On Feb. 8, Chakrubs introduced a new product into its collection. The Zoë is a curved dildo made entirely of clear quartz. The “power stone,” is designed to provide sexual pleasure, purify the body, enhance romantic relationships and even stimulate the immune system. But perhaps even more intriguing than the toy itself is the story of how it came into existence in the first place.
The Zoë is, in reality, an eponym. It’s named after Zoë Ligon of Spectrum Boutique, an online sex toy retailer and sex education platform. A chance meeting among mutual friends put her in contact with Vanessa Cuccia, Chakrub’s founder. Soon thereafter, the two began talks of creating a novel addition to the Chakrub family.
Ligon’s journey into the world of sexuality began eight years ago. At 18 years old, she started incorporating pornographic images into original artwork. That pursuit eventually landed her the title of “visual artist,” and her work featured in galleries around the country.
Eventually, she landed a job at Babeland, a sex-positive sex shop with locations in New York City and Seattle. Her experience on the sales floor inspired her to start writing instructional and informative pieces about sexuality and sexual health. “That decision came really naturally to me,” she tells XBIZ. “Writing has always been a passion of mine.” After a year on the job, she decided it was time to leave Babeland and create a space where she could combine her interests in sexual pleasure and sexual education.
Ligon started Spectrum Boutique back in 2015. The goal was to create a store that didn’t market in accordance to the gender binary. She wanted to sell quality toys, and she sought to incorporate context and education into the sales model.
“It’s really meaningful work for me. It’s what I do for a living but it’s also an incredibly emotional experience for me,” she explains. “I describe myself more as a peer educator. We’re all learning together. I like to show my own vulnerabilities. Even a sex educator can feel lost at times.”
By the time the opportunity to collaborate with Cuccia rolled around, her business was already three years old. “I feel like I’ve finally found my stride,” she says.
The Chakrubs brand caters to a niche clientele that values the healing properties of crystals. The company’s name is actually derived from “Chakra,” a Sanskrit word describing “energy wheels.” The idea is to find ways to imbue the sexual experience with a level of spirituality that other sex toys simply don’t deliver. By her own admission, Ligon is not necessarily a part of this community.
“I kind of stepped in as a skeptic, but I ended up learning a lot and really enjoyed myself in the process,” she explains. “It was really exciting to see my 2D ideas translated into a 3D item.”
Unlike most of the other items in the Chakrubs collection, the Zoë possess a sharp curve and can be used from either side. It also contains a bit more girth than some of the other products, a point which is reflected in the price. The Zoë retails at $250, which isn’t exactly cheap for a sexual pleasure product.
“I drew the general silhouette with certain dimensions in mind,” she explains. Upon first glance, industry insiders might notice a slight resemblance to other favorite designs. For Ligon, incorporating experiences with tried-and-true sex toy design and breadth was integral to the design process. “It was really important for me to work with a shape that my body wanted to interact with,” she says.
Based on the nature of the material, Ligon thought it might be appropriate to test-drive the prototype in a more delicate and dignified space. So when she got her hands on one of the initial models, she took it with her into the bathtub.
“It’s definitely not where I usually go to use my toys, but the crystal seemed to demand a more beautiful and respectful place,” she says. “It was a different experience for me, and a more emotional one than using a silicone toy, which I generally would use.”
The decision to use clear quartz was intentional. For one, it’s one of the less expensive non-porous crystals out there. It’s also colorless, which Ligon considered a major perk. While colored crystals like rose quartz are widely popular within the Chakrubs community, Ligon wanted to stick to a more neutral color palate.
Adding to the value of the stone is the fact that it’s been dubbed the “universal crystal,” thanks to its many uses. As per the company website, clear quartz “enhances energy by absorbing, storing, amplifying, balancing, focusing and transmitting. It channels universal energy.”
Of course, she explains, no two people are into exactly the same thing. Surely, the Zoë will not appeal to a universal audience, just the same as any other toy out there. Though, the Zoë does seem to carry a whole lot of promise.
“It’s something I’m really proud to have created,” she tells XBIZ. “It’s something I think has a lot of potential to be a special item for the right person.”
Photo Credit: Rachel Cuccia
