Viral festival moment boosts demand for Huski flutes

A New Zealand drinkware company is preparing for a sharp rise in global orders after its champagne flute appeared in the hands of a leading music and fashion figure at a major Los Angeles festival.

The artist, who has 150 million Instagram followers, was filmed side of stage at Tyler, The Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw festival at Dodger Stadium. She was watching her partner perform. She was seen drinking from a pink stainless steel Huski Champagne Flute.

Footage of the moment spread quickly across social media channels. Online interest in the product rose soon afterwards.

Huski is based in New Zealand and sells insulated drinkware. The company focuses on export markets and online sales.

Social media users identified the product within hours of the footage appearing online. Fans slowed down clips and shared zoomed-in screenshots on TikTok, Reddit and X. They compared the item with online listings and Amazon reviews.

The company has not confirmed the identity of the artist. It has acknowledged the surge in global attention for the product.

Huski chief executive Simon Huesser said the exposure is likely to influence the company's international strategy. "Most major festivals ban glass for safety reasons. When a cultural style leader is photographed using an insulated champagne flute in that environment it highlights a natural category for us to move into. There is real potential for a festival focused range," said Huesser.

Huesser said the global festival circuit represents a new avenue for growth. Many venues restrict traditional glassware for safety reasons. Insulated metal stemware offers an alternative.

He said the speed of online recognition points to a wider shift in consumer behaviour. More buyers recognise insulated stemware as a standard item. Huesser likened the shift to the rise of reusable coffee cups in everyday use.

Colour drives demand

The model seen in the festival footage is Huski's Powder Pink champagne flute. The company describes this as part of its "elevated stemware" line.

Powder Pink has become one of the fastest selling items in that range. Early season figures show the colour outperforming other options. The company is seeing particular demand among younger customers.

Huski reports that these buyers treat insulated drinkware as a fashion accessory. They are purchasing on style as well as function.

Huesser said these preferences reflect a broader change in drinkware use. Consumers are choosing durable products that match personal style. They also want to avoid melting ice and broken glass in crowded settings.

He said these trends are forming a new category that sits between design, lifestyle and outdoor culture.

The festival exposure has landed during Huski's peak gift season. It follows strong sales across Black Friday and Christmas trading periods.

"The sighting coincides with our busiest gifting period of the year. Black Friday and Christmas have already driven unprecedented demand across the company's direct to consumer and Amazon channels and early sales data suggests the exposure has enhanced that momentum," said Huesser.

Huesser said demand from the United States had already been growing at speed before the festival. He pointed to rapid year-on-year sales growth in November.

"Year on year sales for November are up by over 4,000% percent across our US website and the elevated stemware range has quickly become one of our strongest performers.

"The line now accounts for a significant share of Huski's total US sales and is proving particularly popular among consumers looking for a premium gift option. The range has also become the number one best seller in its category on Amazon in countries around the world, reinforcing its global relevance and accelerating its reach into new markets," said Huesser.

US growth focus

Huesser said the festival appearance has changed how some US consumers view insulated drinkware. Many American buyers usually associate insulated tumblers and bottles with camping and outdoor brands.

He said the images from Los Angeles placed the product in a fashion-led environment. That setting linked insulated stemware with style-led nightlife and entertainment culture.

Huesser said Huski holds several thousand units of the champagne flute in US warehouses. The company expects these to sell out within weeks. Production can increase further if orders exceed existing stock.

The timing of the exposure follows a year of strong international expansion for Huski. The business started less than ten years ago in a farm shed in Taranaki. Its first prototype used PVC and basic materials.

Huski now exports more than 1.5 million products to over 50 countries. Online channels and marketplaces have supported this reach.

The company has also gained recent recognition in New Zealand business rankings. It won the Excellence in Growing Online Sales category at the New Zealand International Business Awards. It also placed 22nd on the Deloitte Fast 50 index.

Huesser said the company is now planning for further international demand for the champagne flute and related drinkware lines in the coming months.