Self-Wound: 14 Years of Independence

A Message From Zach Weiss, Our Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Worn & Wound, On Independence

This May marked 14 years since we launched Worn & Wound with just a bit of savings and a shared desire to create great content about watches. From the start, we chose the harder route, focusing on the stories and brands others ignored, producing straps and rolls in the NYC garment district, and launching a watch fair with no experience, just a belief that people would show up. Fourteen years later, we are proud to be a leading voice in watch media, with the most respected (and imitated) series of enthusiast events, a curated store and showroom, a full-service creative agency, and a team of 16 incredibly talented people. And we have done it all independently, because we believe that staying independent is what makes all of this possible.

Staying independent means we answer only to our values and to the people who support us. For our clients, it means working with a team that prioritizes craft, creativity, and long-term relationships over quick wins. For our customers, it means thoughtfully curated products and experiences that reflect our genuine passion for the things we make and sell. And for our readers, it means honest, original content created without outside influence. Independence allows us to stay focused on what matters most.

Though there might have been faster routes to where we are today, the slow, steady, and independent road has always felt like the right one for us. We’ve built our company organically and transparently, never compromising our integrity or vision. The result is a strong yet flexible brand with a dedicated following and an authentic voice. A brand that can take its time to adjust to changing media and industry landscapes, making sure it maintains its values.

As we enter tumultuous times because of AI, tariffs, and curveballs unseen, know that Worn & Wound will stay true to what has gotten us this far. We’ll continue to support the brands we’re excited about, whether they're up-and-coming or long-established. We’ll create content that is engaging, authoritative, and what we, as enthusiasts, want to consume. We’ll keep our events free, open to the public, and accessible in attitude. We’ll craft meaningful campaigns for our partners that enable them to stand out.

We look forward to continuing to work together and encourage you to reach out with any questions and ideas.