In partnership with Longines
When it comes to storytelling, First Nations artist Otis Hope Carey is considered a master. A proud Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung man, creative mind and professional surfer, standing in the presence of his work is an indescribable experience. With a deep respect for the honouring of tradition and its ability to impact craft at the core of his practice, Carey's newly-announced collaboration with Swiss watchmaker, Longines, not only feels like a natural synergy, but a meeting of shared elegance, tradition and craftsmanship.
First connecting as a friend of the Maison back in 2020, Carey and Longines have now cemented their relationship as collaborators with a collection of four coloured NATO straps. Each design has been carefully crafted from a body of work Carey created inspired by his spiritual and cultural connection to the ocean, and expertly stitched onto the NATO straps, which have been made from recycled materials.
"I feel so grateful and privileged that I have the chance to share my culture on these watches," Carey told RUSSH. "They're the perfect canvas for the work to exist on."
"The body of work I have used in this collaboration with Longines is the totem of my Gumbaynggirr people. In our native tongue, we call the Ocean Gaagal," he continued.
For those who are familiar with Carey's work, it will come as no surprise that the artist chose to amplify his relationship to the ocean through this collaboration. To date, his three main bodies of work have all focused on the magnetic and magical impact of water, both in his personal and professional life; an immersive experience he describes as "grounding".
"It's just such a powerful place to immerse yourself in. It's got such strong healing elements, grounding elements... everything you need to feel connected to the source, it's all there," he shared.
The four watch bands have been paired with Longines' new HydroConquest collection, which has has been recently redesigned and now features an exclusive Longines GMT movement. As with all pieces from the watchmaker, the timepieces combine technical excellence and elegance while still meeting and exceeding performance expectations.
Looking at Carey's creations, the complementary worlds and shared values between his craft and Longines' ethos are instantly clear. The duo both have a similar creative approach in their ability to reference their rich past in order to inform contemporary creations, and this collaboration is no exception. "Heritage to me is a line of long knowledge and connection, it's the base of my approach to my work," shared Carey. The result is a sense of everlasting elegance, sophistication and excellence that truly exceeds time and space.
"When people wear this collection, I want them to feel a sense of pride that they are wearing a piece of the culture that came before them, and to honour this through this creation."
See more images from Otis Hope Carey and Longines' collaboration below, featuring RUSSH purist and friend of the brand, Sarah Ellen, and styled by RUSSH's Fashion Director, Charlotte Agnew. And explore the collection, available to shop now on the Longines website and in store.
