Make Something

As a young man, I had the pleasure of working alongside my father and grandfathers as they tinkered, built, and worked on things. Growing up, it was common practice to repair what was broken or make whatever you needed. It wasn’t until later in life that I realized the ease and convenience of just buying something new. Then came the wonders of online shopping. Anything you could ever want or need available at the push of a button! Thus began my downward spiral into consumerism.

Now, I’m certainly not one to spit in the eye of progress. Especially, since my livelihood is currently intertwined with selling goods online. But I must admit that prior to starting Savage Gentleman, there was an aspect missing from my life. At one time, I was in the business of destruction. My job was to swiftly and violently beat my opponent into submission. While I took great pleasure in my work, it seemed that some of the joys I experienced in my youth were lost. Then I realized that I had completely neglected my creative side. For years the part of me that had once used my hands to make something, laid dormant...

As a young man, I had the pleasure of working alongside my father and grandfathers as they tinkered, built, and worked on things. Growing up, it was common practice to repair what was broken or make whatever you needed. It wasn’t until later in life that I realized the ease and convenience of just buying something new. Then came the wonders of online shopping. Anything you could ever want or need available at the push of a button! Thus began my downward spiral into consumerism.

Now, I’m certainly not one to spit in the eye of progress. Especially, since my livelihood is currently intertwined with selling goods online. But I must admit that prior to starting Savage Gentleman, there was an aspect missing from my life. At one time, I was in the business of destruction. My job was to swiftly and violently beat my opponent into submission.

While I took great pleasure in my work, it seemed that some of the joys I experienced in my youth were lost. Then I realized that I had completely neglected my creative side. For years the part of me that had once used my hands to make something, laid dormant...

There is a deep satisfaction that comes from turning raw pieces of material into something useful. Thankfully, I was reminded of this as we decided to start making our own leather goods. Why leather you ask? Personally, I’ve always had a fascination with well-crafted, handmade leather products. And as soon as my hands touched the first hide, something sparked inside.

To me, leatherwork represents something very primitive and rugged, but at the same time is very classy and refined. As such, it makes leather the perfect item for the Savage Gentleman. Finding this medium allowed me to tap into something primal; something that connected me to those who had gone before.

As men, we are capable of many things. We can both create and destroy. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than turning the hide of a once living beast into something entirely different. Everything that lives eventually dies, but is not always put to good use. The fact that we can take something that is dead and fashion it into something new is a gift that we all too often squander. It is an ability that if left untapped for too long, will start to negatively affect our psyche. We were created to be creators. To shape and mold the world around us for the better. And if we are not fulfilling that to some degree, we will eventually feel that absence in our souls.

So if it seems like something is missing, ask yourself: “What have I created lately?” Whether it be from metal, wood, canvas, or paper, what new contribution have you given to the world? If the answer is nothing, then go make something.

As men, we are capable of many things. We can both create and destroy. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than turning the hide of a once living beast into something entirely different. Everything that lives eventually dies, but is not always put to good use.

The fact that we can take something that is dead and fashion it into something new is a gift that we all too often squander. It is an ability that if left untapped for too long, will start to negatively affect our psyche. We were created to be creators. To shape and mold the world around us for the better. And if we are not fulfilling that to some degree, we will eventually feel that absence in our souls.

So if it seems like something is missing, ask yourself: “What have I created lately?” Whether it be from metal, wood, canvas, or paper, what new contribution have you given to the world? If the answer is nothing, then go make something.

The Builders

All are architects of Fate,

Working in these walls of Time;

Some with massive deeds and great,

Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Nothing useless is, or low;

Each thing in its place is best;

And what seems but idle show

Strengthens and supports the rest.

For the structure that we raise,

Time is with materials filled;

Our to-days and yesterdays

Are the blocks with which we build.

Truly shape and fashion these;

Leave no yawning gaps between;

Think not, because no man sees,

Such things will remain unseen.

In the elder days of Art,

Builders wrought with greatest care

Each minute and unseen part;

For the Gods see everywhere.

Let us do our work as well,

Both the unseen and the seen;

Make the house, where Gods may dwell,

Beautiful, entire, and clean.

Else our lives are incomplete,

Standing in these walls of Time,

Broken stairways, where the feet

Stumble as they seek to climb.

Build to-day, then, strong and sure,

With a firm and ample base;

And ascending and secure

Shall to-morrow find its place.

Thus alone can we attain

To those turrets, where the eye

Sees the world as one vast plain,

And one boundless reach of sky.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow