BEST MADE COMPANY
2009-2019
In 2009 in my garage with just 10 axes (and no business plan), I founded what soon became an internationally celebrated omni-channel retail brand, with a vibrant product assortment, a coveted catalog, and stores in New York City and Los Angeles. In 2019 I left to pursue new projects.
POST-BEST MADE
In 2016 I sold Best Made to Bolt Threads, a California-based technology company specializing in the development of advanced materials and fibers. In 2019 I resigned from Best Made to pursue new projects. In 2017, shortly after the acquisition of Best Made, I wrote the following “Founder’s Statement” which encapsulates my vision for future generations of the Best Made community:
Best Made was born from my love of making things with my hands. I love the deep absorption and consideration of the object to be made. I love the smell of raw materials and how the hours pass like minutes when I’m deep in the process of thinking, sketching, measuring, cutting, and building. And I love the gratification of creating something physical and unique that hasn’t existed before.
Best Made is our way of extending that love of making things into the finest, most beautiful and useful products made by any company anywhere, and doing so we inspire and empower people by the things we make.
So how do we do this? Our stories and products inspire people with possibilities: to travel, learn, accomplish things with their own two hands, and have new enriching experiences. Our tools, gear, and apparel empower them to fulfill those possibilities.
Our customers are makers, adventurers, tinkerers, and curiosity seekers who only want one thing from us: quality. In a world where true considered quality is increasingly rare, we are a reassuring promise that there are those who are still devoted to the craft of well made things. With Best Made by your side, you can confidently embark on your adventures, whether it’s in the wood shed or workshop, backyard or backcountry.
It all boils down to this: We’re a company that finds meaning through making, and making things the best we possibly can. And it’s not just quality products. It’s quality stories, quality experiences, quality relationships with customers and quality ways of working to fulfill our mission as a team. No one ever said this will be easy. But it is infinitely more rewarding than anything else.
THANKS to everyone that I had the privilege of working with at Best Made over the years. I would like to give special thanks to my creative team members: Stephanie Izzo, Maddy Tank, Peter Dudley, Katie Hatch, Pablo Delcan, Gelsey Maslanka, Joseph Pollard, Evan Gleason, Hae Jung Shin, Tom Bonamici, Sam Strauss-Malcolm, Alex Casertano.
CREDITS: Peter Buchanan-Smith (creative direction and design); Pablo Delcan, Nick Zdon, Gelsey Maslanka (design); Derek Amengual, Ports Bishop, Nate Bressler, Johnny Fogg, Balarama Heller, Christina Holmes, Tetsuya Ito, Adrian Gaut, Noah Kalina, Forest Woodward, and Jason Frank Rothenberg (photography); Julio Espada (stylist); Ross MacDonald, Joshua Lepley (illustration); Laura Silverman (copy)
SUBJECTS: Rocky Barnette, Wes Bauman, Eddie Braun, Craig Buckbee, Paul & Donna Claus, Jason French, Chris Garby, Kanan Hooker, Houston Hooker, Nathaniel Garber, Jared Lamanna, Carlos Mallmann, Fraser Murray, Chris Muscarella, Chris Reeves Knives, Emmanuel Rengade, Simon Rhee, Aaron Toney, Jason Van Bruggen, Dave Watson, Butch “Ceedub" Welch & Miss Pen, Sara & Sohail Zandi, and Francis Mallmann.