7/10/2023 0 Comments Draken future![]() I’ve also looked into doing some accessories (leather belts and wallets). I have a ton of watch ideas on the drawing board that a can’t wait to discuss and get feedback on. This will coincide with my family moving out of Auckland to our off-grid house which will have a good size office for Draken.īeing full time on Draken will also mean I can be much more engaged with customers and fully focused on the brand. Going full-time in 2022 is the biggest change on the cards. What future plans do you have for your brand? I’m a South African expat, married to a Kiwi and have a two-year-old daughter.ĩ. It was a last-minute change to make them triangles, and I’m so glad I did because it made for a much more interesting and unique dial. The Tugela dial originally had circle indices. Any interesting brand trivia? Any personal info you’d like to share? We’re planning to build an off-grid house there next year.Ĩ. To date, we have planted about 12,000 trees. My wife and I have also been regenerating a native forest. ![]() I want to push that even further in the next month and offer a completely recyclable/compostable option when you buy. If you buy a Draken, you’ll notice that we have removed a lot of the plastic wrapping. I’m very passionate about sustainability. What are some things that you wish everyone knew about you and your work? There is only one that has the Tugela ‘Protea’ shape.ħ. There are a million watches out there that have a submariner case. What do you think really sets your watches apart from others? Start thinking long term about the collection you want to put out. It helps if it’s a theme you subscribe to in your daily life. And I don’t just mean the name and logo, but the entire theme of your brand. What advice would you offer someone that was interested in creating their own brand of watches?įocus on building your brand. My top 5 brands – Oris, Sinn, Damasko, Tudor, Seiko.ĥ. I have a few other pieces, but never get to wear them as I have to promote my own brand. It has a very rugged, adventurous feeling to it while being a well-engineered piece of steel. Probably the black Benguela on a leather strap. Which of your watches and/or straps is your favourite? Are you also a watch enthusiast of other brands? Receiving prototypes is the most exciting day ever!Ĥ. What do you like best about owning your own microbrand?Ĭreating a physical item that someone will fall in love with. I plan to go full-time on Draken towards the end of 2022.ģ. Yes, I still work as a UI designer four days a week. Do you have a “normal job“ or is this your full-time passion? ![]() Originality has always been at the forefront of Draken, for better or worse.Ģ. I loved the idea of designing something really new and fresh, something that hadn’t been done before. I found out about microbrands and discovered a whole world of watches I didn’t know about. From there I started doing my own research, going deeper down the rabbit hole. He pointed out what materials make for a good watch, and introduced me to a few brands I had never heard of. I knew what looked good, but I didn’t know what made a good watch. I was working as a UI designer for a big telco here in New Zealand, and became friends with a developer who was into watches. ![]() How did you first get into making watches? Enjoy, and please don’t ever hesitate to drop me a line.ġ. I thought this would be a good opportunity to share the Interview with you so you can get to know me a little better. Many businesses treat it as a time waste or a loss, but I genuinely feel like it’s building a relationship, that could pay off in a future encounter.Ī couple months ago, Travis Mickel from the Watch Collectors of California and Beyond (COCAB) Facebook group interviewed me. Some know that I will go out of my way when it comes to customer service. It’s a little personal touch that makes the experience just a little more special. If you have ever bought a Draken, you’ll probably have received a hand-written thank-you note from me.
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