A Hyde to go Nauga Over
In 1966, designers Kurt Weihs and George Lois, spawned the ugly Nauga, a mythical chameleon-like species who shed their hide once a year for the good of mankind. Their hide became the material of which UniRoyal created their superb vinyl leather that bewildered interior decorators and became and instant winner in the furniture market.
The Nauga, larger
than a baskebtball
center, became the
spokesman for
Naugahyde on TV
and in national magazine advertisements. Inside the Naugahyde costume was the very hot, and very sweaty, comedian Chuck McCann. The Nauga became a hangtag, and a 12-inch doll for kids.
But before the first ad ran, legal objections were raised. The Federal Trade Commission raised objections that people might look upon the ugly Nauga as a for-real living species. Its hide might be considered genuine leather, and that, they contended, could be deemed deceptive advertising.
“Kill the Nauga,” they said, a direct contradiction to the Naugahyde way, a Cruetly Free Fabric shed by the Nauga with no harm to themselves. But a George Louis and a team made up of collegues from the ad agency hit Fifth Avenue and asked tourists and New Yorkers alike, “Is this a real animal?” The answer came back with resounding scoffs at the incredulence that one cold think so, afterall, it’s nothing more than a fat, so-ugly its-cute, snarling, make believe creature. Oh, and “with a cute tush.”
The Nauga was saved. The toy, made of buttery soft Naugahyde, is a collectors item. Jenette Kahn, the president of DC Comics, sleeps with 31 of the sexy little beasts.
Link: George Louis | Naugahyde
