KatieMartine Schwartz could not find a simple, stylish and feminine watch in her jewelry drawer. It was then, in 2001, that La Mer was born. Martine’s love for quality materials and simple beauty has made La Mer what it is today. Her travels all over the world, from South Africa to Thailand, have come as inspiration for her watches. The focus of her watches are on classic faces and beautiful leather straps. La Mer has been featured in major magazines like Lucky, InStyle and Cosmopolitan and recently in Rachel Zoe’s Holiday Gift Guide. Her watches can be found in boutiques all across the U.S. and even internationally in countries like Greece, Japan and The Netherlands.
I had the pleasure of taking to Martine about La Mer, her travels and her love for wearing two different socks! From Wednesday, Dec. 16 until Friday, Dec. 18, enter for a chance to win one of TWO black, studded La Mer watches! Click here for more information on how to win!
How did you end up designing your own accessory line?
I have to design and physically make something new every day or I do not feel balanced. Sometimes it is obsessive but even as a child I have loved designing and making objects that others can wear. I especially love designing watches because there is a function to their fashion.
I founded La Mer Collections (its translation is ‘The Ocean or Water’ Collections in French) after taking a year off of my design studies to travel overseas to Africa and Asia. I was so inspired by my time away that when I returned home, I chose to create an independent three dimensional design project while finishing my design degree, in order to examine watch-strap constructions. One thing led to another and I began selling my watch designs in local contemporary Boutique. This experience helped me land my first design job at a timepiece manufacturing company in New York City.
I slowly moved west across the United States working and decided to educate myself further in the fashion and product design field. With each job I took, I would directly apply what I learned during the day to La Mer Collections’ in the evenings in order to expand and turn La Mer collections in to the self-sustaining timepiece design company it is today.
What is the inspiration for your looks?
Traveling will forever inspire my designs. I find that the unexpected places one ends up in when traveling can bring innovative construction ideas and inspiring new color combinations. Also I am very intrigued by furniture, architecture and textile design. My physical environment is very important to me as I am always inspired by nature and I am always in awe of the colors that come out during sunrises and sun-sets. If I could bottle those colors and apply them to leather, I could make an amazing collection of straps.
Have you always been influenced by fashion?
I have always been influenced by culture and fashion is so directly connected to a culture’s aesthetic. After living in a few places around the world, I have really been able to see how different populations dress and express themselves through what they wear and how they wear it. I do have to say that when I was five I was offered a new pair of shoes, and of course I dove for the metallic silver high-tops versus the red converse!
How does it feel to see your watches worn by celebrities on TV and in magazines?
It is an amazing feeling to think that people want to wear my designs all over the world and when I see them in magazines it is somewhat surreal to think that those products come directly out of my design studio. As for celebrities, they have so many amazing designers and products to choose from that if they have chosen La Mer’s watches to wear, then this is a true honor.
Do you plan on expanding into other accessory markets, like necklaces or earrings?
I started a leather wallet line and a jewelry line called ‘Tini Roze’ a few years ago with all of the extra leather that I had from my watches’ straps. I think that eventually I will pursue this further, but first and foremost, an expanded mens watch line is the next endeavor for La Mer Collections.
What’s a typical day for you?
Two cups of coffee and straight to email! Because I live on the West Coast, by the time I wake up, it is already a few hours into the day on the East coast and have lots to catch up on. I just moved La Mer Collections into a beautiful new studio space in Venice, CA right by the beach so after my emails are finished, I head over to the studio to begin working on design and production of the watches. I have my production team in and out through out the day so between sorting through the colorful leather, charms, chains and inventory, the days fly by! I also in the midst of getting my MBA so that I can maintain La Mer Collections’ as a relevant and dynamic business through this economic environment, so each night I either head into my business classes, or go straight to my favorite yoga class.
What are three things you can’t live without?
My leather punch, My Teal Yoga Mat and My Passport.
Ten years from now, where do you see yourself?
In 10 years I hope to have a great staff of designers working with me on multiple design projects. I am dying to collaborate with some graphic and product designers on art for watches and furniture, so I want that to be up and running by then. I would also love to have a larger presence internationally as I feel that I am very cognizant of international style and hope to appeal to a wider audience in the long term.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a designer?
Every single obstacle that I have faced, is an opportunity to improve my designs or my business. I heard this when I was first staring out and did not really believe it, but now that I have a constant flux of projects, there are so many things that Never go as I planned, but somehow, with each problem, a new and even better way to accomplish what I set out to do, is created. I like to apply this idea to my personal life as well.
Who is your ultimate fashion icon?
Kate Moss and Sienna Miller.
Who is your favorite designer?
I have three!
Balenciaga – Amazingly innovative, the colors are definitely an inspiration for me each season, Irregular Choice – This Shoe designer is insanely brilliant and if I could I would purchase every style and frame them, they are pieces of art, and Alexander Wang
What is your favorite fashion movie?
‘Kill Bill’: Uma Thurman is so bad ass and look impeccable even in those fight scenes and then my childhood favorite: ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ with Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt.
Your best & worst fashion moments:
My worst is also my best – I wore two different color socks from Kindergarten until 6th grade – this was definitely cool in elementary school, but went on much too long!
What’s your favorite thing in your closet right now?
My Grey Leather Cowboy boots
What’s the best fashion advice you have ever gotten?
Turn any older outfit into a new one with accessories!
Advice you would give to designers trying to make it in the fashion world:
Take any design or creative job opportunity possible, even if you are not going to be paid. The skills that I picked up with each position, project, course or opportunity have helped me along the way in some form, and I still am doing that to this day. I will do anything if I think it will help hone my creative or design skills in the long term.
