THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: Why sex tech was the biggest deal at this year's CES →

For a conference located in the heart of America’s sin city, Las Vegas, the CES gadget show has had an oddly puritanical attitude towards sex tech.

For the past few years it was possible to find the odd sexual aid aimed at men toward the back of the health and fitness halls, but it wasn’t until last year that the category established itself at CES.

In 2019, Lora DiCarlo dared to exhibit a prototype sex toy designed for female sexual pleasure, without the requisite pretence of health and fitness, and it garnered an Innovation Award for the tiny robotics inside.

A few days later the CTA — the company behind CES — revoked the award, stating it was against the rules because the product was "immoral, obscene, indecent, profane or not in keeping with CTA's image".

Following a massive backlash the award was later reinstated, and in 2020 CES officially opened its door to sex tech for the first time.

And while there were just a few sex tech booths at the show last week, all of which were relegated to the very back of a side hall, the category displayed some of the most innovative thinking on the whole show floor.

By far the most entertaining booth at CES was Crave. Below a ceiling-high banner demanding attendees embrace their sexual pleasure was a small combi-van with a build-your-own-vibrator experience.

The company was founded by industrial designer Ti Chang. Crave’s best selling product is the Vesper, which Chang describes as a really strong clitoral vibrator that you can also wear out as a necklace.

"You may be wondering, 'Why would anyone want to wear a vibrator out?'," says Chang.

MysteryVibe co-founder Soumyadip Rakshit.CREDIT:PETER WELLS

"But the magic of this product is that women are wearing this out, and they’re instagramming the crap out of it, and it’s great so many women are embracing their pleasure, owning it. They're telling us they feel empowered, but also these products are enabling them to start conversations with their friends and their lovers that they otherwise would not have had.

"I feel shame has always been part of the sex toy experience, because of the looks, because of the size. Oftentimes people feel like right after they use their toys to have to hide it, they have to stash it somewhere.

And I think that is a horrible user experience. We just don't think there's any room for shame or embarrassment in the experience of pleasure.”

EVERYDAY HEALTH: A Brave New World of Women’s Health Tech: What Turned Heads at CES 2020 →

From high-tech vibrators to smart breast pumps, these female-focused products are innovating women’s healthcare.

Fem tech, also known as female-based health technology, is flourishing. For the first time, innovative products targeting women’s sexual health were on display at CES, the world’s largest trade show for consumer electronics.

Just a few months ago, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced a change in CES policies that marked a shift toward gender equity in this year’s show — the inclusion of sex-tech products on a one-year trial basis in the health and wellness category.

The Sex Toy That Started It All

The policy change resulted from a 2019 debacle involving a high-tech pleasure device. CES rescinded the innovation award it had bestowed on the start-up company Lora DiCarlo’s high-tech personal massager.

The award was eventually reinstated, but not before the controversy stirred a healthy debate about the role of sexual pleasure and orgasm in women’s well-being.

Meet the Women and the Products Enabling Sexual Self-Care

The Beginning of the End for an Industry’s Double Standards?

“One of the reasons for the backlash last year was that so many people were used to seeing male sexual products on the floor,” says Ti Chang, the cofounder of Crave, a San Francisco–based company that makes wearable vibrators, which was allowed to set up a booth at this year’s show for the first time.

“The definition of women’s health and wellness is expanding, and it should include physical health, mental health, emotional health, and sexual health,” says Chang.

It was clear at this year’s convention that many agreed. Here are the top female-health gadgets that took center stage at CES for driving the evolution of pleasure, health, and sex tech.

MASHABLE: Sex tech dominated CES 2020. Will the fragile relationship blossom or die on the vine? →

CES organizers have been coy about the future of their relationship with a new crop of companies selling sex positivity and sexual wellness.

Despite being one of the biggest tech conferences of the year, CES rarely actually feels like the center for game-changing visions of the future anymore. From smart homes to robots, it's mostly a lot of incremental improvements overblown to sound like tremendous progress.

Except, that is, for this year's new sex tech category.

After last year's major controversy when CES banned and revoked the Innovation Award in Robotics given to Lora DiCarlo's women's pleasure device, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the bigwigs behind CES, officially agreed to allow sex tech onto the show floor (and only on a trial basis).

Sex tech companies didn't disappoint, either, announcing their long-awaited arrival into mainstream tech with fanfare.

COSMOPOLITAN: Why Can’t CES Get “the Woman Thing” Right? →

amed tech conference CES has once again shown that when it comes to women in tech, it has absolutely no idea what gender equality really means.

CES has been rampantly and famously sexist for years: Since the mid-century, male-founded companies have hired women to work as scantily clad “booth babes”; organizers have consistently failed to include female speakers, claiming it was simply not possible to find women with the same levels of technical expertise, experience, credibility, and gravitas as the many white men dominating their stage (which, yeah, sure); there is no official policy against sexual harassment that might take place during the conference; and last year, it revoked an award for a female-founded sex toy (more on that later).

REVIEW JOURNAL: In CES’ first year allowing sex tech, visitors build own vibrators →

In the first year that CES is permitting sex tech companies to show their products, one company went a step further by hosting workshops where small groups could build those products themselves.

Electrical and mechanical engineers for Crave guided visitors on how to assemble the motor, circuit board, battery and silicone for their flagship Duet vibrator.

From a hardware perspective, the technology is no different from other health and wellness products displayed at the four-day trade show. And for Crave co-founder and designer Ti Chang, products that focus on women’s sexual health and wellness deserve equal representation on the showroom floor.

“I think CES is a show for technology that furthers humanity and improves people’s lives,” said Chang, co-founder and designer of Crave. “Women are 50 percent of the population, and products for us are just as important as products for men.”

The San Francisco-based company arrived at the trade show with a 1961 Airstream outfitted with neon, product displays and a counter for the Build-A-Vibe workshops. Above the Airstream hung a manifesto that summed up the brand’s mission statement: Own your pleasure.

“I truly believe that when people own their pleasure, they live more fulfilled and happy lives,” Chang said. “And so for me, it’s just being able to create these products that support them to do that.”

CNET: Sex tech at CES wants to break down the barriers to pleasure →

Sex tech has its foot in the door, but it's only the beginning.

Ti Chang, co-founder of Crave, said the company has been around for nearly 10 years. It was rejected from exhibiting at CES in 2016 and didn't try returning to CES until 2020.

She hopes that the CTA decides to bring sex tech back next year and to recognize that it's advancing the conversation about women's pleasure.

In an email, the CTA said it would follow its "standard policies and procedures following this year's show to determine next steps."

CNN: CES banned sex tech last year. Now it's all the rage →

Las Vegas (CNN Business)At one of the world's biggest tech trade shows, where companies come to talk up oversized televisions and curious concept cars, two engineers walked attendees through a build-your-own vibrator workshop.

Crave, the sex tech company behind the exhibit at this year's CES, offers a variety of vibrators aimed at women, including one that doubles as an Instagrammable necklace. At the expo in Las Vegas, the company launched a gold vibrator ring.

"It's jewelry. Customers wear it to places where they're starting conversations with their lovers or friends," Ti Chang, Crave cofounder and VP of design, told CNN Business. "Women's pleasure has been stigmatized for so long," she added. Chang hopes the workshops and the wearable nature of her products will help people feel more comfortable discussing sexuality.

INPUT: I built my own vibrator at Crave's CES booth, where female pleasure comes first →

San Francisco-based sex toy company, Crave, officially made its CED debut on Tuesday at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. It’s the first year the consumer tech show has allowed sex tech-makers to openly exhibit on the show floor- though some have managed to make an appearance in the past, anyway.

CES hasn’t exactly been welcoming to female-focused pleasure brands and has still struggled to cope with anything even marginally taboo, but Crave co-founder Ti Chang wasn’t about to let anything stand in her way.

The company is perhaps best known for its Vesper vibrator necklace- an elegant toy designed not to hide in the shadows, but sit front and center like any other piece of jewelry.

INDEPENDENT: Ivanka Trump CES invite draws backlash from women in tech: 'She's not a CEO. →

She has no background' 'It's a lazy attempt to emulate diversity,' critic says

GEEKWIRE: CES allows sex tech on show floor for first time and this Seattle startup CEO wonders what took so long →

LAS VEGAS — Health and wellness technology has long been a theme at CES. But there’s one notable addition this year: sex tech companies are allowed on the show floor for the first time ever.

The inclusion of high-tech vibrators, lube dispensers, and related products at the world’s largest tech show comes after controversy in 2019. CES organizers last year revoked an innovation award for Osé, a robotic massager developed in partnership with Oregon State University.

Backlash ensued as Lora DiCarlo, the Bend, Ore.-based startup behind Osé, protested the decision. Not only was the award reinstated, but the discussions led CES to include sex tech companies among thousands of other exhibitors this year on a trial basis.

HUFFPOST: The Best Sex Toy Jewelry Of 2019 →

Necklaces, rings, handcuffs and more gorgeous jewelry that does more than just look pretty.

Vibrator necklaces, golden handcuffs and multispeed statement rings are just a few of the innovative sex toy accessories all over social media in 2019, inspiring critical conversations about sexual agency and pleasure. A new wave of Instagram-famous sex toys that double as delicate, discrete jewelry pieces are just as beautiful as they are functional, and they’re helping to make sex toy stigma a thing of the past. This year, sex toys got a much-needed style update, and so did attitudes about pleasure and gender inclusivity.

“Sex toys had not been thought worthy of design for a very long time because of cultural taboo and stigma,” said Ti Chang, designer and co-founder of Crave. Chang first started designing pleasure jewelry back in 2008, and she found inspiration in the power of fashion to express personal identity and values. Unlike the “adult novelty” items that dominated the market at the time, Chang believed pleasure products could be elevated and tasteful. “I felt very strongly that owning one’s pleasure is a statement that needed to be made, and wearing erotic, sexual jewelry conveys a sense of personal ownership, as well as encouraging this topic to be discussed openly,” Chang said.

According to Polly Rodriguez, CEO and co-founder of Unbound, sex toy jewelry makes a powerful, shamelessly sexy statement. ″The public component of wearing the jewelry has its own sense of arousal, in that it’s a shared secret that makes you feel a bit daring and bold. Those who recognize it are in on the secret, along with those you choose to share it with,” Rodriguez told HuffPost. “That sense of power and control that you give the wearer is, in my opinion, incredibly hot.”

For women and nonbinary people especially, Rodriguez believes sex toy jewelry can offer a powerful form for sexual expression. “Products that give back a bit of power are so much more than just pretty pieces of jewelry. It’s a quiet protest that you can’t and won’t be tamed or silenced, and that you get to decide when and how to display your sexuality. It’s exciting to me that that little bit of rebellion is becoming more popular, especially considering it’s across traditionally marginalized groups of people.”

Everyone deserves sex toys that look as good as they feel, and 2019’s sex toy jewelry trend proved that beauty — and pleasure — is for everyone.

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.

BRAVO TV: Yep, That Would Be Carole Radziwill Wearing a Vibrator as a Necklace →

The Real Housewives of New York City alum is wearing a sex toy around her neck, and we've got lots of questions.

Carole Radziwill wears her vibrator around her neck. Yep, you read that right. The Real Housewives of New York City alum recently came clean about her sex-toy habits, and let's just say she doesn't keep hers locked up in a stuffy drawer somewhere.

In a November 4 Instagram post, Carole shared the following anecdote: "The craziest thing happened to me on the way to Los Angeles. Somewhere over Kansas,  I remembered I'd forgotten to pack my favorite vibrator ... It’s called the Vesper and I love it ... I panicked."

Before we continue, let us just explain how the Vesper works. This particular vibrator, invented by Crave, has a little twist. Dangling delicately from a necklace chain, it's meant to double as elegant jewelry. A statement necklace, if you will. 

Carole continued her tale: "As luck would have it, I was traveling with my friend ... who, in a odd twist of fate, is good friends with Ti Chang the founder of [Crave.] He connected us on text and the next morning a new 24k gold Vesper arrived at my hotel. Crisis averted."

Not only was the fire put out: A new partnership was born.

"I told Ti how much I loved the Vesper, not only as a vibrator but as a necklace too," Carole shared. "Girls always ask me about the necklace and when I tell them it is also a vibrator they all want it. Ti asked if I would like to create my own limited edition Vesper." Her answer? "Yesssss!"

She added, "I wanted to personalize it, so in [RHONY] style I came up with my own tag line. 'DON’T KILL MY VIBE' which is discreetly engraved on the side."

SHOWBIZ CHEATSHEET: ‘RHONY’: Carole Radziwill’s Necklace Pulls Double Duty →

As a busy journalist, Carole Radziwill from The Real Housewives of New York City often has to quickly pack a bag and hop an airplane. Radziwill has posted from a number of locations spanning from California to Nantucket, Massachusetts.

When Radziwill was on RHONY, she often traveled with her edgy fashions. Her style was usually a topic of conversation and she could pull off even the most daring high couture. She still shares pictures of new fashions. Recently fans got a glimpse of her wearing sequins, sneakers, and faux fur. She also rocks some awesome swimwear too.

But most recently she shared a story and a photo of one fashionable item that appears to be a special necklace. The secret is that the jewelry isn’t just a necklace. In fact, what appears to be a statement necklace actually doubles as something that seems to surprise anyone who asks.

‘Crisis averted’

Radziwill shared a story about how she was able to avoid a “serious” crisis during a recent trip. She was in-flight and got that sinking feeling that she was missing something. Like Kevin McCallister’s mother from Home Alone, Radziwill didn’t realize she’d forgotten the important item until it was too late.

As a busy journalist, Carole Radziwill from The Real Housewives of New York City often has to quickly pack a bag and hop an airplane. Radziwill has posted from a number of locations spanning from California to Nantucket, Massachusetts.

When Radziwill was on RHONY, she often traveled with her edgy fashions. Her style was usually a topic of conversation and she could pull off even the most daring high couture. She still shares pictures of new fashions. Recently fans got a glimpse of her wearing sequins, sneakers, and faux fur. She also rocks some awesome swimwear too.

Carole Radziwill attends Universal Pictures With The Cinema Society Host The After Party For “Green Book” at Jimmy At The James Hotel, NYC |Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

But most recently she shared a story and a photo of one fashionable item that appears to be a special necklace. The secret is that the jewelry isn’t just a necklace. In fact, what appears to be a statement necklace actually doubles as something that seems to surprise anyone who asks.

‘Crisis averted’

Radziwill shared a story about how she was able to avoid a “serious” crisis during a recent trip. She was in-flight and got that sinking feeling that she was missing something. Like Kevin McCallister’s mother from Home Alone, Radziwill didn’t realize she’d forgotten the important item until it was too late.

The fact she forgot to pack this much-needed item put her into a panic.
“The craziest thing happened to me on the way to Los Angeles. Somewhere over Kansas,  I remembered I’d forgotten to pack my favorite vibrator. It’s called the Vesper and I love it (swipe to see closeup). I panicked,” she wrote and shared a photo of what appears to be Radziwill wearing an elegant necklace.

“As luck would have it, I was traveling with my friend  @Grant_hughes_  who, in a odd twist of fate, is good friends with Ti Chang the founder of @Lovecrave,” she continued. “He connected us on text and the next morning a new 24k gold Vesper arrived at my hotel. Crisis averted. 😂”

Who knew?

Radziwill then reveals that the vibrator doubles as a necklace. “I told Ti how much I loved the Vesper, not only as a vibrator but as a necklace too. That’s right the Vesper is an elegant necklace that double as a vibrator. Girls always ask me about the necklace and when I tell them it is also a vibrator they all want it.”

So guess what? Crave is now offering a limited edition Vesper with Radziwill’s personal style. “Ti asked if I would like to create my own limited edition Vesper. Yesssss! I wanted to personalize it, so in #Rhony style I came up with my own tag line. “DON’T KILL MY VIBE” which is discreetly engraved on the side. So here it is (⛓in bio) to order your limited edition necklace/vibe. I promise all your girlfriends will want one.”

The Carole Radziwill Vesper is offered in three colors and retails for $69 at Crave. The words, “Don’t kill my vibe” are inscribed along the side. The piece is well-reviewed and almost has five stars.

GLAM: Shocker! The Best Sex Toys For Women Are Made By Women →

Here’s a thought: Women deserve sex toys for women made by women.

Just a few years ago, buying a vibrator (especially your first!) was a wrought experience. From the seedy locations of “adult stores” to the overwhelming e-comm sites filled with giant, phallic vibrators, there was nothing enjoyable about the shopping experience, and that’s in large part because it was dominated by men. But in 2019, just about every category has gotten a direct-to-consumer reinvention, aimed at streamlining every industry in every way — from design to transparency in customer communications to ease of shopping. And sex toys, devices, and other accoutrements are (thankfully!) no exception. A number of forward-thinking female entrepreneurs are reinventing the category for people with vaginas. 

They’re looking at the creation of sex toys from a plethora of angles — everything from affordability to pleasure (obviously) to safety. For example, vibrators aren’t regulated by the FDA and as such, can contain ingredients like parabens or phthalates. Every brand mentioned here works to create body-safe products. Design is another important element, and a few of the founders we spoke to mentioned moving away from the traditional (and intimidating!) phallic vibrators of the past to create new shapes that are more compatible with the sexual needs of people who have vaginas. What’s more, the newer designs can actually hang out on your nightstand (or around your neck!) while looking discreet and, frankly, even cool. Because if you ask the ladies behind these brands, your sexual pleasure should bring you pride and not shame. 

Below, a look at some of the most inspiring women in the sex toy space — and their most beloved creations.

PLAYBOY: The Female-Owned Crave Is Putting Pleasure Front and Center →

Can Crave’s smart design help reduce stigma around self-pleasure? We hope so

Like most great conversations about sex, my conversation with Ti Chang was frank, personal, and over wine.

Chang is co-founder of Crave, a startup that makes beautifully designed sex toys and accessories for women. I first met her at her studio office in the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco, a rapidly gentrifying area that is now a very on-theme patchwork of tech startups and leather bars. As she shows me around her studio, I immediately notice that Chang is not your average tech personality. Instead of spouting vague corporate messaging, Chang is genuinely interested in the details of manufacturing. She excitedly shows me around the various instruments for making prototypes in-house, from multiple 3D printers to a special tray designed to test the battery life of dozens of vibrators at a time. Among the chaos of equipment and moodboards are the products themselves. Minimalist and elegant, I forget for a moment that they’re sex toys.

CISION: IDSA Partners with New TV Series “California by Design: Innovations” →

The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) announced its partnership with “California by Design: Innovations” during the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) Ceremony & Gala on Aug. 22, 2019 at VenueSIX10 in Chicago, IL.

“California by Design: Innovations” will air Sunday mornings in March-April 2020 on the FOX Television Network in Los Angeles and the San Francisco / Bay Area. The countdown format television show will feature IDSA as an industry partner and longtime IDSA members Dan Harden and Ti Chang as co-presenters.

The design community is invited to submit innovations for the show via the “California by Design: Innovations” website.

OVERVIEW

“California by Design: Innovations” tells the stories behind the great innovations that are changing the way we live our lives. Innovators will share the challenges they’re facing, the problems they’re solving and the amazing benefits their innovations are providing to individuals, communities, industry and society.

“California by Design” revives the popular “Towards 2000” genre of television entertainment, providing a mass mainstream audience with deep insights into what it takes to imagine, create and bring to life new ideas and innovations.

COOLS: The Brands Bringing Female Energy Back To Sex Toys →

Mainstream sex shops always manifest the usual agenda: penis-shaped lollipops, flimsy lingerie that is bound to tear (intentionally or unintentionally, that’s your M.O.) upon first wear, and the piece de resistance—an array of much-too-realistic dildos and vibrators lining every corner of the store. Though some of us may be into veiny, frighteningly-large sex toys, some of us would rather have something, well, pleasurable to the eye and our bodies.

That’s why we’re focusing our attention (and our orgasms) to these women-owned sex toy brands. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing to look at, but they’re created by women to manifest the female energy that the sex industry has neglected for decades. Take a look at some of our favorite women-run sex toy brands, and read what the founders had to say about the pitfalls and triumphs of the modern sex industry.