Industry News
IWC Schaffhausen announces a new collaboration with The Faction Collective. In their first joint project, the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer and the Swiss high-end ski brand are launching the “Faction Studio 1 IWC Collab Ltd.” The skis are limited to 55 pairs and mark the first time Faction has manufactured skis with a luminescent design. The “LAKE TAHOE” and “IWC” letterings on the white top sheet glow in a greenish tone in the dark. In addition, each pair comes with an option to purchase the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Lake Tahoe” in white ceramic.
The collaboration between IWC Schaffhausen and Faction brings together two Swiss companies with a proven track record and high competence in engineering. Both have also acquired unique expertise in advanced-performance materials and commit to the highest standards regarding sustainability and responsible production. Faction was founded in 2006 by a group of passionate skiers. Since then, they have earned a reputation for manufacturing high-quality skis and skiing equipment for freeride, freestyle, and all-mountain skiing. Several top athletes rely on skis from Faction. Among them is Eileen Gu, IWC Brand Ambassador and Double Olympic Champion.
“Graphic design with a clear and recognisable expression is an important tool for us at IWC to emphasise the engineering expertise and technicality of the brand. Therefore, designing a pair of skis with Faction was a great challenge. As an enthusiastic snowboarder and skier, I thoroughly enjoyed this project and am very proud of the result.”
– Nicholas Schmidt, Head of Brand Creation and Corporate Design at IWC Schaffhausen
“In our collaborations, we always look for partners who can contribute new and surprising aspects and inspire our work. IWC Schaffhausen not only has a unique engineering approach and expertise in advanced material, but their design and visual expression also perfectly match what we do at Faction. I am thrilled to be introducing our first luminescent ski design.”
– Olivier Gouby, Chief Brand Officer of Faction
Limited to 55 pairs, the “Faction Studio 1 IWC Collab Ltd.” is handmade in Austria in a 100% renewable energy factory. Its wooden core is composed of sustainably harvested poplar and ash. The skis are engineered to the same specifications used by Faction for Eileen Gu’s skis, meaning they can withstand the extreme forces generated by the world’s very best freeskiers. A carbon-rubber reinforcement under the binding area adds stability for heavy landings. The carbon weave ensures torsional strength, while the symmetrical shape is optimized for effortless switch skiing. An extra-large 7.5 mm sidewall provides maximum edge hold and protection for the ski’s wooden core.
The skis feature a tone-on-tone white top sheet and a black base, perfectly matching the design of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Lake Tahoe” with its crisp white ceramic case and pitch-black dial. “FACTION” and their logo is printed in white on the black base. The white top sheet features the IWC and “Lake Tahoe” logos in luminescent paint. While barely visible during the day, they will glow green in the dark. This project marks the first time that Faction has engineered skis featuring a luminescent design.
Every pair of the “Faction Studio 1 IWC Collab Ltd.” skis comes with an option to purchase the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Lake Tahoe.” Launched at the Watches and Wonders exhibition in Geneva in April, the chronograph is a highlight of IWC’s TOP GUN collection. It features a case made of crisp white ceramic, a pitch-black dial, black hands coated with luminescent materials, and a titanium case back. The contrasting design is inspired by the winter landscape around Lake Tahoe, a mountainous area frequently flown over by the pilots in the U.S. Navy’s TOPGUN school. Colored ceramics are created in a complex manufacturing process in which zirconium oxide is mixed with other metallic oxides and then sintered at high temperatures in a kiln. It takes a lot of experience and know-how to determine the right mixture of raw materials and achieve consistent results across the multi-stage manufacturing process.
The “Faction Studio 1 IWC Collab Ltd.” skis are available in a limited edition of 55 pairs in two sizes (25 x 171 cm or 30 x 178 cm) on https://factionskis.com/products/studio-1-iwc-collab-ski-2023. When purchasing the skis, the client will also receive an option from IWC to purchase the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “Lake Tahoe.”
Sort of like a tattoo on your back. What’s the point if you can’t see it?