WebOctNov17

42 | www.westendermagazine.com
This sense of creative community
encouraged the Paulin sisters to set up their
concept store on Great Western Road. Shop,
watch workshop and creative space all rolled
into one, it gives the siblings the opportunity
to meet the customers who buy their iconic
timepieces.
‘We definitely do more business in store
rather than online,’ confirms youngest sister
Eleanor. ‘It’s so friendly here.’ The shop also
gives westenders an opportunity to see our
watches if they haven’t come across them
before.‘
With five models on offer currently, Paulin
watches are intended to last a lifetime.
Designed by the sisters it takes about eight
months from drawing board to finished
product and this year the team have created
their own numerical font, inspired by art deco
typefaces. The distinctive geometric style has
cleverly spaced gaps allowing the eye to fill
in the blanks. ‘We wanted to keep the range
simple but have something unique and I think
we have achieved that,’ Eleanor says.
Creativity really does run in this family,
with the girls citing their great grandfather,
sculptor George Henry Paulin, as their
inspiration. ‘He worked across both World
Wars,’ Eleanor says. ‘And you can still
see his work today in both the Botanics
and Kelvingrove Park. We followed in his
footsteps and all studied at the same art
school.’
Like Paulin, Iolla and bluebellgray there are
dozens of design led creative companies
in this part of the city, doing innovative and
exciting things. So what keeps them here?
The answer from our three case studies is
that the West End has a real sense of close
knit community. For the Paulin sisters its like
a happy family. ‘There is no sibling rivalry
here,’ Eleanor concludes. ‘It’s a real team
effort. My middle sister Elizabeth works
remotely and my eldest sister Charlotte
has just started a family so if she wants to
take a day off I am around to help look after
the baby.’
iolla.com
bluebellgray.com
paulinwatches.com