LIMITED EDITION CHOGO-KEN BY AMBUSH®
March 3, 2011

Here's the press kit on our.............

LIMITED EDITION CHOGO-KEN BY AMBUSH® LAUNCHES AT COLETTE!!!!

VERBAL and YOON of AMBUSH® have collaborated with Ken® for his 50th Anniversary Collection to create a hand-crafted doll, CHOGO-Ken by AMBUSH®, which sees the original 1960s Ken® encased in a robot shell, featuring AMBUSH®'s signature POW! as one of its fists.

"We are thrilled to be given this opportunity by Mattel with the freedom to dress American icon Ken® in the Japanese iconic "Chogokin" robot suit... our childhood fantasy!" YOON, AMBUSH®

Produced in a limited edition of 25, each CHOGO-Ken by AMBUSH® comes in its own custom-made box, featuring VERBAL and YOON's original design drawing, and launches exclusively at colette in Paris on Monday 7 March 2011. The following day they will be DJing at Ken®'s 50th anniversary celebration, taking place in-store 3-5pm, when their good friend Carri Munden also launches Cassette Playa x Ken® Collection. Guests will also be able to view an exhibition of Ken® archive dolls spanning the past 6 decades.

CHOGO-Ken by AMBUSH®

Opening their own creative agency 'ANYTHING GOES' in Tokyo in 2002, they launched their jewellery brand in 2004, creating comical renditions of mainstream hip hop jewellery. AMBUSH® continually innovates in jewellery and accessories design. Their POW! pendants and oversize rings, are often seen worn by: Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco, Kim Jones, Rihanna, Kanye West, and Lady Gaga, who has the double eyeball ring from their recent 'SKULL AMB BONES' Collection.

VERBAL is MC and producer for groups M-Flo and Teriyaki Boyz®, and YOON is a DJ, stylist, and graphics whizz, also PR for Billionaire Boys Club® / ICE CREAM™. Their Shibuya design premises overspill with 80s ephemera including a notable collection of ET figures, and original Ettore Sottsass Memphis pieces. VERBAL's on-site sound-proofed recording studio, is frequented by music luminaries including: Kanye West and Kool Keith.

Born Ken Carson, 11 March 1961 in Willows, Wisconsin, the first Ken® doll was $3.50, and had flocked hair, wearing red swimming trunks, and carrying a yellow towel. Later the same year, two further versions were launched with molded plastic hair; blond and brunette. By 1973, Mod Hair™ Ken® introduced his first ever rooted hairstyle, straight or curly, and even came with additional hairy accoutrements; including sideburns.

By 1978, Superstar Ken® was wearing an electric blue boilersuit, and in 1979, Sun Lovin'™ Malibu Ken®, with his molded blond hair and golden tan, underlined his surfer dude credentials. Sunsational Malibu Ken®, the first African American Ken®, was introduced in 1982, featuring a rooted Afro hairstyle. In 1984, Dream Date™ Ken® was the perfect arm candy for Barbie®, in his bow tie, tailored tux with a pink rose on the lapel, and grey pants with pink cummerbund. Totally Hair Ken® in 1992, even came with a tube of styling gel! In 1999, Shave ‘n' Style™ Ken®, a scruffy cool 90s heartthrob, wore regulation jeans and white Tee.

In 2009, designer Gareth Pugh dressed a limited edition Ken® to compliment all the Barbie collaborations commemorating her 50th anniversary!

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