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An air fryer brand’s collaboration with luxury British designer Laura Ashley is aiming to tackle an ongoing issue that plagues appliance enthusiasts and their kitchens – air fryers are ugly.
This unusual partnership sees appliance brand VQ team up with with the timeless Kent-founded brand to showcase its traditional floral bone china print.
It has a 4.5l litre capacity, digital screen and can cook for up to an hour from 80C to 200C. The removable basket is also dishwasher-safe, while the rest of the machine can be wiped clean – ideal as it’s important to keep your air fryer clean.
At £99 it’s cheaper than a lot of air fryers, with the really good ones setting you back over £200. But given its specs, you could pick up something similar for less – what you’re really paying for here is the iconic Laura Ashley print.
In fact, fans of the print can deck their entire kitchen out in the print, as the brand has also collaborated on everything from kettles to slow cookers.
Should you ditch your ugly air fryer?
Air fryers have a reputation for being utilitarian and a bit samey. despite attempts from brands such as Ninja and Our Place to break away from the classic, boring design with things like the Crispi and the Wonder Oven.
The truth is, the classic shapes and designs just work well, which is why despite trends, many air fryers have stayed the same while continuing to gain popularity.
This Laura Ashley air fryer proves that a traditional design doesn’t mean sticking to the same boring black and grey colours, though.
Designer-led appliances appear to be a controversial topic though and the floral pattern is dividing air fryer fans. I surveyed friends, family and colleagues to see how they felt about having a flowery fryer in their kitchen – and while some loved the idea, others said the bold print was ‘too much’.
No matter your opinion, there’s no denying that this is an interesting design that could transform the look and feel of your kitchen countertop.
While I wouldn’t go running to the local charity shop with a perfectly good air fryer just yet – a designer print to compliment your kitchen is worth considering for your next upgrade.
Are designer air fryers the next big thing?
Designer kitchen appliance collaborations are nothing new. Smeg is well known for partnering with luxury designer Dolce & Gabbana on a whole slew of products including kettles, stand mixers and even fridges.
Despite this, VQ’s Laura Ashley collaboration is one of the only designer inspired air fryers I’ve seen.
With the air fryer fad showing no signs of slowing down and a rise in demand for colourful and fashionable air fryers, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to see more designer-inspired models making an appearance.
