perrier celebrates 160th anniversary with limited edition bottle by philippe starck

introducing the limited-edition PERRIER + STARCK bottle

In honor of its 160th anniversary, the French sparkling water brand Perrier unveils a fresh take on its iconic green bottle, a design reimagined by the renowned Philippe Starck. This collaboration marks another milestone in the brand’s storied history of artistic partnerships, which has included a floral bottle created with Takashi Murakami and a bottle adorned with the artwork of Andy Warhol. The new limited-edition PERRIER + STARCK design is set to hit the global market in mid-October 2023.

Perrier unveils a fresh take on its iconic green bottle, reimagined by Philippe Starck | all images by Anne-Lou Buzot

Philippe Starck’s Vision: A Timeless Icon Transformed

In Philippe Starck’s interpretation, the Perrier bottle becomes a distinctive and refined creation that still retains its iconic shape. The thin horizontal stripes engraved on the glass surface of the PERRIER + STARCK bottle are inspired by Fresnel’s optical lens design, and the way it diffracts light. The resulting design creates visual interest through the play of optics and light that illuminates the enormous source of energy and poetry that lies within the bubbles and the overall energy of the famed Perrier brand (find more here).

‘Keeping the essence of an icon unaltered, it’s possible to distort and play with the shape to apply current parameters to a timeless form. This is what I did with the addition of this highly technical horizontal grooving, which creates a natural rigidity,’ explains Philippe Starck (find more here). ‘But it’s not just about technique, it’s also about exploring the Unknown. In my project, the Unknown is encapsulated in the notion that each bubble is a magnifying glass, and that by using the structure to shape a Fresnel lens, I could create an optical surprise, bringing intrigue and a spark of fantasy,’ he adds. Starck also discusses his personal experience with Perrier bottles, recalling his childhood when he was afraid the bottle would slip out of his hands and therefore clutched it so tightly it hurt, as he describes. ‘This is why I chose this striated pattern. The bottle clings to me, I cling to the bottle: another form of play. And you’ll see it, in this new bottle, the bubbles are absolutely out of this world.’

the thin horizontal stripes engraved on the glass surface are inspired by Fresnel’s optical lens design