We are proud to handmake our full range of ‘lifetime gear‘ products right here in our workshop in Bude, Cornwall. It’s a core element of who we are, what we do and our commitment as a brand.
We believe that making gear by hand means that can we ensure that the products are made to the highest standard possible. And that’s why we have purposefully chosen the approach of ‘quality over quantity’.
But why should you consider buying handmade gear? In this article we explore the key reasons why…
It’s better for the environment
Handmade products, by their nature, are made in much smaller quantities. This means that there’s no large-scale factories with excessive waste being pumped out into the atmosphere. We’re lucky now to be in bright workshop space, but originally started in some small farm outbuildings. And if needed, could even work from home. This means our environmental impact is kept low.
We recycle everything we can, reuse materials and off-cuts and there’s solar panels on the roof of our building to provide more than enough sustainable energy for what we need…we even pass some back into the National Grid!
One great example of this sustainable approach is with our Lifetime Gear Pouches – these are handmade using offcuts and webbing from the manufacture of our other Lifetime range of products.
Also, because we make our gear right here in Cornwall, using textiles from British producers, you know your bag or blanket hasn’t travelled thousands of miles.
Quality is guaranteed
As a small team of sewers and makers, we are producing our lifestyle gear in small quantities. Doing this means we take our time on each and every product and can ensure that the quality of the finish is as good as it can possibly be.
We source materials and textiles that are the best quality we can find, giving you peace of mind over buying products made with inferior and cheaper materials.
Also, we offer a ‘lifetime warranty’ on our gear range. This means that your product is covered for two years after purchase on the seams, stitching etc. Then if you have any issue after this, we can repair them for you at a special rate.
Our aim is that you will still be using the gear you buy from us in many years time.
You’re supporting local
Buying handmade products is a great way to support the local community here in Cornwall, plus our wider economy. It’s estimated that around 7% of the UK’s GDP is from the creative industries, therefore a purchase helps add to that.
It also means that we can look to provide opportunities for work or learning right here in Bude. We currently employ someone for a few days a week as an assistant maker. Plus we offer ad hoc work experience, which helps give young people the skills they need to secure their own employment.
It helps keep vital traditional skills going
We have honed our skills as sewers and makers for a number of years now and by buying handmade you are not only supporting us to keep these skills going, but also allowing us to pass these on to others.
Sewing and making things by hand is a tradition that has been around for centuries and we would love to see this continuing for centuries to come.
With technology advancing at a fast pace in many other aspects of our lives, it’s important for us as a society to protect these skills. We believe that a handmade product has more sole to it – we put love and attention into every single product we make and nothing gives us greater pleasure than then seeing someone enjoying using it.
An indicator of just how traditional skills are disappearing is the number of people travelling quite a distance to our workshop to ask us to repair something, as they can’t find anyone else to do it, as people are not learning these skills in the same numbers as they did in the past.
Want to learn more about our commitments as a brand to sustainability, style and function? Read more here.