VIANI Watch Company Partners with DJ Horne
Celebrating Raleigh: DJ Horne and Sunny Bhathela's tribute to diversity with the VIANI Solar in Raleigh Red.
Following a historic NCAA Final Four and ACC Championship run, NC State star point guard DJ Horne and VIANI Watch Company are proud to introduce the VIANISolar in Raleigh Red.
Raleigh natives DJ Horne and VIANI Watch Company founder Sunny Bhathela share a deep commitment to representing and celebrating their hometown of Raleigh, NC. Their shared background and pride as Wolfpack alumni made their partnership a natural fit.
DJ Horne is famously known for wearing the number 0 as he led the underdog NC State men’s basketball team to the ACC Championship and the NCAA Final Four. The number 0 holds personal significance for DJ Horne, symbolizing his early basketball career and the odds he overcame to become a championship player on the big stage.
The number 0 is integral to VIANI Watch Company’s ethos. VIANI is the only solar watch company to proudly represent Hindi Numerals, credited with being the first numeral system to utilize the number 0 – an often overlooked history that was critical in the advancement of society. With South Asians being one of the fastest-growing minority groups in the RTP, they believe this collaboration will help unify and celebrate the region’s diverse community.
Sunny Bhathela launched VIANI during the holidays in 2023 and has been trying to keep up with demand since. The watch company honors South Asian mathematicians of the 6th and 7th centuries by using Hindi numerals instead of traditional Roman numerals. This design choice highlights the historical impact of the Hindi numeral system, which introduced decimal-based numbers and significantly influenced global mathematics and science.
VIANI timepieces are also unique in their ability to run completely on indoor and outdoor light energy. These features, combined with their distinctive design, set VIANI apart in the watch market. Sunny aims to advance South Asian representation in this historically non-diverse industry, making VIANI a pioneer in both design and cultural representation.
Through this partnership, DJ Horne and VIANI Watch Company are not only promoting innovative and culturally significant timepieces but are also championing the diversity and unity of the RTP community.
