With his achievements in the design industry, it is no wonder that Alvin Tjitrowirjo was chosen as one of Gc Watches’ personalities in Indonesia.
This year, the watch brand unveiled a global campaign entitled “Moments of Smart Luxury,” which aims to promote “emerging creative personalities” through an artistic photography project. “I have always loved design. As a boy, I wanted to be a car designer,” shares Alvin.” But I think product design is a more all-encompassing job in the long run.” Since delving into furniture design in early 2000, Jakarta-born Alvin has continued to gain momentum in the industry. Having graduated from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s Architecture Design and Planning Foundation in 2002, Alvin went on to get his Bachelor Of Industrial Design degree, majoring in Furniture design, in 2004. While starting work on his brand, Alvin furthered his studies and received his Masters in product design from European Design Labs (Istituto Europeo Di Design) in Spain. “I’m lucky to be able to express my passion in my work.”
This year, the 29 year-old designer opened the first showroom of his namesake brand, AlvinT, in Kemang, He also collaborated with fashion designers Stella Rissa, Ardistia NY, and Auguste Soesastro on the “House” installation for Indonesian Fashion Week, as well as completed the design of Porterhouse restaurant in North Jakarta. His brand, AlvinT, launched in 2006 and presents modern products for the global market that highlight Indonesia’s distinctive design characteristcs through the use of high-quality materials and excellent craftsmanship. On his relationship with Gc, Alvin said, “I became familiar with Gc watches when I attended their event a year ago. They approached me to be involved in “Moments of Smart Luxury,” I think, because my profile fits their target market.” Asked about his favorite Gc model, Alvin said, “The Gc Sport Class XXL Blackout ceramic watch because it’s simple, sophisticated and modern,” which is also a good description of his own personality.
Tips
Alvin shares pointers on furnishing the ultimate bachelor’s pad with DA MAN.
The basics
For the living room, an iconic classic lounge chair to lounge on (or read magazines, watch movies etc), a nice sofa, a cool coffee table, and a high-quality sound system to rock with or jazz up your evening. For the bedroom, a comfortable bed is a must, as well as a big walk-in wardrobe for the fashionisto.
A good sofa
Has to be deep enough for the girlfriend to put her feet up while sitting up against you, and low enough for you that she can sit back in a very reclined position. It should be made out of goose down, so it’ll be comfortable enough to sleep on and will last for years.
A good bed
Comfortable and big (king size at least, depending on how much of a playboy you are) with sleek bedside tables to put all your gadgets and remotes.
Home-décor
Big art work — either a cool painting or a sculpture that represents your identity. Know what needs to be hidden and what needs to be shown; a nice photography / architecture book is good to be seen on your coffee table, while dirty shirts and underwear needs to be stashed in the laundry bin.
What to avoid
Cheap fakes! Better to own an original used (second-hand) designer item, or even a vintage (non-pricey) furniture piece, than buy an expensive-looking fake; they never trick those with keen eyes. There are too many places that sell fakes and some are not cheap, that’s like getting ripped-off twice!
Getting it right
Be true to your character; you shouldn’t have to commit yourself to a particular style or “look” when it’s not truly your own. Decorating can be a pain, especially when you want to make everything looks great, but when you buy things and decorations that really represents who you are, it can be an enjoyable experience.