Our friend Ty Williams says it best: “Salt water and being in the ocean is a therapy for me, and I find it to be true for many other people. Swimming, fishing, surfing, or just sitting near it (watching it move)—the ocean is a magical thing. The phrase Salt Water Can Fix That started as a sticker I would give friends, and then it really took off (I assume it’s because many people agreed).”
We couldn’t agree more. That simple phrase has come to represent something bigger—a shared love for the ocean and all the ways it grounds us. So we teamed up with Ty to turn it into something you can use every day: a towel that brings that feeling with you, wherever you are.
For those who might not be familiar with you yet — who is Ty Williams, and what kind of work do you love creating most?
I am an artist/designer who is from Maine originally but have spent a solid portion of my life traveling, looking for waves and bathing spots all over the world. My artwork varies between illustration, paintings, and amateur photography. I am someone who needs to be moving and shifting all the time.
“Salt Water Can Fix That” has taken on a life of its own — bumper stickers, art, and now this towel. What inspired the phrase originally, and what does it mean to you ?
I could write a book about how impactful the ocean has been for me and what a source of healing it is—but simply put, from when I was very young, the ocean has been my greatest point of comfort. If I was sad or frustrated about something, I always was able to forget about it (or at least let it rest momentarily) if I could have some time in the water. Salt water and being in the ocean is a therapy for me, and I find it to be true for many other people. Swimming, fishing, surfing, or just sitting near it (watching it move)—the ocean is a magical thing. The phrase started as a sticker that I would give friends, and then it really took off (I assume it is because many people agreed and maybe liked my design). The water quiets the mind (at least it does for me), and my mind is a busy place most of the time. I am so thankful for the ocean and being able to have access to it as a source of therapy in my life. It’s also important that we take care of it in return. The doctor also needs a doctor!!
So much of your work feels rooted in the ocean and the simple magic of coastal life. Where did that love for salt water start for you?
I was raised near the ocean my entire childhood (so the beach is essentially my third parent). My mom and dad had a seafood restaurant on an island off the coast of Maine when I was little, and I’d spend entire days exploring tide pools and looking for creatures to draw. Then I discovered surfing when we moved to southern Maine when I was 11, and that pretty much hijacked my entire life in the best way possible.
You’ve painted on everything from surfboards to walls — how does it feel to see one of your pieces live on something people will actually take to the beach or use every day?
It makes me smile to think that someone might read the message and interpret it in their own way. We all have obstacles we are dealing with and a little time spent in some water usually helps.
What does a typical day in your world look like lately? Any rituals or routines that keep you grounded creatively or personally?
I wake up early. I try to do something active (walking the beach looking for rocks is a favorite thing when it’s flat)—but if there are waves, I’m surfing. My brain at any given time is sort of like two cats trapped in a trash can together. Anything I can do immediately when I wake up to calm that is crucial. Eventually, by midday, I draw or work on client work. I try to find balance, but ultimately I am a scattered and anxious person, so the ocean is always what I want to come back to throughout the day. (Similar to how an individual that is meditating is always wanting to return to the “breath,” I am trying to return to the water.)
When someone wraps themselves up in this towel, what kind of feeling or energy do you hope it brings them?
I hope they smile. I hope they feel a little joy. That would be nice. I’ll see you in the water. Pick up your trash, respect the locals, and remember: “Salt water can fix that”… especially if you let it.
Follow along with Ty Williams on Instagram here
Shop Ty Williams collection here
