"Real Shaving: A Gift Guide"
Since most adults (men, women, and everyone in between) shave, why not give someone some traditional gear that saves your face, your pocketbook (in the long run) and the environment.
Dear Friends,
We’re pausing our Fall theme this week to bring you the ultimate gift guide for personal grooming, with ideas for holiday shopping that run from the lavish to the inexpensive. Written by Michael Ham, the shaving savant and blogger also known as “Leisureguy,” it covers both the tools and and techniques needed for a fine traditional shave.
Ham has studied the shaving world, testing its myriad products, longer and more carefully than anyone else on the planet. His shopping guide recommends products that are not just a pleasure to use, they are also far easier on the environment than their modern, disposable counterparts. And, because some of them last for years, if not generations, they all save a shaver a lot of money in the long run.
I hope you’ll enjoy Ham’s “Real Shaving: a Gift Guide for 2023” as much as we did putting it together.
And if you want another idea for easy, thoughtful, sustainable gifts for your friends, may I humbly suggest a subscription to Craftsmanship? Starting in January, all subscribers will get early access to our releases, along with other specials, for only $6 a month, or $60 for a year. And you can schedule your gift to arrive in the recipient’s inbox anytime you like.
Our Fall issue on “The Art of Repair” will continue for two more weeks, thanks in part to our issue sponsor, the Culture of Repair. In the meantime, you still have time to share your Repair Rants & Raves with us. Tell us about some item you’ve owned, loved, and kept working forever, and why it matters to you. Or tell us about what you’ve bought that should have lasted but turned out to be another throwaway piece of junk. It only takes a few minutes, and we’ll share the best stories on our social media platforms through the end of this issue.
After our Repair issue’s final release, on Dec. 8, we’ll be taking our usual holiday hiatus from publishing, returning in early January with a new Winter issue and theme.
In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read, watch, or listen to within our pages. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause as you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Sincerely,
Todd Oppenheimer
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Craftsmanship Magazine
Craftsmanship is a reader-supported publication. To help sustain our ad-free, independent journalism, please consider a paid subscription here on Substack.
Fall 2023: The Art of Repair
In a culture addicted to novelty and fast profits, the humble art of repair has declined almost to the point of extinction. But it’s not too late: In this issue, we’ll delve into the history of planned obsolescence, and the reemerging ethos of restoration. From the patient hands of watchmakers, piano restoration experts, and veteran appliance repairmen, to the story of a young French woman who got her country to ban planned obsolescence, we’ll explore what it really means to create, maintain—and truly value—a world built to last.
This issue is supported in part by a grant from the Culture of Repair. Interested in sponsoring an upcoming theme or project? Contact us at publisher@craftsmanship.net.
Our Readers Share Their “Repair Rants & Raves”
RAVE: “During the pandemic, I purchased a straight razor made in 1890 that I repaired, polished, honed—and now use regularly to shave with. I've identified its provenance and I marvel every time I use it. That first purchase led to more, and now I have a collection that includes razors from different countries and eras. They shave closer and better than cartridge shavers, leave no waste footprint, will last another century, and are a pleasure to repair.”
- Scott M., Provo, UT
During our Fall issue on "The Art of Repair," we want to hear about the belongings you love most for their usefulness, beauty, and longevity—and those you love to hate. We'll share the best entries. Submit yours here.