Online Ceramics, known for its distinctive T-shirts featuring imagery like snails, skeletons, and scarecrows, has delved into the realm of horology with a limited-edition G-Shock by Casio. Founders Elijah Funk and Alix Ross, who often explore themes of time in their designs, were inspired by musician John Mayer, a watch collector and Hodinkee ambassador. Mayer approached Online Ceramics to design their first watch, resulting in the G-Shock 5600, recently released by Hodinkee for $185.
The design incorporates motifs from Online Ceramics’ arcane visual canon, featuring the label’s name in a loopy script on the forest green strap alongside phrases like “Mushroom House Haunted Wagon” and “Sun Watch, Moon Time.” The face includes a small snail, and the display, when activated, glows with the phrase “Love Grows in the Sunshine.” Ben Clymer, Hodinkee’s founder, described the watch as “fresh and weird,” emphasizing that Online Ceramics successfully understood the creative assignment.
For Funk and Ross, who typically focus on clever or existential phrases in T-shirt designs, creating a watch was a liberating experience. Funk mentioned that the opportunity to design something other than a T-shirt was refreshing, considering the abundance of their T-shirt creations. The collaboration with G-Shock marks a departure from their usual offerings.
The G-Shock’s makeover by Online Ceramics coincides with the watch’s 40th anniversary, celebrated with the release of the art book “G-Shock” by Rizzoli in September. Ariel Adams, the book’s author, noted that the G-Shock has always been a workhorse rather than a showpiece. Initially popular among athletes and skateboarders, it gained traction among young people, and collaborations with brands like Maison Margiela, Stüssy, and Bape contributed to its trendiness.
Ross expressed hope that the collaboration with G-Shock would attract new fans to Online Ceramics. He emphasized the excitement of engaging with a different consumer base and exploring innovative ways for people outside their usual demographic to connect with their brand. The G-Shock, with its longstanding reputation, provides a platform for Online Ceramics to reach a broader audience and showcase their creative prowess beyond the realm of T-shirts.