A view of the product wall at Turpan in East Hampton
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| Emily Doyle and Oliver Sweatman |
After 15 years in New York, working for beauty brands like Bumble & Bumble, Jurlique and Sharps, Oliver Sweatman and partner Emily Doyle decided to trade towering skyscrapers for the Green Mountains of Vermont. There, they developed Ursa Major, a new natural skincare line for men. It’s still so new that as of press time, it has only one product for sale: Stellar Shave Cream ($21). But Sweatman is in no hurry to rush launches to market before they’re absolutely ready. “We’re insanely picky about our products, so that tends to hold things up,” he says.
“Discerning” is probably a better way to describe the brand, whose distribution is equally selective and includes East Hampton’s Turpan. Sweatman, who escaped to the Hamptons “after grueling workweeks in the city,” discovered the shop while strolling around town. “I immediately identified with Turpan’s aesthetic and well-edited assortment of hard-to-find home goods and gifts,” he says. “When we launched Ursa Major, Greg [Turpan, cofounder of Turpan] was one of the first retailers in the country to call. It was very flattering.”
For Turpan, the feeling was mutual. “We’re always on the hunt for people like Oliver who are passionate, responsible creators of products and brands,” Turpan says. “His shaving cream is exceptional, and we anticipate more great products to follow.” Good news: A cleanser and a toner are set to roll out later this summer—perfect additions to the line and necessities for any well-groomed Hamptons man. 55 E. Main St., #3, East Hampton; ursamajormen.com
