Tom Ford Redefines Eco-Luxury With New Watch Made From Ocean Plastic

This afternoon Tom Ford launched the Tom Ford Ocean Plastic Timepiece and announced their new partnership with 52HZ together with The Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize, as the brand looks to take their commitment to ethical luxury one step further.

Designed by the man who has represented the very epitome of luxury fashion since his era-defining years at Gucci to launching his namesake label in 2005, the new Tom Ford timepiece is an exciting venture which sets a fresh precedent for the luxury sector's sustainable transformation.

Eco-conscious design and supply chains are becoming increasingly important for the consumer- just last month Gucci launched Off The Grid, a collection devoted to sustainable design. However, whilst most brands are working out how to navigate the clothes, Tom Ford is looking to the all important watch- an essential accessory to the designer wardrobe.

Having debuted the Tom Ford Timepiece line in 2018, the Tom Ford Ocean Plastic Timepiece draws its timeless round silhouette from the Tom Ford 002 Timepiece collection released last year. The 40mm case is made from 100% ocean plastic, as is the interchangeable braided strap. Finished with a black stainless steel screw case-back, Ford has, of course, thought of it all- the watch being resistant, so things really do come full circle as your watch can follow you wherever you go.

The ocean plastic is sourced from the sea, coastlines and uncontrolled landfills. The material used contains no virgin plastics or non-ocean bound plastics and is traceable to the collection source. Each of the Swiss-made watches removes the equivalent of 35 bottles of plastic waste from the sea, whilst the transportation of the ocean plastic granules is carbon neutral and the compounding in Switzerland is powered by solar energy.

'In my opinion, ethical luxury is the greatest luxury of all. The Tom Ford customer is sophisticated with a heightened awareness of the issues facing our planet and the responsibility we have to protect it. Sustainability is a key issue in our lives right now. In particular, the amount of ocean plastic that we are generating is perhaps taking the greatest toll on our environment of all. It is incredibly appealing to know that you are not only wearing a high-quality product, but by simply owning the product you are also taking direct action to improve the planet' - Tom Ford

As part of the launch, Tom Ford have teamed up with 52HZ- an advisory service created by the agency Lonely Whale to help businesses create strategies in support of the environment- to announce The Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize. With $1 million up for grabs, the winner- who will be chosen by a panel of industry leaders-will see their proposal for a new, eco-friendly material to replace thin-film plastic brought to life. Entries must be market-ready by 2025, in-keeping with the general consensus that this is when time runs out for preventing the ultimate demise of our planet. The prize hopes to create a global incentive for producing creative solutions to save our planet. The submission guidelines and prize rules will be outlined on a dedicated website. Submissions will be accepted as of the end of January 2021.

'Collaboration accelerates innovation...[Tom Ford] is an icon certainly, but now also a leader in the fight for the future of our planet. His Ocean Plastic timepiece and the launch of the Prize is a technological feat and proof positive that the fashion industry can be an ally, with plenty to contribute to the environmental movement' said Dr. Dune Ives, CEO of Lonely Whale

Ford and other designer efforts to counter-balance the eleven million tons of plastic waste entering the ocean every year certainly won't go unnoticed, but we need the entire weight of the industry to make real and permanent change. Always leaving a lasting influence on the industry, here's hoping Ford's latest venture will be no different.

The Tom Ford Ocean Plastic timepiece will retail for $995 and will be available in-store and online from today.