Diesel merges art and fashion with its new timepiece collection entitled “Alrite”, resulting in a calligraphic range of watches with abstract style. Created in collaboration with Romon Kimin, the New York-based artist better known by his alias Rostarr, these hand painted wristwatches offer more than precise time – they are one-of-a-kind works of art produced in an exclusive batch of 555 total.
A timepiece this unique is worthy of celebration, and yesterday evening Diesel did just that. The luxury label tapped into its heritage of Italian hospitality with a swanky soiree held at the historic St. Elisabeth Church in Berlin Mitte. Rostarr was present, and along with the creative director of Diesel licences, Andrea Rosso, the two hosted a party that had Berlin’s most stylish wishing time could slow down– at least for the night. The duo even held a live screen printing of Rostarr’s designs throughout the event, leaving guests with comfy white tees to commemorate the evening.
SLEEK caught up with Rostarr and Rosso prior to the big event for a quick chat about the recent collaboration. Regarding the creative process, Rostarr stated: “My favourite part of a project is finding solutions for any problems that occur. For the “Alrite” collection, materiality and scale were the major obstacles – for me, it was important that I show enough detail. In the end, we did a little math to figure out how thick each line should be in order to make sure my style really shined through.” Each finished timepiece showcases this commitment towards problem solving, with perfectly placed and intricate designs.
Both parties were more than enthusiastic regarding future partnerships. When we asked whether or not fans can expect another collaboration Rosso said: “We always had many friends in common, so it was great to finally meet and work together. Romon is very meticulous. He really understands product creation, and that’s the kind of skill you want when creating a successful partnership.”
Scroll through the image gallery below for our exclusive photos from the Berlin event:
Please visit store.diesel.com for more information on Diesel Alrite
Photography by Nathalie Francois