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Designer, inventor and entrepreneur Achim Perleberg began his career in 1977, with the production of the first Light-Emitting Diode (LED) "blinking" jewelry for pop groups such as Queen, Bob Dylan, Cliff Richard, Bob Marley and Liza Minelli, who ordered herself a custom piece. The success of his illuminating jewelry led to distribution throughout Europe and the United States, and won Perleberg the worldwide title of "the" specialist in the LED niche of fashion jewelry. As the trend faded, Perleberg moved on to other businesses, but he never turned off the LED ideas in his head. The turning of the millennium provided the perfect opportunity for him to share his passion with the world again. He was the mastermind behind the largest light show in history, “Art in Heaven,” marking the beginning of the year 2000 in Berlin. More than 250 color-changing spotlights and thousands of fireworks entertained a crowd of 500,000 in the city and millions more in front of televisions worldwide. He subsequently staged huge shows for celebrations in Budapest and in Peking. With his talent in demand, Perleberg moved from the world’s largest light show to the world’s smallest light show with his concept for the LumenaeTM candle, hatched in 2002. After noticing how the wax of a candle subdued and absorbed the light from an LED, Perleberg immediately recognized the possibilities of a burnable candle that also gives off an aura of mood-setting color from within. He made his first prototype using a kitchen knife to create a hollow compartment in the base of a pillar candle to house the LED. The idea, now a product known as LumenaeTM in the U.S. and LoungeLight in Europe, was launched in December 2003 at the Ice Hotel in Sweden. Since then, it has been seen at events at places including the hallowed Temple of Zeus at Olympia and hot nightclubs in Germany. LumenaeTM will be a part of the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Olympics. “My candles give the gifts of mood-enhancing ambiance and wonder,” says Perleberg. “I want to share this fascination with the world.” Perleberg lives near Düsseldorf, Germany, and continues to travel the world to promote his ideas. |
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