The art of staying warm
19 Mar 2009 8 Comments
in Art, Life, Thoughts Tags: kotatsu, Snuggie, Snuggie™ the Blanket with Sleeves
Has America become a nation of Linuses, seeking visceral comfort in these recessionary times?
Is the success of the Snuggie™ due to the power of the infomercial?
Or is popularity of the the Blanket with Sleeves due to the spectacular absurdity of its advertisements?
For whatever reason, the Snuggie™ has caught the interest of 4 million Americans.
“Every once in a while, a product transcends advertising to become part of pop culture,” says Scott Boilen, president and CEO of Allstar Products Group of Hawthorne, N.Y., which conceived and markets the China-made Snuggie.”
VIDEO: Watch ‘Cult of Snuggie’ on YouTube
Image via Random Thoughts
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It may be that the Japanese have perfected the art of staying warm indoors. I recall a cold and damp evening in Kyoto when we eagerly returned to our traditional Japanese inn to crawl under our kotatsu.
The “Kotatsu” is a small table with an electric heater underneath. A Kotatsu futon is placed over the frame of the Kotatsu to keep the heat in. This Kotatsu futon drapes down to the floor. The tabletop is then put on the frame over the Kotatsu futon to keep it in place.
What a delight to warm ourselves under the kotatsu while enjoying a pot of Japanese tea.
~MadSilence
Mar 19, 2009 @ 16:18:21
Hello you two – just thought I’d pop on by and say hi!! I love my snuggle rug: mine even has a hood!!
Mar 19, 2009 @ 21:21:39
That Snuggie looks totally absurd! Oh, the things I miss, not having TV.
Kotatsu sounds maaarvelous. Why have they not caught on in this country?
Mar 19, 2009 @ 22:55:42
I think the Snuggies is the silliest thing ever and shows americans addiction to infomericials…I can understand wanting to cut down the heat bill and trying to keep the thermostat at the same temp THEN PUT ON A SWEATER OR A HOODIE or just grab a blanket….The kotatsu sounds inovative……pls lets stop the snuggie addiction…Zman sends
Mar 20, 2009 @ 19:19:05
Oh the snuggie. Me and the hubby are reduced to giggles at this new creation and especially the commercial.
I want a kotatsu!
Sounds fabulous.
Dec 11, 2009 @ 10:07:59
LOL they all look like monks!!