Who knew the desire for a digital detox could ignite an unexpected change in one's career trajectory-and a successful attempt to boot?
That was what happened to self-employed motion graphics designer Ivan Chua in 2015 when the local broadcast television companies he was serving started to falter.
"Entertainment platforms like YouTube and Netflix sort of killed the entire industry. And since I had a lot of free time and was experiencing phone fatigue, I decided to go back to wearing my old watches and design new straps to replace those that have disintegrated," says Chua.
This spark of ingenuity kicked off his journey as an entrepreneur in an unlikely industry. Today, eight years on, Vario is an online start-up that doesn't just count itself among approximately 60 registered Singaporean micro watch brands, but an up-and-coming name that has already garnered an international following, along with global press coverage.
IN COMES THE OUTSIDER
Neither a serious horology enthusiast nor an industry insider with capital backing, Ivan very simply launched Vario with his first batch of colourful, patterned NATO straps on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo in March 2016.
This debut campaign raised just over $7,500 from 119 backers and was followed by a second campaign offering fun straps for smartwatches.
A year later, Chua's first timepiece, the Bauhaus-style Eclipse dress watch, was ready to be listed on both Indiegogo and Kickstarter. "When customers started sending me photos of their watches with my straps, I got hooked on designing my own timepieces."
Every year since 2017, he has launched a new watch annually, with his earliest models realised via crowdfunding. His current portfolio comprises automatic, mechanical, and quartz models in varied styles inspired by history and art. "I don't want to be stuck in a niche, and I like to have a play on everything."
Esta historia es de la edición October 2024 de The PEAK Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición October 2024 de The PEAK Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Plum Job
In this home belonging to a young family, design principal Gwen Tan of Studio iF sought to capture the beauty and ephemerality of Japan's plum blossom season.
Braveheart
Syed Ahmad Bin Abdul Rahman Alhabshee ponders his legacy as one of Singapore's few woodworking craftsmen.
A New Dawn for Sake in Singapore
More Singaporeans are entering sake breweries and shaking things up. The Peak explores how these trailblazers are reimagining the age-old drink one grain at a time.
Summer Bliss
In the words of one Belinda Carlisle, \"heaven is a place on earth\" - when you're test-driving the facelifted Rolls-Royce Cullinan in sun-kissed Ibiza, that is.
Greek Expectations
Who says jewellery houses and \"it\" bags don't go together? Not in Bvlgari's case, asserts its new creative director of leather goods and accessories, Mary Katrantzou.
Micro in Size, Mighty at Heart
Home-grown Vario grew from a hobby strap business into a promising watch brand within eight years-all because its founder, Ivan Chua, dared to dream.
More Than a Pretty Face
Richard Mille ups the ante on colour science by introducing two vibrant new shades to the formidable RM 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph.
IN THE STYLE OF
EVEN AS THE HOROLOGICAL WORLD CONTINUES TO REFERENCE ART AND DESIGN MOVEMENTS, WATCHMAKERS NEVER FAIL TO SURPRISE WITH NEW AND SOMETIMES MIND-BLOWING INTERPRETATIONS.
Raising the Roof
Meet Raphael Yee, the fresh-faced CEO using AI to break design norms and change how homes are seen in Singapore.
Room to Grow
The executive chairman of LHN Group has a strategy to turn Singapore's old spaces into new opportunities and fuel economic renewal.