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Introducing Shinola | Watches you will want to wear

Introducing Shinola | Watches you will want to wear December 29, 2014Fashion0 Comments

I love stumbling across a great brand. One that really has a story and a sense of passion to it’s work. This week it’s Shinola, an all-American watch, leather and randomly, bicycle company from Detroit. Shinola are all about the glory of manufacturing, the history and pride of the American city and about genuine, well made, hand crafted products and I think that really shows in their portfolio.

Introducing Shinola

Shinola was founded in 2011 in the US. The team behind Shinola knew they wanted to manufacture in America, they knew that Detroit had the manufacturing history but they also wanted to invest, to make a community thrive and to redefine American luxury, through American quality.

Carnaby Street, London Store of Shinola Detroit

What’s more as well as being available to buy online, an ecommerce site across Europe has now been launched and they have a store on Carnaby Street in the heart of London.

Mens Watches

For men there is a great mix of sports luxe watches in stainless steel with different coloured finishes to daywear watches with leather straps that are perfect for the office. All the Detroit-built watches for men, are handmade in a variety of sizes and styles, including The Runwell, The Runwell Chrono, The Runwell Sport and The Brakeman.

The Runwell Sport is a hefty piece for your wrist. Solid, masculine and of the highest possible quality, this look will suit the sporty gentleman, the man who likes to flash a little bit of metal and would look very smart for the weekend or for the office if you like a touch of class.

The Brakeman is very sophisticated. This would make a great gift. Available in seven different colourways with and without the date. I can imagine this would be a more relaxed, weekend piece. A man often likes to alternate his watches to suit his style or event and I think this is a very traditional piece that will be well loved and make a great inheritance piece.

Womens Watches

For women the watches range also features The Runwell and Runwell Chrono but in addition to that The Birdy and The Gomelsky. The Birdy really intrigues me, with its thin leather strap that wraps around your wrist. I think it is a great piece, very stylish and very individual. Your friends will be keen to know where it is from.

Shinola have also taken part on a series of designer collaborations. Their Shinola Salutes collection features these and the Lattice with the Oscar de la Renta is a fine piece of work.

The Lattice is inspired by Oscar de la Renta’s American-made jewellery collection, and embraces the embellished style that is signature to the designer’s work. The Lattice comes accompanied by a limited edition hardcover book: Oscar de la Renta: An American Icon. Manufactured in Detroit, in a limited edition run of 1,000 individually numbered, hand-assembled watches. I think that is just a great way to have a piece of fashion and design history at your fingertips.

An added story to the Shinola one is that their watch straps are made in Largo, in Florida by Hadley-Roma, an independently-owned company that began handcrafting quality watch straps in 1905. Using premium leather and taking a lot of time, skill and knowledge. I think it pays off in the finish that they give to the Shinola watches.

They also stock rubber and premium leather watch straps for Shinola watches but also timepieces from anywhere. Which is great, as I know many people in my family have issues with the nickel in metal straps causing skin irritation.

The brand is well-known for its watches, which are its most-sold products, but now Shinola produce also leather accessories and pet accessories that are becoming extremely successful.