TimePeace
We delve into the mind of Miami based watch brand creator Ian Koz; to see how a quest for answers led to the philosophical foundation each TimePeace watch is rooted in.
TIME is something we either complain about having too much, or too little of. In fact the majority of our anxiety comes from the word TIME. Its incessant ticking signals the countdown till we have to crawl out of bed in the morning, a constant reminder as to how late we are to that all important interview. However let's not forget the whole twenty-four hours it gives us when relaxing with family, friends or just enjoying life.
So it was to be on a sun-filled Saturday afternoon at an eclectic market in Miami's design district, that six unlikely characters would neutralise that preconceived animosity towards TIME, with the help of beautifully hypnotising watches. Ian Koz, Sean Altshuler, Ron Muram, Tyler Wolf, Craig Runyon and Da Vid are TimePeace.
Born in 2009 by Chief Executive Dreamer, Ian Koz's inquisitive mind. TimePeace now has a huge following in America that grows each day. It helps that there watches have caught the attention of celebrities such as Kid Cudi, Diplo and Sean Lennon, but the guys do not stop there. This healthy buzz has only spurred them on into doing more - so more they did - by designing everything from t-shirts, to jewellery all rooted in the same philosophy and symbol. It won't be long till word of their creative minds and designs spread further a field.
Row 1: LIGHTWARRIORS - $150/£95
Row 2: THE SLAP ONS - $20/£12
The idea behind TimePeace stems from a childhood of trying to fill in the missing links, in the question of life. "I was in love with the mystery and I knew it was almost my calling to become more and more aware of what the hell was going on," he explains. "Why was I here? Why is any of this happening?" So when we were happy playing house with Barbie and Ken in a picturesque setting akin to our child-like innocence, Ian was trying to crack a philosophical puzzle that would alter the way he perceived the world he lived in.
However it was a long process. He was not content. He grew restless. He needed to know more - had many more questions to ask regarding the Universe and consciousness. "What the fuck... the further along I got, the weirder it became," declares Ian. "Eventually I realized I was on this journey one thing would just lead me to the next, as I was putting together the pieces to this puzzle."
However reaching intense levels of introspect comes at a price and it was not long until he had fallen into a pit of confusion, he could not climb out of. When questions of his existence came into play, he knew enough was enough. He needed answers fast. "I asked the universe for some clarity and PURPOSE, and the next day I found the book the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle."
Through this book he was able to connect answers with everything he had ever questioned and resultantly dream up TimePeace. "I knew everything was interconnected, but now I understood how - through the present moment. I knew the universe is in alignment, but now I understood why - because the time is always now."
So like the parable of the blind man, Ian was blind, but now he saw - very clearly in fact. "If all of our stress, worry and violence stems from our current perception of time, and if everyone in the world is wearing watches that tell the wrong time, why not just make watches that tell the right time - Now." It makes perfect sense, right?
The logo itself represents the overall philosophy behind TimePeace, starting off with the clock, represents our unknowing identification with the mind, which leads to stress, worry, violence, and suffering. The right hemisphere of the brain is the side associated with right here, right now. We are connected to the energy around us through the awakening of our right hemisphere, which streams in information in the form of energy, creating the picture of the present moment. The tree of life represents the two-way connection of all things that exist together in this present moment.
The TimePeace LED Lightwarrior works in the sense that without physically activating it, the time will always be now. Now think back to a deadline you had. How many times did you look at your watch to see how many minutes you had left in the torturous realm of limbo? If that was the right time you would have been at ease, but it was the wrong time. With owning a TimePeace it is imperative to adopt the mind frame of calm clarity. "I understood that life was heaven, that when there is nothing to worry about, life is the most beautiful, amazing thing there could ever be," he exclaims.
Check out the clip to see the Lightworker in action:
Isn't it about time we stop looking at the wrong time and start looking at the now?
So clothed in battered jeans, a non-descript tee and 12 inches of disheveled hair, this modern day Jesus was ready to take on challenges of all shapes and sizes. "I knew that since I desperately needed a reminder that everything is okay, that everyone else would need it to."
Today TimePeace continues to grow and with a new venture called Dreamer, we can only expect great things from these collaborative six. Head over to the website to grab yourself a TimePeace and start living your life NOW!
Ian Koz, 24 - Cheif Executive Dreamer
What were you doing before you got involved in TimePeace?
I was in college at university of Florida, but I would say that I've always been involved with TimePeace. My entire life has been me coming up with TimePeace without me realizing it. The first half of my life I spent being myself, and the second half of my life I've spent trying to figure out what I knew in the first half of my life. Now my life is dedicated to sharing it all with everyone.
Who is the most peaceful?
Most definitely Sean I would say. I guess I'm up there too. Sean doesn't really have any attachments. He's crazy.
If you could time travel, which year would you go back to and why?
I think I would go back to the 60s so I could be with the Beatles, and I'd also like to chill with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters who did the electric cool aid acid test and went around America turning people ON.
Favourite all time watch?
Would have to be either the new coloured brain one which I engraved to say BE YOURSELF - SAVE THE WORLD, or the black on black Light Warrior which I'd been wearing up until recently when I gave it a girl I fell in love with. It was engraved THE UNIVERSE IS IN ALIGNMENT on it, and then the back had our nicknames engraved.
Da Vid, 24 - Conveyor of Possibilities
What were you doing before you got involved in TimePeace?
Da Vid was finished with college at UF (we met because we were in the same frat, TEP at UF). He was living at home, helping his family and mom around the house... growing a garden in the backyard. Kind of on a permanent vacation, but also doing some art like painting custom shoes for friends. (He made me some sick John Lennon shoes which you can see in the wall photos of the TimePeace Facebook page) - Ian
If you could have any gadget on your watch, what would it be?
The
Where do get the passion for TimePeace?
Time
If you could time travel, which year would you go back to and why?
Is NOW!
Sean Altshuler, 24 - Philosopher of Magic
What were you doing before you got involved in TimePeace?
Sean was in school at University of South Florida and hating every minute of it. He was in love with video games, specifically the football game called Madden, and he was one of the best in the world, playing almost all night every night online, and winning tournaments etc around the world. Sean is not meant for school. Eventually he dropped out when he decided he wanted to come home to be around us and just do TimePeace stuff. I've known Sean since Mommy and Me, and I think we always knew even as infants that we were going to do something special together - Ian
Explain your role in Time Peace?
My one 'job title' is "Philosopher of Magic" but I have several roles in Time-Peace...
- Writer/philosopher
- Photoshopper
- President of the TP smiling/laughing department
- Being "the fire" behind the movement
- Kidd Lucid aka Ian Koslow's manager
Digital or Analogue?
I'd say that at night I prefer digital because lights are awesome and during the day I'd rather rock an analog watch. I think some sort of combination would be great - a watch with hands that light up.
If you could have any gadget on your watch, what would it be?
If I could have one gadget on my watch I would want an invisibility cloak that pops out of the watch like an airbag.
Craig Runyon, 24 - Cheif Storyteller/Herald
Describe TimePeace in 5 words.
Perception creates reality. Try it.
What were you doing before you got involved in TimePeace?
Craig was at UF with me, and one of my best friends since 5th grade. We were together every day at UF because we took the same classes, both majoring in journalism. He planned on going to law school, and he did. He's now in law school at Emory in Atlanta, and he helps out with TimePeace when he can - or when he wants to. I know one day he will be very influential in it when he is ready to embrace his powers. Right now I think he's afraid. - Ian
What role does each member play?
Everyone's got a designated "role" for the sake of job titles on a business card, but I wouldn't be able to really say any one person plays any one role. Time-Peace is truly a constant collaboration of everyone's energy and abilities. Everyone involved, whether they've got a business card or they just love to work with us, really just serves the role of being there and adding their energy to message and the growth of TP.
Where do get the passion for TimePeace?
TP is definitely a crew of kids that's always danced to the beat of their own drum so I'd say the passion has always been there, we just didn't have the experience or understanding to put words to that passion. It was first inspired when Koz found the book 'The Power of Now'. That's where it started but now the inspiration and passion is definitely from seeing the change the TP has made in our lives and the people around us. We get amazing e-mails from people sharing their stories after they strap on their peace and that's where my inspiration and peace comes from. I mean we get photos of people we've never met before who got the TP symbol tattooed, and if what we're doing is powerful enough to any one to want a permanent reminder of the message - how can we not be inspired or passionate about what we're doing?
Ron Muram, 25 - Legal Eagle
Where did the passion come to start TimePeace?
A collective group consciousness. It hit me particularly while I was traveling in Honduras following my first and terrible year of law school. There I learned to shut out all the nonsense that was going on in my life and focus on the now. What was the point of being sad, so I stopped being sad and started being happy.
If you could stop time, what would you do and why?
I wouldn't because every experience I live whether by choice or not has led me to the current moment and to who I am now so would stopping time help at all?
If you could time travel, which year would you go back to and why?
I'd go back to the time of the dinosaurs because why wouldn't you want to go check out what the world was like back then, it must have been so insane and raw.
If you could have any gadget on your watch, what would it be?
Teleporter, my life would be much simpler, more productive and way cooler, breakfast in France, lunch in Mexico, dinner in Tokyo.
Tyler Wolf, 24 - Operations Architect
What were you doing before you got involved in TimePeace?
Tyler was in a transition period having just finished college at FSU. I've known him since 4th grade as well. He loved the idea of time-peace and was excited about it, but he was going to apply to law school because he didn't know what else to do. I got him super excited and basically convinced him to take a shot with TimePeace, which he has not regretted. I remember the thing that really helped him make up his mind was when I explained to him a specific mantra that I like. THOSE WHO KNOW; ACT. - Ian
Explain your role in TimePeace?
My role in time-peace is the Operations Architect and what that implies is much of the business aspect of time-peace from ordering watches to contacts with sales and lots of contact with the Chinese. But mostly we do many of our products collectively and we all help each other out when something arises.
If you could have any gadget on your watch, what would it be?
One gadget I would like to have on my watch would be to have a time machine on the watch. The ability to transform to any generation to chill with the Beatles, travel to any sporting event in the history of time, and check out what's in store in the future would be pretty cool.
How do you chill out?
For myself my favourite thing to chill would be a nice spliff, glass of wine and watching a sporting event.
