COCA COLA
Coca Cola would obviously have to be the coolest soft drink of all time. Since Cokes’ (as it is affectionately known) inception by a pharmacist by the name of John Pemberton from Atlanta USA in 1886, Coke has not only lasted the test of time, it has also become an American icon. Coke was initially sold as a health tonic in soda streams of US pharmacies. The chief flavouring ingredients of Coca Cola are sugar, orange/lime oils or lemon fruit peel, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and lavender along with acidic flavours and carbonate and other ingredients. When Coca Cola first sold at the soda fountain of an Atlanta pharmacy in May 1886 it only sold $50 worth in the first year. Today, sales are more to the tune of 1 billion drinks sold per day. Not bad for a drink that was first concocted in backyard drums. Coca Cola had the added ingredient of cocaine up until 1905 and caffeine from the kola nut which may have had some effect of initial popularity of the Coke beverage. Today, Coca Cola seems set to remain as popular as it just keeps growing in popularity.
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DIAMONDS
Diamonds have been recorded as being around since 3000 years ago in India and used for superstitions reasons. They have also been used for medical and religious purposes. Indian diamond supply has since lowered considerably and the world looked to South Africa for its supply of raw gems. Australia’s Lake Argyle is another prominent supplier of the world’s diamonds, mining a third of global diamonds. Danielle Small from ‘Diamonds on Broad Beach’ store, (shop 5/2707 Gold Coast Highway Broadbeach 4218, ph. 5538 0837) states; “the reason diamonds are so cool and classic and never go out of style or popularity could have something to do with the fact that diamonds are not so easily obtained. As diamonds have to be mined and are millions of years in the making, thus making them extremely valuable and more often than not unaffordable to average people. Some people pay over six months’ and more in salary when purchasing an engagement ring. This, is not surprising since extreme inhuman conditions are needed in the formation of the gems. Diamonds take millions of years of extreme pressure of pure carbon within the earth’s crust at extremely hot temperatures. Another reason would be that they truly look beautiful, which can represent a symbol of someone’s devotion to another.” Today diamonds are referred to as ‘bling’ which have recently been extra popular with celebrities who are most able to afford them.
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ROLLS ROYCE
Rolls Royce is the epitome of classic/ cool and has been around since the company’s inception in 1904 when British car manufacturer Frederick Royce made the first Rolls Royce car. Frederick Royce later teamed up with Charles Rolls in building these luxurious cars.
During WWII Rolls Royce manufactured airplanes used at war and halted the building of cars. After the war the company introduced the first V8 car engine to the motoring industry. Throughout the ensuing decades the Rolls Royce remained popular particularly with the upper classes and rich.
In 1931 Rolls Royce acquired control of the Bentley Company, however in 2004 Rolls Royce’ name was later bought by BMW and Bentley was adopted by VW. Regardless of the ownership shuffling, Rolls Royce has lasted through the decades as the quality built luxury car which is timeless.
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CHOCOLATE
Who can possibly resist chocolate? Chocolate has so many benefits and uses. It can be eaten when you’re depressed as chocolate is said to release ‘happy’ endorphins. No wonder so many people eat chocolate when they are depressed. Chocolate is eaten to celebrate Easter, is given as boxed gift sets and also given as chocolate ‘kisses’. Chocolate is said to have antioxidants, particularly in the darker variety. If alcohol is desired, chocolate even comes as chocolate liqueurs.
The beginnings of chocolate begin with the cocoa bean found in the Amazon 4000 years ago by Mayan people who originally called chocolate Xocoatl, meaning bitter water.
In 1502 Christopher Columbus stumbled upon the cocoa bean during his travels in Nicaragua. However, Columbus failed to realise the potential of the bean as the Aztecs continued using it as a drink and a monetary system.
A man by the name of Hernando Cortez did recognize the benefits of chocolate and in 1519 he conquers Mexico and begins cocoa bean plantations. By 1528 Cortez serves chocolate to the Spanish king. Chocolate goes on sale in Spain in 155.
In the early 1900’s Switzerland takes over the manufacture of chocolate and are excellent in their production of the confectionary.
By 1923, chocolate hit the big time on the US market and has boomed in popularity ever since. People can’t get enough, however eat in moderation as it is made from cocoa beans, cocoa butter, milk sugar and salt among other ingredients and is extremely fattening.
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DENIM JEANS
Contrary to the popular belief that denim jeans are a predominantly American invention, jeans were worn by Genovese sailors in Italy in the 1500’s. Hence the term ‘jeans’, is a derivation of Genoa. However the material used to make jeans was a material from Europe called 
‘serge de nimes’. Serge=a kind of material and de nimes= a town in France. In the 18th century in the USA, slave labour on cotton plantations saw the beginning of the slaves’ uniform in jeans. Convicts were also dressed in the sturdy long wearing, fashion phenomenon. Levi Strauss (who was originally from Bavaria) made a deal during 1872-1873 and teamed up with J.W. Davis to begin to manufacture blue, Levi jeans. From then on, the popularity of jeans only grew with time. The 1950’s saw jeans adopted by the ‘rebel’ generation after WWII. Every decade since the fifties has popularised jeans to suit the times and ever changing trends. Today, jeans are the most common casual outfit worn by men and women alike. Jeans can be dressed up or fashioned to suit many occasions, hence, they are a significant part of modern fashion and culture and the likelihood of their popularity diminishing is very slim. Part of the success of jeans may have to do with the durability, comfort and the ability for them to go with just about anything. Jeans are especially appealing when the right pair is found to suit an individuals’ body type, which fits the term, ‘like putting on a comfy old pair of jeans’.
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HANDBAGS
We tote our belongings around on a daily basis without much thought from where handbags originated. Interestingly, handbags were carried around the waist by the ancient Egyptians which doubled as a representation of their wealth. The more money the person possessed, the bigger the bag.
During the 16th-18th century’s materials used in the manufacture of handbags were most commonly raw leather or material.
The concept of the word handbag only arrived in the 1900’s and was a term more widely used in describing men’s hand luggage.
Women’s handbags began to possess new features, of which were clasps, compartments, fasteners, zips and locks.
The 1940’s revolutionized handbags with big fashion houses with names like Lois Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes.
This trend for designer handbags has continued to the present and seems to not have a chance of ever going out of style. People want a cool stylish handbag to carry their belongings around in and designer bags are the chicest of cool.
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