Made in Scotland: Fiodh

For the last few years we’ve been running the Made in Scotland blog with J Boult Designs,  hoping to discover new businesses and highlight the quality of the fabulous produce and craft made in Scotland. While we were at Scotland’s Trade Fair in Glasgow we met Michael from Fiodh who creates beautiful watches made using reclaimed Whisky casks. We were very excited to hear all about how Fiodh, the Whisky Watch, was created by Michael and asked him to join us for a little chat about his craftsmanship, his journey to watches and his favourite part of Scotland to visit.

 

 

Can you tell us how your business got started?

After graduating from a Masters in Product Design at the University of Strathclyde in 2016, I was on the hunt for a design role but unfortunately due to the dreaded ‘lack of experience’, I was turned down for even internships. I knew if I wanted to become a designer I would need to make it on my own and hence ‘Fiodh’( Gaelic word meaning wood) was born in 2017.

I love Scotland, watches, whisky and products that have a strong emotional connection and ethical ethos, therefore I knew I wanted to create a product that strongly identifies with those factors. I have always loved a good challenge and believed I could use my knowledge and passion for design to start a Scottish watch company. With the odds against me from the lack of funds, lack of business experience and the lack of knowing how to build a watch, I knew I was in for some journey.

My first challenge was to learn how to manufacture a watch, so I would buy a typical watch, take it apart and use my sketch book to start re-designing it with a Scottish twist (whisky casks). My aim was to create something unique, that holds a strong identity and heritage, using reclaimed whisky casks is an ideal material as it holds our heritage, each cask once held some of the finest whiskies in the world that can now be worn proudly on your wrist.

 

I started off by using the facilities at the University of Strathclyde, learning how to operate machinery and turn my sketches into prototypes. After 100’s of failed attempts and carrying everything in a shoe box, I managed to finally get one that worked, which I would go on to sell to friends and family.

In 2018 I ran a successful crowdfunding campaign using ‘Kickstarter’, selling watches all over the world with very little marketing. This would be a huge boost for Fiodh and my confidence, which would lead to further success from being featured on the Scottish Herald, to winning awards such as the Scottish Edge. It still feels unreal to see how far things have come from absolutely nothing to having a large workshop, my own machinery and to having collaborated with globally recognized distilleries around Scotland.

Where do you look for inspiration when you are designing products?

My inspiration has always come from all things Scottish, it’s natural beauty and a love for simplicity in aesthetic and design. I always wanted to create a product that has an important emotional connection as we live in a world full of products that are used and replaced with no thought, which is detrimental to our environment. Therefore, using reclaimed whisky casks is  a fantastic material that holds a unique element of history for it to be up-cycled into a new life. Every watch produced will always be unique and a one-off due to its natural grain structures and colour.

Can you tell us a bit more about how you make your products?

The products are all handmade in-house from my workshop based in the East End of Glasgow. Working with whisky casks can be a tricky material with a lot of preparation needed, such as, cutting, planning and drying the wood. Once everything is ready, it can be placed in the CNC machine to carve out the parts out before they are sanded and oiled. The watch straps are also produced in-house using an ethically sourced Scottish leather from Muirhead, which will be made using the laser cutter and then hand stitched and burnished.

 

 

Which is your most popular product?

The most popular product must be ‘The Whisky Watch’ with the brown leather strap. This might be due to the matching natural colour of the wood and the brown strap.

If you had to pick one place in Scotland to recommend that people visit, where would it be?

As mentioned earlier, I love Scotland and I love going on long hikes in the Highlands. I have grown up near Loch Lomond, so I would love taking visitors to ‘Balmaha’ to climb up a small hill called ‘Conic Hill’. On a clear day you will have spectacular views of the Loch Lomond and the mountains in the Highlands and Ben Lomond.

Who are some of your own favourite small businesses that are Made in Scotland?

I would love to recommend a lovely Scottish Made Business by Laura called ‘Fernweh’ that makes beautiful bags and accessories inspired by the Scottish Landscape.  https://www.fernwehuk.com/

Thanks so much to Michael for talking to us about the beautiful watches he creates that allow you to carry a wee bit of Scotland with you wherever you go! You can find out more about Fiodh or order online on their website or by following them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.