South Lane Kicks It London-Style with New AVANT Watch Collection

Sometimes, all it takes is a change of scenery.more

When designer Filip Bjernebo, founder of the Scandinavian men's accessories brand South Lane, moved to East London in 2013, he fell hard for the local Shoreditch neighborhood. Like a Blighty version of Brooklyn, it's filled with old warehouse spaces repurposed into speakeasies, art galleries, and eateries, and as Bjernebo made his way through this wonderland of exposed brick and pipe detailing, he was inspired to create his new AVANT watch collection.

Marking something of a stylistic departure from his previous watches, the three timepieces in the AVANT Collection feature 38mm matte stainless steel dials and bands made from three types of fine Italian leather: black calf leather, brown cracked leather, and metallic ostrich skin. While the look remains clean and minimalist—hallmarks of both Swedish and South Lane design—the watches nod to the avant garde.

The AVANT watches launched back on Nov. 10 in a handful of luxury retailers, among them Miami's Webster boutique, and they're slated to land in additional high-end shops next year. Until then, scoop 'em up online.