THE ACME STORY

 

ACME Studios was founded in Los Angeles in 1985 by Adrian Olabuenaga and his wife, Lesley Bailey. ACME made its first appearance with a limited edition collection of jewelry designed for them by Peter Shire, the LA-based member of the world renowned Memphis Group. Soon after the initial debut, ACME released a large collection of over one hundred pieces, MEMPHIS DESIGNERS for ACME, with the help of writer Barbara Radice and designer/architect, Ettore Sottsass. Little did Adrian and Lesley know that this collection would dramatically change the jewelry industry the same way the Memphis Group's furniture changed the design world. ACME was the first company other than Memphis Milano to work with all 14 Memphis designers including Andrea Branzi, Aldo Cibic, Michele De Lucchi, Matteo Thun, Ettore Sottsass, and others. The collection debuted at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in 1986, along with the last stop for the MEMPHIS touring show, before returning to Italy. Many pieces from this collection are now in the permanent collections of museums around the world (the Denver Art Museum and Brooklyn Museum of Art in the United States). The entire series is in the permanent collection of the Groninger Museum in Holland.

ACME followed up this successful collection with collections such as "Architects for ACME", "Artists for ACME", "Alchimia for ACME", "ACME Collection" along with several others. These collections gave ACME an opportunity to work with many different designers from diverse backgrounds and specializations only furthering their success and gaining status in the design industry.

After relocating to Maui, Hawaii in 1988, ACME ventured into the development of products such as wrist watches, men's accessories, and leather goods designed for them by the world's leading designers, artists and architects. During this time, ACME also completed an architectural work, CASA MAUI, designed specifically for Adrian and Lesley by Ettore Sottsass.

In 1997, ACME released its first collection of fine writing tools. Always on the cutting edge of design, ACME's writing tools revolutionized a new concept in the pen industry. Having collaborated with hundreds of top designers over the years, ACME has secured a place in both the pen industry as well as the design industry.

In 2009, ACME went further and produced the first bio-degradable, disposable pen with an ergonomic and also Earth friendly design.

ACME was nominated in 2009 for a National Design Award in Corporate Achievement by the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum. In 2010, they were again nominated but this time in 2 categories (product design and corporate achievement).

On April 27, 2007, the first ACME Flagship Store opened in Tokyo, Japan. The space, designed by Adrian, showcases all current production. The design of a store for the Fukuoka Airport in Japan was completed in February of 2009. In September, 2010, ACME opened both a shop in Vietnam and later the same month, celebrated the opening of the first Store in Singapore.

During 2011, ACME will introduce a new limited edition project: The Beatles Collection!!!





Lesley and Adrian



 

 

"ACME is now the Swatch® of the pen business."

 

-Ruth Shapiro, Merchandise Director, Museum of Modern Art, N.Y.

 


 

"They are total experts in Pop Culture."

-Ettore Sottsass, Architect/Designer

 


 

"It is always a pleasure to hear from you, about a new project that you want me involved in."

-Cesar Pelli, Architect

 


 

"There is more innovation in this company than in all other pen companies put together"

-Boyd Willat, owner and designer of Sensa Pen


"You have no idea how getting a new ACME pen uplifts my spirit - I suppose it is ridiculous to put so much stock in a pen, but ACME is more than just a pen, and a thing of beauty is a joy forever."

 

-Terry Mercer, ACME's most devoted collector

 


 

"If you want to write something worthwhile, do it with an ACME pen"

-Peter F. Bertrand, designer of the "Enduring Freedom" pen



"You are like the fucking King of cool design my friend, a one man force that gives America a stand up to Alessi [of course we had to import you from South America]...."

-Michael McKenzie , Writer & Art Historian


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