Garfield & Squirrel
Building Bridges Through Knowledge, Culture, and Shared Responsibility
At Garfield & Squirrel, we believe the world is more connected than it appears — not just by planes or the internet, but through knowledge, culture, and our shared responsibility to care for the natural world we all depend on.
Here’s a fun fact: squirrels, beloved across continents, actually originated in North America and crossed an ancient land bridge into Afro-Eurasia. In doing so, they helped shape ecosystems — by burying seeds they’d later forget, they reforested landscapes; by serving as prey, they sustained countless species; by simply living, they made ecosystems richer, more balanced, and more alive. In many ways, our work today, long after that land bridge has vanished, is a continuation of their journey — not with migration, but with meaning.
While studying at Vanderbilt University, I conducted long-term behavioral research on squirrels — tracking memory, food-storing behavior, and personality traits. That spirit of inquiry lives on today through wildlife conservation efforts, support for nonprofits, and creative projects that reconnect people with nature — and with each other.
“I used to think I was just feeding squirrels. But somewhere along the way, they started feeding me — ideas, questions, wonder, and a purpose I never expected.”
— Garfield, Commencement Address, Vanderbilt University
Garfield delivering the student address at the Vanderbilt University Commencement Ceremony — the beginning of a journey to reconnect science, art, and the natural world through the eyes of a squirrel.
One of those projects is our partnership with The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, where we help revive and reintroduce the ancient Chinese art of walnut carving — a cultural treasure still unfamiliar to much of the Western world. Each hand-carved walnut becomes more than a decorative object: it is a vessel for storytelling, a bridge between worlds, and a quiet reminder that beauty can carry purpose.
Through this collaboration, local artisans share their heritage with a global audience, while visitors are invited to reflect on values that transcend borders — respect for nature, reverence for craft, and the belief that even the smallest things can hold great meaning. It’s a gentle but deliberate exchange — connecting past and future, local and global, through one walnut at a time.
From the “Walnut Carving” collection, now selling exclusively at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong — where craftsmanship meets cultural preservation and quiet responsibility.
Our current work with The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong follows earlier partnerships with Delta Air Lines and Whole Foods Market — each rooted in a shared commitment to thoughtful design, ethical storytelling, and meaningful impact. And we’ll continue seeking collaborations that align with our mission: to connect the world not just through products, but through purpose.
Because at Garfield & Squirrel, we don’t just create.
We reconnect. We restore. And we remember what matters.