We sat down with Paul to understand more of what drives his passion for creating functional, meaningful heirloom pieces designed to last a lifetime, and what he loves so much about the mountain town life he’s carved out for himself just south of Jackson Hole.

How long have you called Freedom, WY home and what inspired you to move there in the first place?

I have been in my shop in Freedom for the past two years. After living in the Jackson area for so long, I was looking for a shop space to continue making my cookware. Through a few serendipitous connections, I ended up at the KLAZYM ranch where I was able to grow my workspace. 

The best part of small, beautiful mountain towns like Jackson and Freedom is the access to nature and the ability to get outside. It allows us so much space to feel grounded and to foster creativity. 

How did you get into metalworking? And come to start Independent Ironware?

My journey in metalworking started with my time working as a farrier. Working in the horseshoeing trade, I became proficient in all aspects of the craft of blacksmithing and toolmaking. Having mastered these skills, I wanted to do something more with it. I also have over a 100 year family history in the food business, so I decided to combine these two things that I love: food and metalwork.

Tell us a little more about your relationship with the outdoors, and how your passion for skiing  and the mountains influenced your outlook on life and your career?

My passion for the outdoors began at a very young age growing up at the base of a ski mountain in the Catskills. I basically fell in love with skiing as soon as I could walk. Throughout my childhood, skiing became my outlet for connecting with the outdoors, you know, to experience the freedom of gliding on snow. As I grew into my 20s, I was driven to pursue jobs that allowed me to be outside as much as possible and the skill sets I acquired led to the creation of Independent Ironware in a way. So I guess, I have my love of the outdoors and skiing to thank for that.

What’s your relationship with the outdoors? How do you spend your time when you’re not hard at work?

I’ve always enjoyed being outside more than anything. I think that is what draws a lot of people to areas like Jackson. I find being outside has always centered me. Making a big, arcing ski turn is by far my favorite activity. I also love riding mountain bikes and going fly fishing in the summer. These days, even just taking a drive up to the national forest in my old ‘53 Jeep to take in the sights is a day well spent in my book.  

These days, of course, my connection to nature is always evolving. Running a small business is demanding of my time, and I’m in the shop most days. So any small chunks of time I can carve out to go skiing, ride my bike, or fish—it’s unbelievably joyous. Prioritizing my work and play has taught me that we cannot take the time we have for granted, to enjoy every minute, and to always stay present.

Why do you think your products resonate with people? What about them makes them so unique and special?

What is so special about handmade products is that they have an intangible warmth to them. You can see and feel the work that goes into each piece and the humanization behind the little imperfections. It is such a unique quality, whether it is one of my pans or any other handmade good. 

What do you look for in the products you purchase for yourself? Specifically the clothes you wear—obviously your career requires hours of hands-on labor in the shop, how do you dress for that level of physicality?

The big things I look for in products I purchase for myself are practicality and timeless aesthetics. Will it last a long time? That’s something I look for in all areas of my life, including building my cookware. 

Do you see similarities between Stio’s philosophy on designing products to foster the mountain life and the driving purpose behind your business?
Yes, there are a lot of similarities. One of the biggest elements surrounding food is that it creates an opportunity to bring people together and foster community and culture. By building a tool that allows you to cook for yourself and others, my ironware inherently plays a role in doing the same. Whether it’s in your kitchen or taking one of my pans on your camping trip to cook over an open fire, it creates a memory with the people you share it with. And those moments are what mountain life is all about.