TW Steel marks 10 years of Big Time
MANILA, Philippines - After 10 years, TW Steel recently celebrated its anniversary with a restatement of its philosophy: oversize watches are here to stay.
TW Steel started out in the Netherlands in 2005 and was founded by the father-son duo of Ton and Jordy Cobelens. A simple conversation in 2005 on the popularity of oversize watches was the catalyst needed for Ton to take a bold step into action.
The brand built its reputation in creating distinct, innovative, and eye-catching designs as well as collaborating with global brand ambassadors such as former Formula One British driver David Coulthard; American singer, composer and TV personality Kelly Rowland; Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi; and international DJ/producer Mitchel Niemeyer from the Netherlands.
Collaborations with local celebrities were likewise established over the years: Marvin Agustin, coach Rio de la Cruz, Venus Raj and Chieffy Caligdong have worked with TW Steel in launching the Pilot collection in 2013. Nico Bolzico, James Younghusband and Sebastian Ripoll were the leading personalities for the introduction of the Slim Line collection in 2014. The brand has been an annual sponsor of the prestigious Mercedes Trophy Golf Tournament for the past six consecutive years.
TW Steel opened its first boutique store in the Philippines in 2008 at The Podium, which is still one of the top performing points of sale for the brand’s local retailer, Swiss Prestige. Six years later, there are now seven standalone TW Steel boutiques and over 30 multi-brand stores carrying TW Steel.
As part of the brand’s 10th anniversary celebration, TW Steel is holding the “Big Time Photography Contest.” Entries will be accepted until Sept. 15 in select TW Steel boutiques. The contest is open to participants of at least 18 years of age and who currently reside in the Philippines. With the subject of each photograph being a TW Steel watch, there will be two categories: Lifestyle Shot and Product Shot. A maximum of three entries may be submitted per category per person.
The winner of each category will receive P50,000 and a TW Steel watch. Special prizes will be given to the top 10 finalists per category as well. All finalists will have their photographs featured in the TW Steel Photo Exhibit at the atrium level of Shangri-La Plaza Mall, EDSA. For details, see the Facebook page of TW Steel Philippines.
Also as part of the “Big Time” celebration, a special limited-edition 10th anniversary TW Steel watch will be launched together with the new Canteen collection.
The anniversary watch known as the Apex Canteen will only be limited to 200 units to celebrate the success of the brand and its “Canteen Style Design,” with only 15 watches allocated for the Philippine market.
TW Steel co-founder and chief design officer Ton Cobelens says, “Personally, I take a great degree of satisfaction that — 10 years on from the introduction of our first Canteen collection — there’s still room to develop the range as we’ve done with the 2015 models.”
He explains, “The Canteen has shown its staying power in the market and we know how much people love their pieces. Restyling isn’t done for the sake of it; it’s only done to improve the design aesthetically or technically. We’ve kept the DNA of these models to satisfy the consumer but we’ve obviously enhanced their appeal with the new adaptations and style improvements. It’s exciting to see such growth in the Canteen range, with the new collection taking us to around 200 designs. It’s been a substantial task but I’ve taken great delight in it knowing the enduring legacy of this design and its integral role in the success, both past, present and future of TW Steel.”
TW Steel is available at the TW Steel Boutiques (The Podium, Shangri-La Plaza, SM Mega Fashion Hall, SM Aura Premier, Century City Mall and SM City North EDSA), Lucerne, Chronos, Swissgear, WristPod, Adora, and Le Temps at Newport Mall.
