In August 2022, we took an epic road trip around Iceland's western coast and through the famed Golden Circle. Along the way, I captured these images of the Öndverðarnes Lighthouse, standing proudly at the westernmost point of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
A couple of years later, one of my favorite websites, Accidentally Wes Anderson, put out an open call for interesting and iconic lighthouse photos. I couldn't resist submitting mine. Much to my delight, it was accepted into the AWA online archive, and I was copied on an email with founders Wally and Amanda Koval. Sensing an opportunity, I took a shot and pitched them on a collaborative Kerchief.
In my email, I explained what Cantonment stands for and why our Kerchiefs are unlike anything else in the space. I ended with a simple thought: "The moment you tie a Kerchief around your neck, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, you're on an adventure."
That idea resonated with the AWA team, and what began as a cold pitch grew into a multi-year collaboration. At the time, they were looking to refresh their merchandise program, making our first assignment a complete merch strategy—a genuine dream project for me as a bona fide Wes Anderson superfan and proud, if entirely fictional, card-carrying/red cap-wearing member of the Zissou Society.
At the same time, AWA was preparing for the release and tour of their second travel guide, Accidentally Wes Anderson Adventures. Together with the incredible team at Drive Marketing, we developed an entirely new line of gear, merchandise, and apparel, positioning AWA as the essential outfitter for curious travelers—in many ways, Wes Anderson's personal travel agent brought to life.
Now that chapter is complete, we're finally able to release the collaboration concept that started it all: a custom Kerchief set celebrating adventure with a healthy dose of whimsy. One Kerchief features a pattern of AWA's charming illustrated icons, while the other showcases another iconic Icelandic beacon—the Norðurgarði Lighthouse in Reykjavík.
To launch the collection, I had the opportunity to collaborate with photographer Gavin Murray while on assignment in Big Sur, California. This purposefully Wes Anderson photo series was designed to capture both the style and the spirit of a collaboration years in the making.
A big thanks to Wally, Amanda, and the entire AWA team. Thanks to Gavin for the fun lifestyle shoot and to the amazing Camille Hein for the fantastic product shots. We sincerely hope you love this collab as much as we do, and remember... the moment you tie a Kerchief around your neck, wherever you are and whatever you're doing, you're on an adventure.