Before it became the chic little vibrator ring it is today, Palma was an idea we batted around for years. At Unbound, we think a lot about how pleasure needs to be more visible–whether it's more conversations about what feels good and why, or simply creating sexual toys and accessories that don't get relegated exclusively to the bedroom. We wanted this vibrator ring to be a conversation piece and a symbol of unapologetic pride in our pleasure.

When we found out that Unbound had been accepted into one of the most well-regarded tech competitions, we knew our chance to make “The Ring” had come. All we needed to do was build it...in 2 months. If there is one thing our team does well, it's moving fast. We are a small team of 8 but every day at the office feels like a movie montage when the main character is mastering a new skill or preparing for an epic battle. To get a working prototype done by the time of the competition, we knew we’d have to grind. (Queue the montage!)

As we began to map out exactly what would make this ring special, we leaned on each other, our network of friends and a handful of priceless contractors like never before. We came in early, we stayed late, we wistfully scrolled down our Instagram feeds as our friends brunched and vacationed their way through the summer.

We’d been using "Frodo" as a working name up to that point and the time had come to land on something final. Initially, the code name came up during a conversation a few of us were having on the subway. A code name felt necessary and since we're a bunch of whimsical nerds, we landed on Frodo. We named Palma using the same extensive scientific strategy that we always use when naming our products–we put a million names on a whiteboard, pour some wine, and bat names back and forth as a group until we land on something we like. “Palma” came up and after a bunch of 'I don’t hate it!'s...we came to a consensus. We really like the name and hope you do too.

 

 

 

 

To get the prototype working, we became students of soldering and masters of the group order from our favorite Thai spot. There may be no crying in baseball but we assure you there is in vibrator making. Just days before the competition, in what felt maybe a little too close for comfort but will make for a good scene when Diablo Cody writes her screenplay about Unbound, we turned the ring on and it worked.

 Being anything other than a white guy in the startup world means you are always having to justify your presence.

“Is this actually tech?”

“Who really designed this?”

“So aRe WOmeN gOinG TO bE mAstuRbAtTInG evEryWhERe nOw?”

To be honest, we struggle with being “tech” enough as well. We designed Palma to be a ring that people actually wear and a vibrator that’s actually good. Sure, there’s tech–Palma's Tilt mode increases vibration based on the movement of your hand and Tap mode allows you to create patterns and play them back using haptic technology. It’s tech alright, but it’s also just a chic vibe ring that puts pleasure back into our hands. In the end, we took second in the competition–something we were really proud to do. When we got back to New York, we got back to work. Now, it was time to bring Palma to the masses.

“We have a large new project coming up and we’re in the process of looking for the perfect manufacturing partner. Can your team work with stainless steel to make a vibrator?”

How do you look for someone to make a vibrating ring? Where would we find someone with an eye for beauty and an understanding and appreciation for cutting edge technology?

Before the final touches were put on the design and technical specs, Nisreen put out a call for RFPs (requests for proposals) in manufacturing communities experienced in making everything from GPS watches to custom jewelry.

The initial responses were...weird.

 Then, on a whim, Nisreen contacted one of our existing manufacturers, a trusted partner that was responsible for producing Ollie, which we were preparing to release in November 2018. Kity quickly wrote back.

Over the next few weeks, Kity and Nisreen exchanged hundreds of messages over e-mail and WeChat, discussing everything from 3D renders, to adjustments to the PCB boards for Palma and the charger, to visas for China. Kity was invaluable in these early stages. Prior to becoming the manufacturing director at the factory, she had been the lead in launching manufacturing in China for a major automobile company, and her calm and disciplined project planning were a balm as we prepared to execute the biggest project we had undertaken as a company (on one of our tightest timelines).

As we moved into fall and began prepping for the holiday season, Nisreen and our product designer hopped on a plane to Shenzhen. It was time to push this project over the finish line.

Over the next four weeks, the manufacturing team would refine the design and make final tweaks to the packaging. There were moments when we questioned everything. Tension ran high as our small team pulled long days in the office and the manufacturing facility to push toward production on time. From the outside, manufacturing can feel like a strictly technical process but there’s so much more to it. It requires so much communication, so much creativity, and a lot of hope too. Having really solid manufacturing partners was so important to us–not just as a product company, but as humans who wanted to make sure we were engaging in safe, ethical practices.

After weeks of planning, re-designing, and re-finalizing, we were ready. The factory got the go-ahead to take Palma to mass production and within a few weeks, our first batch of rings was on its way to New York where our warehouse is.

 

 

When the first shipment arrived, our amazing, mighty team stood in a circle and opened that first box. Lots of sighs of relief, lots of pats on the back, lots of appreciation for the time & energy & heart that it took to get this lil' vibe ring to where it is now. Palma made it back home to us and now, we’re incredibly happy to share it with you. In a time when endless legislation and relentless societal pressure tells us how to enjoy our bodies, it feels nice to make something that helps push back on that. We’re not curing cancer and Palma won’t get you that raise that you've definitely earned, but the hope is that Palma helps people enjoy their bodies more & encourages more conversation about pleasure.

Maybe Palma never leaves your bedroom, or maybe you wear it to your first meeting with your exploratory committee for a presidential run. It’s up to you. 

Enjoy it.