It's OK to stand out!

French Racing Blue & Green With Envy Finishes join the T/9x SE collection. For some, black is all they’ve ever known, and that’s fine. But not everyone wants to fade into the background. For those who do value gorgeously crafted, immaculately finished lacquer paint—accents of genuine carbon fiber, details you can see and feel—REL wants to offer you that choice. It’s why they place the bezel surrounding the triple-chrome-plated badge on top of the painted surface. They want those who appreciate materials to know that, yes, it’s real carbon fiber. You can see the warp and weft in the edges.

In every industry, companies are either trying to extend the life of their products or, on the darker side of design, trying to get a consumer to buy baby buy. Medical companies' legal teams have figured out how to extend the life of 20-year-old drug patents. Some companies do the exact opposite and design for obsolescence—a business strategy where products are intentionally designed to become obsolete or unusable within a certain period, encouraging consumers to purchase replacements.

It has been an honor to work with a company that designs and engineers its products so that they are timeless and durable. REL wants its products to last for 20 years and even supports old units that do happen to fail a decade after purchase. REL does not just push out new line after new line. They embrace their older models. Their customers love the fact that 3 years after their purchase they still have a current version, but this is where the REL SE special editions come in. REL reissues models with upgraded components and colors to bring life back into a model that is mid-life. Color Splash anyone?

These wildly vibrant colors—red, orange, yellow, and now blue and green—are a thrill for those of us who work hand in glove with the talented painters they trust to bring their visions to life. At every show we attend, people come right up to REL to share their personal favorite and how happy it makes them to see these colors, which makes REL happy. So, there you go—the circle of life, expressed through color.

And now, back to their racing car–inspired T/9x SEs. Consumers from every walk of life—and nearly every income strata—have evolved their preferences. People want their homes to reflect their individuality. In a complex, sometimes confusing world, they crave spaces that are truly theirs. Deeply personal spaces where the only thing that matters is that they love everything within it. Every object you place in your home should look beautiful (to you), feel good to the touch, serve a purpose, and, where possible, bring multiple levels of joy.

And that’s the point. Enjoy life to the fullest. Use all your senses. Breathe it in deep—and don’t release that air too quickly. We’re here to enjoy everything life has to offer.