Latest news with #Chamelo
Entrepreneur
13-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How These 2 Sports Icons Are Bringing Swagger to Next-Gen Eyewear
NYC sports legends Stephon Marbury and José Reyes bring their signature swagger and hands-on creative input to elevate Chamelo's brand and expand its reach. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Stephon Marbury had a tumultuous basketball career. He went from being hailed as a franchise savior in New Jersey to being lambasted as a scapegoat by his hometown New York Knicks. This all happened moving overseas to play in China, where he became revered like a god. But throughout all the ups and downs, one thing remained consistent with Marbury — his ability to market himself. From Brooklyn to Beijing, the Coney Island kid has always carried a unique swagger and stayed in touch with his roots. He became the first NBA player to endorse street ball brand AND 1, and launched the company into a new stratosphere of cultural relevance with his flashy play style and bravado. He turned his iconic nickname, Starbury, into a bona fide brand, dominating headlines in 2006. Now, as chief brand officer of Chamelo Eyewear, Marbury is channeling that same cultural clout and business savvy into a new arena. Related: The Next Chapter of Basketball? Why This New League Is Betting Big on 1v1 Hoops Futuristic vision Chamelo's aren't just any old sunglasses. They don't just block UV rays or make you look cool — you can adjust the tint, switch colors and even listen to music or take calls. While the tech itself isn't brand new, Chamelo has leveled it up, cutting the shade-change time down to just 0.9 seconds, compared to as long as eight minutes on other platforms. "What we're doing is exciting because it's something new to the world," Marbury says. "We've got Prismatic lenses that shift between four different colors. Nobody's ever seen that before. And when you're part of something that's never been done before, and it's a win-win for everyone, that's special." Marbury was first introduced to Chamelo's tech at the Jockey Club in Hong Kong, where he met founder Fenghua Li, an avid basketball fan. "Within the first five minutes, he showed me the glasses, and I was like, wait — do that again," Marbury recalls. "I'd never seen anything like it." Sensing the opportunity, Marbury immediately expressed interest in helping Chamelo expand into the U.S. It wasn't long before the two reconnected in Malibu and began building the business. Li sought out Marbury not just for his marketing prowess, but his legendary status in China, where he won three CBA championships for the Beijing Royal Fighters, becoming one of the country's most beloved athletes. "He figured doing business with me in America would be easy," Marbury says. "I said, look, it's not important for people to know my role — it's more important that we build this up and show people that the next wave of future technology is here." Related: Chris Paul Was Tired of Bland Plant-Based Snacks — So He Made His Own. Collaboration and teamwork Though Marbury wants Chamelo to carve out its lane in the eyewear industry, he also emphasizes the importance of collaboration. "We want to be friends with everybody so everyone can utilize our technology," he says. Since joining the company as chief brand officer, Marbury has led several creative marketing initiatives, including a limited-edition "Knicks Aura" sunglasses collection, a deal with China Duty Free Group, and a partnership with New York Mets legend Jose Reyes. "It was love at first sight," says Reyes. "Their style and lens color-changing technology reminded me of how I used to play. I would absolutely wear them in a game." As Chamelo's first official ambassador, Reyes worked closely with the brand to co-design a new sunglasses collection set to debut throughout 2025. "I was hands-on with the design, paying close attention to the details," he says. "My style will be amplified in this collection." Related: Shaquille O'Neal Is Settling the FTX Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Him By Investors. Here's How Much He'll Pay Out. An entrepreneurial past Chamelo isn't Marbury's first venture into consumer products. Nearly 20 years ago, he launched Starbury, a footwear brand that made headlines for its $15 sneakers and commitment to affordability. "Starbury was a great crash course," Marbury says. "I got to learn the American market at a challenging time." Despite early buzz, the brand faded after its exclusive retail partner, Steve & Barry's, filed for bankruptcy during the 2009 financial crisis. The experience taught Marbury a valuable lesson about control: "It's better to have everything in place and build a business where you can be vertical," he says. While Marbury's goal with the Starbury sneakers was to make quality footwear more accessible for kids, some critics misread the low price point as a sign of low quality. With Chamelo, he's taking a more strategic approach, following a "good-better-best" pricing model. "I always try to have something for everybody," he says. "Our next step is creating an affordable pair of glasses so kids can experience and experiment with the technology." In his short time as chief brand officer, Marbury has infused Chamelo with his signature swagger and unmistakable New York edge, helping the brand stand out in a crowded market. "We feel privileged and thankful that when people walk into certain stores and see Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace, and Prada, they also see little old us," he says. With recent partnerships alongside the New York Knicks and Jose Reyes, Chamelo's future is only getting brighter. Good thing the shades are adjustable.
USA Today
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Must-have gadgets of the season: From AI shoes to see-through TV screens
Must-have gadgets of the season: From AI shoes to see-through TV screens Show Caption Hide Caption Red or white wine? Tech tips to pick, open, pour for Thanksgiving These tech tips can help you find the perfect bottle of wine and make opening and pouring it a breeze! Problem Solved Whenever you start to think the latest gadgets are getting kind of boring, just wait a week or two. Recently, tech companies far and wide have dropped all kinds of gadgets gone wild. Check out some of the latest tech gizmos that caught our eye this season. Moonwalkers Aero – $1,200 Strapping on a pair of Shift Robotics Moonwalkers Aero new robotic "AI-informed" shoes feels like taking a step into the future. They make you walk seven times faster than normal, kind of like being on one of those moving sidewalks at airports. The top speed is about 7mph, and they can go anywhere from five to seven miles on a single charge, which is about 1.5 hours of "walk time" in them. There's no real learning curve. To speed up, you just take a bigger stride. To slow down or stop, you just slow down or stop. Onboard regenerative brakes slow you down and bring you to a smooth stand-still, similar to how the brakes work on most electric vehicles. Are they fun? Absolutely. But the deeper purpose is to help factory and warehouse workers — some six million in America alone — boost productivity with less effort. LG Signature Transparent OLED TV – $60,000 LG's Signature OLED 4K 77-inch see-through screen is insane. It's translucent, meaning you can see right through it, even when there's something on the screen. There's a darker film that rises up from the base at the touch of the remote, which turns it into a gorgeous next-gen, more "normal-looking" 4K TV. How does it work? It's similar to how transition sunglasses go from clear inside to darker when you go outside in the sun. The screen is made up of OLEDs — organic light-emitting diodes — printed on a transparent piece of glass no wider than a smartphone. The base of the set is wider because it houses all of the speakers and other important TV components, but it's still sleek and futuristic-looking, the kind of gadget that sparks TV-envy in any neighborhood on the planet. iPhone 16e review: I used Apple's newest phone for a week. Here's how it compares. It's also wireless, so you can actually put it right in front of a window without blocking a single view. Why would you want a see-through screen? Because having a giant black box on the wall is so 2020. Now, it's there when you want it and not when you don't. On sale now for $60,000. Clearly, this is the pinnacle of new TV tech, but LG has a bunch of award-winning OLED TVs for a wide range of budgets. Chamelo's Aura Color-Changing Sunglasses – $385 These Aura glasses by Chemelo are the world's first sunglasses that change color with a simple tap of your finger. Touch the side of the frame, and they shift between vibrant hues that are, according to the company, "scientifically designed to influence emotions and enhance well-being." I don't know about that part, but I get compliments everywhere I wear them. When I show off the magic lens touch, I get all kinds of "ooh's and ahh's" too. They're one of Time's Best Inventions of the Year for good reason. Transition lenses typically take around 30 seconds to get darker outside and a few minutes to lighten back up inside. These take a fraction of a second, thanks to a flexible, liquid crystal film controlled electronically by tapping or sliding a finger across the temples. Nekojita Fufu – Expected to cost around $25 Check out this little robot that totally blows — to cool off your hot drinks, of course. Because who can be bothered to do that themselves these days? Nekojita Fufu hooks onto the side of your mug and blows on your drinks or food so you don't burn your tongue. Is it simple? Yes. But it's smart too. The internal fan uses a special algorithm that supports up to eight blowing speeds. Seriously? A smarter mouth? Sign me up. Not all tech needs to be complicated, just functional, and being adorable doesn't hurt. I think it's great for hot flashes too. It's expected to go on pre-sale this summer for around $25, and it definitely falls into the "so silly, have to have it" category. Expected to go on presale this summer for about $25. Mirumi – Expected to cost around $70 From the same folks behind the coffee-cooling kitty comes a vision for the future of robots that serve no other purpose than to make you smile. Mirumi is a furry little companion bot that imitates a shy infant. The robot senses and steals glances at nearby people while clinging to a bag strap, your clothing or a backpack. Using sensors, it detects and appears to inquisitively turn its head to engage nearby people or objects with adorable googly eyes. But its inquisitive appearance has limits. When the bot is suddenly approached or touched, it ducks away to simulate shyness. Using a combination of a distance sensor and an inertial measurement unit to detect movement, Mirumi appears to react in different ways to what it senses. It will start to look around once a bag begins to move and then appear to focus its gaze on a person or an object detected nearby. The whole idea is to share happiness with others. In a crowded subway, a grocery line, wherever and whenever, Mirumi's purpose in life is to make people smile. Expected to go on presale in the fall for about $70. BodyFriend Pharaoh Q Massage Chair – $15,000 These are a different kind of robot, like the Rolls Royce of massage chairs. The Pharaoh Q is one of the most luxurious models on the market, blending high-end tech with a premium design inspired by Egyptian royalty. It features natural leather seats, a built-in high-end stereo system and touchscreen controls. The 4D rollers move up, down, left and right, and even adjust intensity and speed dynamically. This provides a deeper, more human-like massage. The L-Track and S-Track hybrid design covers from the neck down to the glutes, ensuring full back and lower body coverage. Air compression massage uses 64 airbags for full-body compression, improving blood circulation and reducing muscle tension. Other features include zero-gravity recline for spinal decompression, infrared heat therapy in the lumbar and calf areas, and Bluetooth speakers with mood lighting. Each leg moves independently to massage, relax and stretch core and lower body muscles. It heats up and uses rollers, air compression and acupressure to deliver light, medium and deep tissue relief from top to bottom. The chair also includes a stretching series that massages and applies acupressure to the lower back, calves, feet and hamstrings to improve circulation. The XD-PRO heating module moves in 80 stages with incredible precision, providing a massage as detailed as that of a human hand. It's amazing for aging populations. My dad is 86, and this is exactly what he needs to stay mobile and reduce stress. BodyFriend Falcon SV Massage Chair – $8,000 The Falcon SV is "only" $8,000 and offers a pared-down version of the Pharaoh Q's features. It includes Robo-Walking technology with independent leg movement, taking chair massage to the next level. Features include individual leg stretching, a custom user account that remembers your body and massages, 29 multi-massage auto programs, and a zero-gravity recline to elevate feet above the heart for deep relaxation. It can help stretch your legs, improve circulation, and increase range of motion. The Falcon SV also includes 36 airbags that provide compression from hands to heels and a sole roller massage for tired feet. Auto safety sensors keep kids and pets safe. While it may not have all the extras of the Pharaoh Q, it still offers an exceptional massage experience. This story has been updated with a corrected photo. Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air contributor for "The Today Show.' The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her through her newsletter at or follow her @JennJolly on Instagram.
