Behind the Brand: 2 Degrees East

Where did it all start?

In 2018, Sally set herself a challenge to reduce her consumption of plastic.  Easy swaps came first, switching soap and shampoo bottles for bars, replacing cling wrap with beeswax wraps and silicon pouches, and carrying refillable water flasks everywhere.  Then her watch broke.  A replacement of the same colorful, plastic style was out of the question, so she looked to popular alternatives.  After cutting out options that came packed with foam-lined boxes, or with polyester straps and plastic spacers inside their dials, she was at the same time overwhelmed by the number of brands available in the shops but underwhelmed by their lack of ethical or sustainable cred.  Around the same time, Sally's now business partner approached her to propose they create a new business together.  So, in a long, drawn-out, and fairly hands-on manner, Sally got her sustainable watch.

How does your production process work?

As an Australian now living in Hong Kong, Sally loves the accessibility of many of the world's best manufacturers just a short train ride away.  2 Degrees East's watches are manufactured in Shenzhen, in a factory owned by Ron, Sally's business partner.  Sally is responsible for designing the products and running the business, Ron for the manufacturing.  Initially, it was easy to travel back and forth regularly but borders have been shut since early 2020, so meetings are now all online.  The majority of the components that go into the making of the watches are supplied by craftspeople within a short drive from Ron's factory.  There is a detailed blog post about their supply chain and "who made my watch" in the journal section of the 2 Degrees East website.  Only ethical, fair and responsible employers are included in the 2 Degrees East supply chain, and each signs a copy of the Responsible Sourcing Agreement (available for download via the website).

What inspires the designs for each watch and band?

Sally designed the watches while simultaneously discovering the concept of 'capsule wardrobes', and followed the same basic principles - fewer, flexible, quality pieces.  The simple lines and easily interchangeable bands allow one watch to fit many occasions.  Rather than a logo on the dial, the adult's dial features a degrees symbol in place of the two and the children's version features an "E" in the place of the three (or east point dial).  Sally selected designs from independent pattern designers and illustrators to be printed onto the recycled PET watch bands.  The stories of their background and inspiration are periodically published in the journal on the 2 Degrees East website.  Sally's current favorites are the tiger design inspired by the illustrator's cat and the tropical design by an illustrator and surfer living a very instagrammable life in Bali.

Sustainability: 

The basic design and interchangeable bands allow for lower minimum order quantities of each item when manufacturing.  Maintaining low inventory and assembling watch faces with bands as they are ordered reduces the risk of oversupply and results in more accurate manufacturing for demand.  The materials used to make these watches were chosen for their longevity and in an effort to reduce the use of chemicals, plastics, and waste.  The watches are built to fit the selected movement perfectly, removing the need for a plastic holder hidden inside, and no plastic spacer is required between the dial and crystal.  The leather bands are made using full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather that improves with age and doesn't involve the use of toxic chemicals in production.  The NATO straps are woven from yarn made from recycled plastic bottles and can be tossed in a delicates bag (or sock) in the washing machine when they need a refresh.

Conclusion

2 Degrees East is an ethical watch brand with a determination to continue to be part of a movement towards better practices by rewriting the standards we should all be following.

Visit the 2 Degrees East sustainable watch brand website.

Or check out their Instagram page

@2degreeseast

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