It takes courage, passion, determination, and pure guts to break into the watch industry. However, there’s nothing a woman can’t do, and Riane Garfin, the founder of LEUPP Watches, is the living proof.
As a child, Riane describes herself as a “tinkerer”, which seems perfect as she became the designer and president of her own watch company years later. Fast forward to this day, she is now breaking the proverbial glass ceiling in a male-dominated industry and there’s so much to learn from her and her brand.
“The first time I opened up an electric-powered watch that kept time by a steel tuning fork (yes, a tuning fork!), I was hooked,” Riane recalls. “It was like a machine from another dimension - so small, delicate, and precise,” she shared. Little did she know, she is already taking the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey.
The LEUPP Journey
In 2014, Riane started a fashion accessories business that soon became LEUPP Watches. According to her, the word LEUPP is a fun take on the word loop, referencing time’s repetitive and cyclical nature.
What sets LEUPP apart from the usual watches on the market is its minimalist aesthetic. “We apply Kanso – a Japanese zen principle which means simplicity or elimination of clutter. This principle guides our design process – we get rid of anything that’s non-essential,” says Riane.
She adds, “This is why we keep the watch face logo-free. The LEUPP logo is always modestly placed on the back of the watch face and the buckle.”
If you expect LEUPP to have a very feminine feel, be prepared to be surprised yet again. LEUPP watches are designed to be worn by everyone.
Breaking barriers
More than pursuing her passion, Riane also aims to inspire and influence more Filipinas to breakthrough male-dominated industries.
“Being a female-led brand, I have a first-hand perspective of what women want and altogether just a fresh perspective in a male-dominated industry,” she said in an interview.
As a Filipino brand, LEUPP also recognizes the importance of highlighting, our culture. Riane’s design team are all Filipinos and are from different ethnicities.
Best-sellers include Kubo, which comes in three colorways and has an asymmetrical winder, which gives it an unexpected flourish; Mori, which also has an asymmetrical winder and a dial with minimalist markers; and Ito, a square, Bauhaus-inspired watch with an all-black face.
Riane is excited to introduce LEUPP to a bigger audience and will soon venture into South Asia and Southeast Asia.
With its timeless pieces and accessible price points, LEUPP is destined for exciting things ahead – it’s only a matter of time. Visit the online shop at www.leuppwatches.com or follow LEUPP on Instagram and Facebook .
