High-end brands entering the tech sector with branded offerings is nothing new, but as mobile continues to take over the consumer computing market, luxury accessories are emerging as a category all their own.
The latest to join the field is Lamborghini subsidiary and premium motorcycle manufacturer Ducati. The company has teamed up with a device accessory maker Element to offer a brand new line of Ducati-branded cases for mobile devices.
The offerings include cases for the Apple iPad (4), the iPad mini and the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S.
Ducati’s lightweight polycarbonate cases for the iPhone include both a streamlined option (the Solace) that successfully mirrors the style of its design-centric motorcycles, as well as ruggedized cases (the Rogue and the Ion5) constructed using shock absorbing polymers, created for those looking for a case focused on protecting their smartphone from violent impacts.
The offerings include cases for the Apple iPad (4), the iPad mini and the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S.
Ducati’s lightweight polycarbonate cases for the iPhone include both a streamlined option (the Solace) that successfully mirrors the style of its design-centric motorcycles, as well as ruggedized cases (the Rogue and the Ion5) constructed using shock absorbing polymers, created for those looking for a case focused on protecting their smartphone from violent impacts.
Ducati’s iPad cases offer synthetic suede interiors wrapped in a polycarbonate shell featuring Element’s Tech-Grip coating, a non-slip synthetic layer meant to make the case easier to grip. The company has yet to reveal the pricing for the cases, but they are all scheduled to be released in February on the Ducati website and through Ducati dealers in the U.S., China, Italy and Dubai.
Element has also announced a new partnership with Hogue, an established name in the gun accessories market. Particularly well-known for its durable G10 gun grip, Hogue will work with Element to provide manufacturing expertise for some of the company's newest cases.
“[Hogue] has become known for certain materials like the G10 and the Cobblestone Rubber grip, which actually improves shooting and accuracy for competitive shooters,” Jeff Sasaki, CEO of Element Case, told Mashable.
“They’ve been around a long time, a lot longer than us or even the iPhone, and we thought the two companies really aligned well together because we have the same goal of improving accessories.”
Image: Element