WORDS
Joanne Glasbey
The late but great chef, writer and presenter Anthony Bourdain once remarked, ‘Practising your craft in expert fashion is noble, honourable and satisfying. And I’ll generally take a stand-up mercenary who takes pride in his professionalism over an artist any day.’
Craftsmanship, the polished dish of expertise earned through years of practice, prepared with a good pinch of skill and talent, garnished by an unsurpassed attention to detail, is a worthy and fulfilling course for both artisan and consumer. No more so than during turbulent times when the news tells of wars and worries, strikes and stress. In any field, the pursuit of excellence brings joy, be it as a lasting memento or an enduring memory.
It’s not necessarily the most expensive or the most aspired to; it’s often found in the humble and unprepossessing. It’s about being the best you can be at whatever you set out to make.
In this issue of Brummell we look at some makers and retailers who take a pride in their craft, who keep traditions alive and thriving, and who innovate and excel. Whether producing swimwear or hats, gun engraving or tailoring or creating shoes made to last, we commend the creators.
Elsewhere, we make a trip to the understated bucolic beauty of Carmarthenshire, taking part in a new moon hike in the mountains and fly three of the UK’s largest birds of prey for some home-grown natural history. Over the Atlantic, we rev up a Harley-Davidson for a Tennessee road trip with a soundtrack of fine music.
And as the green shoots of spring unfold into the branches of summer, we are proud to present Brummell’s Ones to Watch in the City listing of 30 individuals under 40, the rising stars of London’s financial services, law and allied fields. We celebrate their achievements as outperformers in their markets, who also work to help make the world a better place by undertaking inspirational endeavours off the side of their desks.
Our three distinguished judges applied rigorous criteria to the nominations, looking for candidates’ demonstrations of drive, energy and entrepreneurial spirit alongside positive contributions both in and outside their workplace, whether championing initiatives or spearheading sustainable agendas. We’d like to thank each judge for their time and eye for excellence and congratulate those who made the final list. The best is yet to come.
We hope you enjoy this issue.