CEO of RedBar. Tabi Lover. Radium Enthusiast.
Meet Kathleen McGivney—one of the most vibrant voices in the watch world today. From her early days as a tech geek (unafraid to be the only woman in the server room) to her current role as CEO of RedBar, Kathleen’s horological journey proves that rules are for bending. Maybe even breaking.
Check out our full conversation with her in the video below, and scroll on for highlights and a few snapshots from her personal arsenal of 80+ timepieces. Yes, eighty. Not counting the stack of Swatches and G-Shocks.
A STYLE THAT’S ALL HER OWN
Kathleen wears what she likes—period. That might be four and a half watches at once (seriously, ask her about the “half”) or a treasured vintage Polerouter with radium hands. She’ll mix in a JLC Reverso, a Timex x Margiela collab, and a snazzy ring watch you’ve probably never heard of. If there’s a cool story behind it, she’s in. And let’s not forget her footwear of choice: Tabi boots, an avant-garde statement that pairs rather nicely with an Hermès strap in a wild color. She’s got about 40 pairs. You read that right. Forty.
RADIUM, RED DIALS & REAL TALK
Ever wonder why some vintage watches have those ghostly “hand shadows” on the dial?
Kathleen did—and went down a rabbit hole of research that led to a full-blown lecture at the Horological Society of New York. You’ll hear her touch on that radium obsession in the interview, along with the backstory to RedBar’s very own oxblood-dial Oris collaboration.
Oris Diver Sixty-Five RedBar Limited Edition - (Image by Worn & Wound)
Kathleen also tackles a more serious note: challenging outdated views on “women’s watches.”
For her, gender lines in watch design belong in the same category as dull marketing and pushy sales—best avoided altogether.
COMMUNITY IS KEY
“Come for the watches, stay for the people.” This is embedded in the ethos across RedBar meetups worldwide (there are 90+ chapters for a reason!). Kathleen’s ultimate tip? Don’t sweat walking into a boutique to browse or showing up at a watch gathering with nothing more than a cherished Swatch. It’s all about making genuine connections—no snobbery allowed.
RedBar Global event at Analog:Shift HQ
Ready for the full story? Hit play on our in-depth video interview below. You’ll catch Kathleen’s spirited take on everything from radium-laced vintage pieces to the joys of designing watch-themed manicures. For a closer look at her favorites—including that mesmerizing Tahitian Mother of Pearl Datejust—take a peek at the images sprinkled throughout this article.
