What do you buy for someone who has everything? The answer, one suspects, is not an ironing board.
But for the big spender who, letâs face it, almost certainly never folds their own laundry, there is a new bougie appliance: a £3,999 ironing board.
The Laurastar x Germanier ironing system, on sale at Harrods, comes with a built-in water tank that emits âhygienic steamâ and a keychain made with upcycled Swarovski crystals.
The limited-edition gadget was shown off at Paris fashion week earlier this month and has a handsewn cover that, according to the marketing materials, offers âa never-ending visual symphonyâ.
Handily for those unused to this highly complex household chore, the product also comes with a smartphone app showing basic ironing techniques.
The Swiss appliance is touted as being able to cut ironing time in half and last for a generation, which â for the price of 222 standard ironing boards, or hiring a weekly cleaner for nearly two years â is perhaps just as well.
One Harrods customer, however, was a little underwhelmed. They described the product as âa little flimsy considering how much it costsâ, adding: âUp close youâre really struck by how big it is and it also looks as if it could be pretty heavy to carry around with the tank attached.
âAdmittedly the colours do look quite cool and itâs much, much sleeker than any other Iâve seen â but itâs more of a spaceship than an ironing board!â
The board is a collaboration between Laurastar and the Swiss designer Kevin Germanier, whose fans are said to include Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Heidi Klum.
Germanier said the model came from his idea of âmerging the catwalk and the backstageâ. He said 90% of the ironing board is upcycled and the crystal-encrusted keychain was assembled by his team in Paris.
Laurastar was founded in 1980 in Switzerland and later adopted the slogan âironing is no longer a choreâ.
Having made its name with what was billed in the 1980s as the worldâs first ironing board with a built-in steam generator, the company more recently launched what it said was the first âconnected ironâ â a board with a smartphone app that doubles as a âreal ironing coachâ.
The new product may be designed to last for a generation, but Harrods is selling a replacement cover if it starts to look past its best. The price tag? Only a cool £199.
For those wondering what to buy for someone who seems to have everything, an ironing board may not be the most ideal gift. However, for those who are willing to splurge, there is a new luxury appliance on the market: a £3,999 ironing board.
The Laurastar x Germanier ironing system, available at Harrods, features a built-in water tank that emits “hygienic steam” and a keychain made with upcycled Swarovski crystals. This limited-edition gadget was showcased at Paris fashion week and boasts a handsewn cover that promises “a never-ending visual symphony.”
To make the task of ironing easier for those unfamiliar with the chore, the product also comes with a smartphone app demonstrating basic ironing techniques. The Swiss-made appliance is said to cut ironing time in half and is designed to last for generations.
Despite its high price tag, one Harrods customer found the ironing board to be “a little flimsy” and raised concerns about its size and weight. Describing it as more of a spaceship than an ironing board, they noted its sleek design and cool colors but pointed out potential practical issues.
The collaboration between Laurastar and Swiss designer Kevin Germanier, known for his celebrity fans like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, aims to combine fashion and functionality. Germanier emphasized that 90% of the ironing board is upcycled, with the crystal-encrusted keychain crafted by his team in Paris.
Founded in Switzerland in 1980, Laurastar has redefined ironing as a more enjoyable task with innovative products like the world’s first ironing board with a built-in steam generator. Their latest offering, a “connected iron” with a smartphone app acting as a “real ironing coach,” continues this trend of modernizing household chores.
While the new ironing board is built to last, Harrods offers a replacement cover for £199 to maintain its appearance. Despite mixed reviews, this luxury appliance caters to those seeking both style and functionality in their household items.