9997 started from a frustration with how disposable most products have become. Artist Tom Sachs once said about the iPhone, “It hasn't landed on a finished refined thing. That’s another complicated issue because I believe it's linked to planned obsolescence, corporate greed, advertising, the priority of selling something over making something for a consumer.” That idea perfectly captured what I felt every time I picked up a vinyl accessory that looked cheap, felt flimsy, or was clearly designed to be replaced.

As someone who has a deep love for music, I wanted to make products for the record collector first. Intentional, solid, and worthy of the music they supported. Nothing flashy or disposable. Nothing designed to fall apart so you buy another one. If I wanted products built to last, I had to make them myself. That is how 9997 took shape in Lynn, MA.

9997 exists as a response to the cycle Sachs described. We build in small batches, choose materials with staying power, and design for longevity instead of turnover. As strange of a name as 9997 is, it comes from an angel number tied to individuality and originality. Our mission is simple. Make things with intention. Keep them minimal. Build them to last. And give collectors something they will be proud to live with for years, not months.