100 Great Icons

Fascinating histories of the products that have surpassed popularity, transcended cool, and forever imprinted themselves on our cultural identity.

Who can say they have no emotional reaction when they think of a frisbee, or a teddy-bear, or a Harley-Davidson, or a Rubik's Cube?

These are just a few of the stylish and cool products and brands that have captured the imagination and adoration of the general public and in doing so have risen to the realm of the icon. Behind most icons are fascinating histories of struggle, ingenuity and often single-minded stubborness.

The Vespa was designed to save Italy's economy by mobilising the country's population when World War II left her roads and cities cratered. The inspiration for Post-It Notes came to their inventor as he sat through a dull sermon, annoyed at the bookmark which constantly slipped from his hymn book. The velcro idea struck after a keen bushwalker returned from the mountains with cockleburrs stuck obstinately to his dog's coat. 100 Great Icons is full of fascinating dinner-party facts, emotive memories, historically accurate detail and enthralling, believe-it-or-not stories of exactly how these amazing icons became more than just products.