Designer Recommended: Armand Wilson’s Favorite Creative Tools and Gear
Armand Wilson loves good food and good sneakers, and man, he’s got good taste. Image courtesy of Willson.
Armand Wilson has been busy. As a sneaker obsessive, he co-founded the NYC-based lifestyle brand Artefact in 2016, where he and his team design the highest quality interpretations of high-top basketball shoes, tennis sneakers, and slip-ons for skateboarding. At the same time, he applies his creativity and passion for the arts and fashion to his work as VP for categories and expansion at Whatnot, the largest livestream shopping platform in the U.S. Founded in 2019 by collectors, Whatnot has quickly grown to support a huge range of different categories globally. From collectibles like trading cards, comic books, and memorabilia to fashion, beauty, electronics, and even live plants. The platform allows creatives to share and sell their works. Consider one such seller, Questlove, who used Whatnot to auction off records from his personal collection.
Clearly, Wilson knows how to find a great product. Here, he shares his well-curated list of favorite products, tools, and gear. It includes a stylish Nike tote bag, some American West prints by Matt McCormick, and some high-class Swedish staples (i.e. fancy hand cream and a windbreaker perfect for running).
1. The Product I Use the Most in My Creative Life:
The Nike Sportswear RPM Tote is large, functional, & stylish.
Whether I am commuting to our office in SoHo or catching a flight to visit a seller, I always carry the same tote bag with me. It originally came with what I recall was a very bad pair of Nike AF1s, but I have purchased multiple replacement bags over time. It looks good, is large enough to carry everything, and is super functional, with a zipper closure and a laptop sleeve. Luckily, Nike just released a new version of the bag.
Purchase it now: $90
2. The Most Unexpected Tool I Use in My Line of Work:
The Our Legacy x Satisfy windbreaker is a go-to for Wilson on rainy days in NY.
Nothing clears my mind like running. Stuck on a problem? I go for a run. Stressed out? I’m hitting the streets. I feel most productive on days after going for a long run alone with just myself and my thoughts. It’s been raining in NYC lately so I’ve been rocking a windbreaker I love from the Our Legacy x Satisfy collection.
Purchase it now: €300
3. Products Outside My Work Life That I Obsess Over:
The Weber Smokey Mountain will last a lifetime.
I grew up in my family’s BBQ restaurant and cooking has always been something I’ve really enjoyed. I’ve had the same Weber Smokey Mountain with me for the past 15 or so years and my dad had it for 10 years before that. It survived college with me and multiple apartments. Skip the fancy pellet grills and get one of these; it’ll last a lifetime.
Purchase it now: $279
4. Best Product Ever (for under $20):
Popeye Magazine is one of the oldest men's lifestyle magazines.
New York City is the best city in the world. I have been known to be very vocal about that. With that being said, Tokyo is a close second. Every time I visit I find it’s the one place that I dread leaving because I never come even close to hitting all the spots I wanted to. I get Popeye Magazine delivered monthly and it helps transport me back to that special place.
Purchase it now: $13
5. Favorite Gifts to Give to My Creative Friends:
Basil + Geranium + White Thyme = Max Productivity.
I find that having a nice clean space is key to being productive. Fresh flowers or a nice candle can really change a place for the better and are good gifts that can be tailored to the individual. I have been loving the Viridi Herbis candle from Barratt Riley with notes of Basil, Geranium, and White Thyme.
Purchase it now: $68.
This hand cream is 89 percent natural and 100 percent fabulous.
If you love your friends, treat them from time to time with some luxury items at more accessible price points. When you find something that feels slightly outrageous to buy for yourself, that generally is a great gift for a friend. Sticking with fragrance, try some hand cream from the Swedish fragrance company Byredo. Ignore that it’s only a one ounce tube and focus on the fact that it’s just $50 and in the perfect gift range.
Purchase it now: $50.
This tutu might make you your niece’s favorite uncle.
Okay, bonus gift time. Do you happen to have a niece? Do you love that niece? Get her a tutu from my friend’s brand Sweet Wink and you will be forever her favorite Uncle or Aunt. The happiness-to-price ratio is pretty unmatched. She loves it.
Purchase it now: $18.
6. My Favorite App on My Phone that Says A Lot About Me:
Got to plug Whatnot here. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I wasn’t constantly playing around on Whatnot and catching live shows from new sellers and old. Lately, I’ve been spending most of my time in the vintage tee category buying everything from Alanis Morissette to Mike Tyson tees. Call it range!
Purchase it now for $85: LeAnn Rimes tee
Purchase it now for $600: Tiger Woods tee
7. My Last (Product) Splurge:
This 1986 Cartier Santos was shipped from Mexico.
My last product splurge was one of my biggest. I have been searching for a vintage Cartier Santos in slate grey for a while and I finally found one from 1986. Shoutout to the team over at Relojes who made it happen!
Purchase it now: Relojes Vintage Mexico.
8. The Top Item on My Dream Shopping List:
I have a small diecast Porsche 964 Turbo that sits on my desk that I bought off Whatnot. Early 90s Porsches are the epitome of cool with the elongated whale tails and the old air-cooled engines. A reasonable person would go for a classic navy on tan like the one in the image below but if I was feeling adventurous I’d take one in amethyst purple. A boy can dream.
9. The Product That I Need For My Creative Work that Doesn’t Exist Yet:
The bring-us-back-to-zero button. Work is filled with highs and lows and I’ve been trying to get better at staying more balanced through the ebbs and flows. I certainly want to celebrate the highs and learn from the lows but when I catch myself or my team leaning too far in one direction, I would love a button that just brings us back to our baseline so we can keep focusing on our long-term goals of enabling anyone to make a living off of their passions.
10. Favorite Work of Art That I Own or Want to Own:
“Forge Your Own Chains” 18x24 Print / Matt McCormick.
Posso Hennessy mas prefiro Tubaína, 2022.
I really want to own something by Zéh Palito. The artwork I own is generally pretty muted which matches the vibe of my apartment and workspace but something about the bright colors of Zéh Palito’s work and the figures he chooses to paint really speaks to me.
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