Desirable objects: Worcestershire Leather Company British-made khaki webbing belt

I'm lucky enough to have had another belt made for me by the leather belt guru, Tim Hardy of The Worcestershire Leather Company. Longer term readers may recall my last one here, which continues to get better with age (as do all men, and anything else made of quality leather).

The Worcestershire Bruton bridle leather and webbing belt - made in England

This belt is entirely handmade and sewn from English bridle leather (it even had that lovely waxy bloom when it was brand new) in sixteen or more separate processes. The British-made heavy cotton webbing make it ideal as a spring/summer belt. Naturally it is completed by an English solid brass buckle (or nickel plated brass if you prefer a silver finish). This is a belt for life.

It comes in a choice of 11 leather colours and 5 webbing colours and can be ordered in different widths. Give Tim your size and it will come made to measure. This, as you would expect, is a seriously high quality British belt. See The Worcestershire Leather Company for more information and to buy.

Desirable objects - hand-printed business card by Andrew Areoff

These letterpress calling cards were designed and printed on beautiful thick card by Andrew Areoff using traditional printing methods, giving them a wonderful feel, texture and look, not evident from the image here. I've had consistently positive responses to them - highly recommended to anyone looking to add character to their business stationery.

Click here for more information on Andrew's letterpress business cards.

Click here to see other objects in Grey Fox's Desirable Objects series.

Desirable objects - BUK British-made iPad case

BUKcase describe themselves as 'purveyors of fine book bound cases and covers for iPads, Android tablets and smartphones based around the humble sketchbook, familiar to every designer and artist'.

Each book-bound case is made to order by a local team of master bookbinders in Manchester, using locally sourced book binding materials and traditional machinery. Closed, the case looks like a traditional notebook,  giving it a discrete but elegant appearance. Inside it's a cunningly-crafted creation made from beautifully-shaped wood, which holds your technology safely and securely.

I was sent one to try and can confirm that the case is a robust, beautifully-made piece of kit - and it's made in England - what's not to like? The cases are available for all iPads, Google Nexus and Amazon Kindle 6". A leather sleeve is also available. For more information and prices, see BUKCase website here.

Desirable Objects: The Worcestershire Leather Co - bridle leather belt

The Worcestershire Leather Company makes beautiful hand-made British bridle leather belts to measure. These are UK-made products through and through. I was delighted when Tim Hardy, who makes the company's leather goods himself, offered to make me a belt. 

Image Grey Fox

Using the calculator in his website, I sent him measurements and here is the result. I've worn it for a few weeks. It fits very well and it has gradually become more flexible. It will be a while before it takes on that patina and softness of age which old high quality leather acquires. Unlike most things (maybe fine wine is another exception), leather improves with age. This belt will look better and better; it will see me out, I've no doubt, and hopefully will be worn by Grey Fox's descendants for years after. 

The only problem is that, now I have one, I want more - a dark brown, a black and a tan leather belt are all needed to cover the requirements of the average wardrobe. Choose from colours including nut, light Havana, Newmarket tan, London Tan and others.

For more on the fascinating story of Tim Hardy, The Worcestershire Leather Co and their wide range of leather goods, types and colours of leather, see the website here.

Christmas present problems solved!

Desirable Objects 5 - my Fox Hunt Menswear bespoke pullover

My favourite sleeveless pullover is from Fox Hunt Menswear, who make bespoke knitwear of astonishing quality. Using archive patterns, these jumpers somehow combine modernity with the reassuring familiarity of the type of pullovers my grandfather used to wear. Being bespoke, mine fits perfectly. All are hand-knitted (no machines) in Britain.

I'll let the images speak for themselves. To find out more, visit Fox Hunt's website. Don't be put off by the young models, these look great on men of any age - and I know that Julija, Fox Hunt's talented founder and designer, is on the lookout for older models for her next shoot.

Grey Fox in his favourite pullover

For more in the Grey Fox Desirable Objects series please click here.

Desirable Objects 4 - Campbell-Cole key wrap, British designed and made.

This is the smallest of my Desirable Objects series so far, but it hits far above its weight. Some may feel that the humble key-ring doesn't deserve such quality or such sensual impact - after all, all it does is hold keys.

But we shouldn't underestimate this important task and neither did Ian Campbell-Cole, founder (along with his partner, Felicity Baggett) of Campbell-Cole. He has designed an object that is high quality, British-made through and through and ideal for purpose. He tells me that it is one of the things he is most proud of so far.

This is how he describes it -

"The wire rope unscrews for easy loading of keys (no more battling with a ring snap), whilst a Sam Brown stud keeps the Key Wrap securely closed.

The leather originates from Northern Irish cattle and is veg tanned in the Midlands in one of the last remaining UK based tanneries. The soft, waxy nature of the leather will ensure that the Key Wrap will quickly develop a unique patina through use.

The hand applied edge coating and embossed Campbell Cole logo are the finishing touches to a quality essential that no one should be without."

I agree - but would add that the wrap also smells lovely - luxury leather! The keys are held snugly and neatly within the leather wrap and it's clearly a well-thought out object - as is anything of good design.

Loving young and exciting British businesses as I do, I will be writing more about Campbell-Cole soon. Meanwhile see their website for more information.

For more in the Desirable Objects series, click here.

Desirable objects - Quarterre bicycle stands

As a keen cyclist and lover of well-designed objects, this bike stand by Quarterre was bound to attract my eye. What better and more attractive way to keep those beloved machines out of the way (and display them for admiration by your cycling friends)?

Quarterre is a London-based transport & industrial design studio that, as well as consulting to companies around the world, makes the Furniture For Bikes range of bike storage products. These have developed from their love of cycling and design - and a recognition of the difficulties of living with a bike in cities.

The range is made in the UK and has been designed to the sort of standards normally reserved for high-end furniture. See and buy here.

Desirable objects 2 - Harris tweed tuck box and steamer trunk

I remember, all those years ago, being packed off to school with my tuck box full of cakes and sweets to see me through the first few days of the new school term. I therefore couldn't resist showing you this Harris tweed tuck box and steamer trunk from John Lewis. It's nostalgia - indulge me please - mixed with an unquenchable thirst for Harris tweed.

I'm grateful to Mossman Trunks for drawing my attention to these - I assume they make them, but I haven't yet ascertained that. [Edit. They are made by Mossman Trunks here in Great Britain - see website here].

Desirable objects - Andrew Martin Hirshorn chair Spitfire

Like many men, I love objects with a vintage, military, sporty, engineering, speed-related feel to them. The Andrew Martin Hirshorn chair Spitfire absolutely fits the bill. Upholstered with vintage leather and featuring a Spitfire-inspired riveted-aluminium-look panel, this is the chair to relax in with that post-prandial malt whisky.

From Andrew Martin here.