Article: Gifts That Last
Gifts That Last
Am I alone in believing many of the things we use every day should last at least 20 years?
I have a tri-fold wallet — my favourite style — that I bought back in 2003. After more than twenty years, the leather has developed that deep brown patina that only good material earns with age. The maker has since moved in a very different direction — pastel leathers, celebrity endorsements, bright lights. Perhaps that’s progress, but I doubt those pieces will last twenty years. When mine finally gives out, I’ll be looking elsewhere for its successor.
My wallet taught me a lot about what matters — not the logo (there isn’t one) or the marketing, but the leather, the stitching, the thought behind it.
When we began looking for wallets for Artevo, those lessons guided every choice. So when we found Auckland-based Parisian Crafted Leather Goods, I could see the same care and qualities that define true craftsmanship. It’s a fourth-generation New Zealand family business where the quality of the leather and the precision of the work are paramount. Much of their machinery wouldn’t look out of place in a museum, but they remain the best tools for the job.
Shortly after, we met the founders of The Loyal Workshop. In 2012 they began building a social enterprise in Kolkata, India, providing a literacy and numeracy training programme to women trapped in the city’s sex trade. A few years later, five women trained in the programme joined The Loyal Workshop as the first group of artisans crafting leather goods using vegetable-tanned hides. Today, the enterprise exports fine leather all over the world and continues to help vulnerable women rebuild their lives through meaningful work.
Two very different stories, thousands of miles apart — but both producing leather goods made to last for decades.
Those two brands remind me that craftsmanship and conscience don’t have to be separate - they can live in the same piece of leather.
Life isn’t all about form and function — sometimes we just need a little joy at the start of the day.
Last year, while visiting friends in Germany, I kept noticing birdsong around their house — especially near the bathroom window. It was only when I heard the same cheerful chirping at midnight that I realised the chorus came not from the trees, but from a magical little device called a Relaxound Birdie Box.
This small gadget has a motion sensor that wakes the birds each time someone enters the room. Originally created for medical practices to help patients relax, its makers soon discovered there was just as much demand for homes.
Our friends’ Birdie Box is still going strong after ten years — so it definitely ticks the box for longevity, as well as charm.
Most men start the day by shaving and, like many, I still wet shave using my trusted old badger brush — it’s been with me for nearly forty years.
Unfortunately, making those traditional brushes doesn’t end well for the badger, so I was relieved to find a synthetic alternative from our oldest brand, Kent Brushes of England — founded in 1771, when George III’s own mornings were increasingly disturbed by news of unrest in his American colonies.
While shaving can sometimes feel like a chore, I’ve found the best way to lift the morning spirits is with a richly scented soap or cream. Sandalwood remains my favourite, though we’ve discovered some other distinctive creams from German by Mühle that have quickly won me over.
And for those with sensitive skin, we’ve sourced an organic, scent-free shaving soap from Taylor of Old Bond Street — a relative youngster compared to Kent, having started out as late as 1845.
The older I get, the more I value things that ask for care — and in return, reward me with many years of use. A few well-made objects, used and appreciated over time, seem to hold more meaning than a drawer full of the latest designs. Perhaps that’s what good giving — and good living — really come down to: choosing things worth keeping.
Simon Stockdale - Artevo Founder
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