CARV Is One Of The Best British Leather Handbag Brands, According to Patrick Grant's ‘Less’
CARV Is One Of The Best British Leather Handbag Brands, According to Patrick Grant in ‘Less’
It’s 10 years this year since I conceived the idea for CARV British made leather goods. And in some kind of universal alignment this has coincided with CARV being recognised as one of the top British leather artisans in the best selling book ‘Less’ by Patrick Grant.
I reflect here on the importance of voices like ‘Less’ for British craft, artisans and the sustainable future of production.
‘Less’ is a passionately written book by Patrick Grant - former Savile Row tailor, esteemed judge of BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee and all round connoisseur of quality. It was published in May this year and includes CARV as one of the UK’s top leather artisans.
The message of the book couldn’t be any better aligned with everything I feel about fast fashion and the impact on our planet. We need a shift in the way we consume and produce - we need to buy less, buy better and value craft and quality.
‘Less’ By Patrick Grant, Published in May 2024
‘Less’ speaks of the fundamental principles that have shaped CARV - The need to buy less but invest in better quality; support for slow, small batch, high quality production; recognising the value of craftsmanship/ craftswomanship and the urgent need to use sustainable materials and methods. But it is also a critique of a Capitalist society and culture that has driven us to feel that having money and ‘stuff’ is the key to success and happiness.
I feel the universe is giving us artisans a strong message - act now and speak out.
And to be in any small way linked with Patrick’s book is honestly one of the most important moments of my career.
Full disclosure moment: when you invest in CARV, you are paying a higher price for products compared to high street and fast fashion brands. But I promise you are not lining my pockets with gold. You see, I started CARV as a passion project; an attempt to do business and shopping a little differently. I made a conscious decision from the outset to keep prices lower, to make my products accessible by encouraging people to buy less but invest a little more in quality.
My journey as a leather artisan has been all about encouraging people to invest in my story. To invest in me, the maker.
As with many artisan small businesses, CARV operates on tight margins when considering the time involved with making these artisan pieces. It isn’t a big earner. It’s driven by a vision of bucking the curve of capitalist business models. It accepts that we all need to think differently about money if we’re going to live in any kind of harmony with the planet.
That is to say, spending a little more, buying a little less, and having values other than profit as markers for success in our businesses.
