Who Is Jonathan Stephens ?

Jonathan Stephens, a multi-hyphenate artist (Photographer-Director-Designer), is the founder and creative designer of TIMEBANDITS Watches, a hot new company delivering fresh accessory styles for men and women. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Jonathan moved to Los Angeles in ’94, completing his studies in Cinema and Television at the University of Southern California. Along with his personal film projects, Jonathan was commissioned to work on the production and direction of several Rock and Hip Hop video shoots. He was also asked to shoot still photography for the television show The X-Files, which served as a spawning ground for the cultivation of his extra-curricular creative efforts.

Jonathan began making his first watches in the Fall of 2003. He has always been a fanatic of watches and sunglasses and was looking for something other than the leather banded Fossil and Diesel brands marketed to men. With only three watches under his belt, Jonathan began to see a market for his designs as more and more people stopped him on the street to inquire where they could buy the product. When they discovered it was his design, people began placing orders.

Jonathan was able to place samples of his watches in high-end boutiques in Malibu and Hollywood on Melrose, through friends who worked there. Within 6 months, he was able to secure an account with a chain of Japanese department stores.

While walking on Melrose one day, Jonathan ran into Arch Bishop Don Magic Juan who he had previously met while working as a photographer. He was then able to connect with Snoop’s personal stylist, April, who passed along some watches to the Hip Hop entertainer. Snoop’s reaction was so positive that he has been captured at event after event world wide sporting TIMEBANDITS Watches. Even Naomi Watts and Peter Jackson, actress and director of the recent adaptation of King Kong, and the rest of the cast were hipped to TIMEBANDITS Watches all the way in New Zealand.

The Pool Trade Show, an indie/underground designer show for up and comers (now owned by Magic Trade Show of Las Vegas) was Jonathan’s first experience in the trade show scene. Fred Segal approached him, offering him an opportunity to sell his designs in their stores. This was a very pivotal point, especially considering that designer competition was (and is) steep. But for Jonathan, it wasn’t just the marketing power that came with the way his brand was portrayed, it was the smile on someone’s face when they put the watch on – that mattered.

Working in Hollywood entertainment has afforded Jonathan a spattering of celebrity contacts, but that’s not what is more important to him. He became sober over 5 years ago. He didn’t go the Anonymous route, seeking support from AA or NA; he simply quit cold turkey. Partying and recreational substances were only getting in the way of what he truly wanted to accomplish. Jonathan needed to produce “tangible work and tangible evidence of his time on this planet.”

He says, “I can take someone into a room right now completely filled with art, photographs, paintings, designs, products, films…complete archives of a creative body of work. All of that to me is worth a lot more than a hang over and an empty bank account.”

His Lessons:

- It’s integral that you keep in mind the importance of an accessible product.
- There’s a lot of room for growth in Men’s Fashion. There’s a huge market for men’s clothing and accessories that express a style that isn’t metro sexual and button down.
- Use creativity to make functional, wearable art. It makes people feel happy and good when they wear it. Thus, more consumption and company growth.
- The market is over saturated with screen-printed t-shirt lines. Adapt and change with something that is unique and maybe a bit more risky.
- Accessible art. Simple equation. “Find a need for something. Create and make awareness for that need. And then fill that need…no matter what product that is. Preach!”
- How do you want your art to affect or influence people?
“I want my art to motivate and inspire viewers to become aware of the possibility
of their own artistic expression. It’s my intention that they, too, can hopefully
find their own creative outlet and have their voices and ideas heard.”

- Jonathan Stephens

Find more info and images on Jonathan Stephens and TIMEBANDITS Watches

at www.jrsfilm.com (Jonathan Stephens - Photographer/Designer)

and www.timebanditswatches.com (TIMEBANDITS Watches)

On Myspace at www.myspace.com/jrsfilm and www.myspace.com/timebandits

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