What Caught Their Eye: Kyle Snarr of Worn & Wound and Cantonment
Over the last few months on this newsletter, you have seen me share a variety of things I love, what I’m buying, and more. Well, I’m happy to be handing the reins over to someone else from time to time!
This is “What Caught Their Eye”, a guest edit section of my Substack to introduce my readers to executives, artists, creatives, and everyone in between.
Keep reading to find out more about my next guest, Kyle Snarr.
Introducing Kyle Snarr, Head of Partnerships at Worn & Wound and Cofounder of Cantonment
Kyle Snarr began his love affair with gear at a very young age thanks to his father’s passion for pocket knives, pens, watches, and model cars. Now, with 20 years of professional product marketing under his belt, he spends his days creating original storytelling for Worn & Wound’s growing client roster of watch brands spanning from small, one-person workshops to multi-billion dollar global operations. In 2020, he and two childhood friends launched Cantonment, an accessory brand dedicated to creating objects of Stylized Substance™, where form meets function in simple, yet unique ways. Their flagship product, the Kerchief, is designed to be the ideally-sized daily carry cloth, with designs and features tuned with the product enthusiast in mind.
What Caught Kyle’s Eye
William Ellery Keepsake Hat
What happens when you cross some serious Wes Anderson vibes with utilitarian outdoor lifestyle gear? You get William Ellery. Launched in 2019 by a former Tom Sachs studio designer, the brand focuses on small batch products with classic lines and materials, but with a functional twist. For example, their flagship Keepsake Hat comes with a lashed-on patch of vinyl-coated nylon mesh for stowing freshly-plucked wildflowers and other trailside treasures.
Buy: Here
Filson Ranger Anorak
I recently popped into Filson’s NYC Flagship Store near Union Square to attend a photo exhibition put on by the Mystic Seaport Museum. Among the fine photography and fresh oysters, I found a brand new addition to Filson’s lineup. The Ranger Anorak in Olive Drab, which in person is more brown than green, looks like it’s straight out of Force 10 from Navarone. This water-repellant waxed cotton shell is modeled after the smocks worn by early mountaineers and WWII-era troops serving in arctic units. Best of all, hidden within its front-mounted kangaroo pockets, are drawstrings allowing you to cinch the whole setup tighter without exposing your hands to the elements.
Buy: Here
Seiko 5 Sports Mid-Field Collection
For many watch enthusiasts, myself included, our introduction to mechanical watches was made through a classic collection of Seiko 5s called the SNK Series. In 2019, the entire product offering was overhauled and the diminutive, yet classy, field watch line was eliminated from the lineup. Fortunately, I just learned that a new and improved case of similar proportions has returned to the collection. Now referred to as the Mid-Field, this 36mm set of little stunners now fall under the moniker of the SRPJ Series, with five different colorways and two dial configurations.
Find Out More: Here
Unmarked Jack Penny Loafers
If my teenagers’ style choices are any indication of what’s trending, then “chunky” footwear and apparel is where it’s at. The kids these days want oversized everything, and in some cases I can get onboard. For example, I’m all about chunky shoe soles and the Unmarked Jack Penny Loafers definitely deliver in this department. Fitted with supersized natural crepe outsoles, these goodyear welted, Weejun-style slip-ons are instant statement pieces that will also give you an inch or so on the competition.
Buy: Here
Snow Peak Long Titanium Spork
Seriously, who needs a spoon and a fork? Literally no one ever. Snow Peak’s Titanium Sporks are my go-to utensil and have been for some time now. For me, they represent the epitome of multifunctional design. Well, did you know that now you can get this exact same stylized solution with a bit more length and leverage? Snow Peak has just released their new Long Titanium Spork. That’s right folks, all the spooning and forking you need in a package that reaches even deeper into that boiling hot pot of stew or noodles.
Buy: Here
Doane Paper Grids + Lines Idea Journal, Small
Are you a lined or graph paper person? This has been a great debate for many over the years. It’s in some ways asking, are you more of a writer or a sketcher? Well, you no longer need to be just one or the other. Doane Paper’s proprietary Grid + Lines layout is essentially the spork of notebooks. Yet another example of multifunctional design made for those of us who frequently need to access both parts of the brain. It’s packed in a craft board covering with a convenient Wire-O binding so you can fold the cover and previously filled-in pages all the way to the back, reducing its in-hand profile for better note taking and delightful doodling.
Buy: Here
Fire of Love
As part of this year’s Oscar prep, I caught the nominated doc Fire of Love. This stunning, mostly found footage documentary tells the story of two daring French volcanologists who roamed the planet, chasing eruptions, and documenting their discoveries. It also features amazing Cousteau-era meets Wes Anderson adventure style vibes throughout. With loads of 1960s through 1990s outdoor gear, overlanders, and wristwatch shots, it’s chock full of so much inspo, you’ll be ready to hop on the next helicopter to the nearest crater.
Watch: Here