Swatch taps rising fashion star Supriya Lele for a unique collab

A staple of the genre, Swatch has been classified iconic since launching in the early 80s, and holds a particularly special place in the hearts of most millennials – shoutout to Flik Flak for the introduction. Known for creating quality timepieces with straightforward watch faces that have your tardiness in hand, beyond the brand’s reliable qualities is its curiosity for the creative. 

Since its inception, it’s been a champion of the fashion and art worlds, collaborating with names like Jeremy Scott, Damien Hirst, and Vivienne Westwood; Tony Hawk even got in on the action back in 1999. The latest figure to enter the Swatch arena? British Indian designer, Supriya Lele. 

One of London Fashion Week’s must-see designers – Lele’s label will make its ‘post-pandemic’ return to the catwalk with its first presentation in two years next week – the designer’s work is the product of her combined Indian heritage and fascination with 90s minimalism.

A former participant of Fashion East (Newgen sponsorship followed, while last year she was amongst the recipients of the shared LVMH Prize), Lele’s marriage of soft textures, rich leathers – brilliant shades of lime, turquoise and cerise – and a thoughtful proposal for a modern wardrobe, have already won her fans in Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid.

Reworking a classic Swatch line in her distinctive, reference-heavy aesthetic, Lele explains, “I looked to my signature minimalist silhouettes, traditional saris distressed to transparent overlays, dyed squid-ink black, peacock blue, medallion yellow and the Madras check for inspiration. The Swatch SKIN CLASSIC provided the perfect canvas and is worn almost like a second skin – the light, minimalist look and feel has many synergies with my creative vision.” 

Indeed, the pairing is a winner on several counts; not only does it simply Look Really Very Good, but elsewhere the SKIN CLASSIC mirrors the easy breezy lightness of touch found in many Lele designs. Produced in colours and prints echoing Lele’s SS20 collection – two models also feature numbers written in Hindi – the collab is a visual delight which boasts eco credentials too: the case is made from bio-sourced plastic.

Check out the Swatch X Supriya Lele collection here