ABOUT THE FOUNDER

I'm Emil Sandman.

I grew up in Santa Cruz immersed in surf, skate, punk and graffiti. From playing guitar in a metal band to wrenching on cars alongside my brothers building choppers– I was surrounded by makers, builders, and creators.

I'm an Academy of Art University, San Francisco alumnus with more than two decades of experience in design, strategy, and creative direction. Outside of my career, I've shared design and fabrication projects with thousands of subscribers through my YouTube channel, Seize The DIY.

OBVERSE® began with a simple question:

If millions of people wear snapbacks backwards, why is the most visible part of the hat treated like an afterthought?

Before

After

The New Way to Adjust

Our headwear features a multi-patented snap system that maintains adjustability while concealing its connections within bold, sculpted strap designs.

Before

After

Flip the Norm

Choose Your Vibe

REVEALED AT LAUNCH

▼ SELECT STRAP DESIGN

REVEALED AT LAUNCH

▼ SELECT STRAP DESIGN

Opposite by Design. Following never led anywhere new.

REAL ROOTS.
DON'T RUST.

Built from where it came from. Worn for what’s next.

NOT LINKEDIN. LINKED UP.

Not for everyone. Exactly the point.

Where function becomes form.

Clarity in the chaos.

BLEND IN NOWHERE.

What defines you starts with your roots.

Not luck. Instinct.

NOT A PHASE. A PERMANENT STATE.

Flip the Norm. Forward thinking starts in reverse.

SANTA CRUZ ORIGIN

THE BACK IS
THE NEW FRONT

The Snapback was defined by skate, surf, and hip-hop — becoming a symbol of counterculture. But the back never caught up- the generic straps with exposed holes went unchanged for 70+ years... until now.

I rebuilt it with a patented system that transforms the adjustment into something that deserves to be seen. Not to replace the culture. To amplify it, to evolve it.

–EMIL SANDMAN

FOUNDER