image via x-ray delta one / James Vaughan
Alix of Modern Kiddo recently posted about Nauga, the series of cute monster dolls made of Naugahyde synthetic leather fabric (“pleather”) which were created as a promotional advertising item for Naugahyde’s producer, Wisconsin-based Uniroyal Engineered Products, in the mid-1960s. It was advertising pioneer George Lois and designer Kurt Weihs that conceived and created this popular “mythical species” known as the Nauga. Naugas from the sixties are a beloved item for collectors but a modern version is available to purchase at the Naugahyde site. Modern Kiddo has the full story with lots of great images.
Back in the day, there was a rumor that Nauga was a real creature and that Uniroyal was collecting their hides to make the dolls. Here’s the official statement on that issue from the Naugahyde website’s FAQ:
Q: With all the cruelty in the world, how can you kill those cute little Naugas just for their hydes?
A: We don’t. Naugas shed their hydes without harm to themselves, making Naugahyde the Cruelty-Free Fabric…
A life-size Nauga with Johnny Carson (1966)
images via Modern Kiddo
via Modern Kiddo
