right where I left it was my new iPad!! I read the marketing telling about how my new case would deter theft, but I thought that was just marketing BS. So, I guess I have you to thank that I still at least have my iPad to stay connected. It’s a good thing most thieves aren’t big readers. Thanks. — Finn J.     Sent from my iPad”

Get your own super-Lo-Jac-non-reading-thief-deterrent BookBook for iPad (or your laptop, for that matter, provided it’s a Mac) today. It’s ready to go for your new iPad, and ships free in the US — and for a low flat rate most everywhere else.

If you’ve followed Twelve South for a while, you’ve heard some of this before: We create Apple-centric products because *we* need them and will use them. And while it sounds pretty simple to do that, one magazine reporter got to the bottom of our process last year, Play-doh models and all.

Here’s more from a Charleston Magazine piece on the co-founders of Twelve South, Leigh Ann and Andrew Green:

“…just how do these designers turn their brainstorming brilliance into innovative tech accessories? Surprisingly enough, not on a computer. Their ideas come to fruition through good old-fashioned craftsmanship. For each viable concept, the Greens build a prototype by “any means necessary”—straws, Play Doh, chopsticks, you name it—to visualize the concept. (They fashioned an origami paper version of the Compass iPad stand using a cut-up manila envelope and a brad.)”

And about whether we are really only twelve people? Well, yes, really. When the article was written we were only eight:

“The model then gets passed around the eight-person office for feedback and tweaked as needed. “We react to touching, feeling, and seeing it in the space, something you can’t get on a CAD program,” says Andrew, who thinks their lack of formal design training has not held them back. “The final product has to be sleek, simplistic, and beautiful. If it isn’t beautiful, it’s not the solution that we want.” “

Read all about it in Charleston Magazine.

World famous fashion designer and icon Anna Sui has put her own touch on our BookBook…and you can have it in your hot little hands this spring.  The Anna Sui BookBook hit the catwalk in NYC, bringing a certain tech buzz to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (aka New York Fashion Week) last month. Chip Chick made sure to point it out to her readers:

“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week might be coming to a close, but along side her Spring 2012 collection, Anna Sui has taken to the runway to debut and preview a new Special Edition iPad and Macbook Case. Anna Sui has actually collaborated with TwelveSouth to introduce theAnna Sui BookBook. The Anna Sui BookBook combines Anna’s signature look to TwelveSouth’s style of cases that resemble old books. These news cases are made of distressed leather covers with layers of purple and black, including a romantic swirls frame for the cover.

Anna Sui’s signature butterfly and rose icons with gold leaf prints are also used to highlight the spine. Meanwhile, on the inside, the iPad and MacBook cases come with the same safety aspects of every TwelveSouth bookBook, including a strong spine, a padded interior, hardback book covers on both sides to make for safe storage, and dual zippers that are made to look like bookmarks.”

Jump the line and get on the list for up-to-the-minute info on this highly anticipated fashion + tech collaboration: The Anna Sui BookBook can be yours this spring.

We really love to see people re-imaginging our products to make them their own. If you follow our blog, you’ve seen some examples of our BookBook for MacBook, BookBook for MacBook Air, and BookBook for iPad being modified by leather craftsmen to become notable tomes like a book of spells.

And now here’s another fresh approach to BookBook DIY. Scription, a Hong Kong-based blog written by Patrick Ng about all things stationary and cool, decided to take matters into his own hands when it comes to getting a camera hole on the BookBook for iPhone. (Notably he also puts a stylus into the credit card pocket, too.)

He did a great job — take a peek!

You can read more here about his conversion. If you’ve modified a BookBook in any way, we’d love to hear from you. Shoot us an email to marketing (at) twelve south (dot) com and tell us all about it!

We haven’t yet seen BookBook for iPhone modified with a book title. Get yours here, and see how you can make BookBook for iPhone your own! In stock and ships free in the US…but you’ll want to act fast!

Twelve South and Anna Sui Preview Special Edition BookBook Case for iPad and MacBook at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

The Anna Sui BookBook brings Anna’s distinctive look to the forefront of this iPad and MacBook case. Unique to this version are distressed leather covers in layers of purple and black, and a black velvety interior. Romantic swirls frame the lavender covers. Signature Anna Sui butterfly and rose icons with gold leaf prints highlight the spine. These features will be immediately recognizable as part of Anna Sui’s signature design known around the world. Like other BookBooks, each Anna Sui BookBook is hand-distressed, ensuring that no two are exactly alike.

“We’re thrilled to announce a partnership with Anna Sui. We look forward to bringing very compelling fashion forward technology accessories to Anna Sui fans and Twelve South customers across the globe,” said Leigh Ann Green, co-founder of Twelve South.

One of the benefits of BookBook is that it lets people express their own personal style and stand out from a sea of black iPad and MacBook cases. When it becomes available in Spring of 2012, all eyes in the coffee shops and classrooms will be on the people carrying the Anna Sui BookBook for iPad and MacBook. The new Anna Sui BookBook will be available for iPad and MacBook in Spring 2012. More info and images can be found at twelvesouth.com/annasui.

Click here to read the original release.