What inspired the creation of your company, and when did it start?

I was inspired to start Votch after suffering with a condition called Topical Steroid Withdrawal, a condition that saw my skin fall off from my entire body and took around 2 years to heal. During this time I went vegan (after being a long time vegetarian) and spent the time I was unwell viewing many documentaries on animal welfare. I knew when I got better I had to do something where I could make a change and create a business where I could give back to those helping the voiceless. The horrors behind the leather industry shocked me, and after having lost my skin, I knew I could never wear anybody else’s. Then, when an old watch strap broke and I couldn’t find a vegan replacement I liked, the idea for Votch was born!

What is your brand’s mission, and what causes drive you and your team?

Our mission is to show that in this day an age, nothing should have to die for what we wear. So we provide an alternative, and we can give back in the process too.

How is your brand socially responsible?

We don’t use any animal products in our watches. We will always be a vegan company and nothing will ever have had to have died for our watch straps. We visit and vet our factories and develop good relationships with them. We are always striving to be as ethically responsible as we can be and will always aim to develop this as everything around us develops too. Plus, we give 10% of our profits back to our charity of the season too.

What does your brand do to lower its ecological impact and/or promote environmental health and well-being?

We use the greenest form of faux leather we can find and all our products comply with REACH and RoHS.

Does your company perform animal testing and/or use animal-based ingredients in your products? Why or why not?

Never. Ever, ever.

Where does your company make/manufacture your products, and why?

We design our products in London and they are made in China. We make our watches in China as there is no facility to make Quartz watches in the UK. We visit our small factory in China (having visited several before deciding who to work with) and we have a great relationship with them. It was incredibly important to us that our factory had the same high standards as us, they even make watches from recycled wood!

Describe your design philosophy – how do you balance quality and affordability?

We keep it simple and stylish in design terms. We aim for our watches to be a piece you have for years, not a throw away object. Quality parts, met with simple, stylish design means the less need for consumption and less waste for our planet.

Tell us a little about the ingredients/materials you use. Generally, why did you pick them over other options?

We picked PU leather as it is the most durable form of vegan leather (and far less toxic than PVC). PU is evolving as the demand for vegan alternative rises, and we are excited to see the much greener forms of PU leather that are coming on to the market.

What are the next steps for your company?

To continue to be as green as we can and work with the most environmentally friendly faux leather options that we can. We will also be expanding on our range shortly too, which will see us being able to give back to a second charity of the season.

How do you view the future of conscious consumption?

Something has to change, we are destroying our planet and exploiting people’s lives in the process. We need to pass down as much information to the next generation as possible for it will be they who will continue to grow the conscious consumption movement. Large companies also need to choose people over profit and consumers need to realize they need less and to buy more consciously and to always reuse / recycle / donate wherever possible.

As a parting sentiment, if you could only use one word to describe your brand ethos – what would it be?

CARE