Our Material Strategy

Owen Bush Artisan Blacksmith (UK) (Photography Gavin Bush with permission)

Our intention with Palmer And Sons is to source as much of our materials from the closest region that produces it.  We are based in North America (Vancouver, Canada) and that means where possible we will get our materials from North America.

This is important because by investing in North American materials (in particular leather) we are investing in the traditions, skills, infrastructure, and, most importantly, people of North America.  Skills that were born here should be continued to be practiced here, this means investing in companies that still train our young folk in these heritage skills.

Of course were it’s not practicable to use North American (in particular metal hardware is becoming more difficult to source from here as the foundries and associated industries are driven out of business) or not possible (Water Buffalo is only tanned in India) then we will reach further afield.  But not before we have made the effort to look closer to home.

McLennan, McFeely & Co., Ltd. Catalogue 1908-1914 (image courtesy of City of Vancouver Archives)

Why have we chosen this path?  Well being British, English actually, we have learned some lessons from the changes the UK made to it's Manufacturing and Industrial sectors through the 80's and 90's.  There was a rush to media and service industries.  We stopped creating apprenticeships, we dismantled much of our industrial and manufacturing heritage, or even worse we sold key marques to companies based in other countries.  Now for sure some sectors needed to modernise and change working practices etc., but we lost so much.  I'm pleased to say that right now in the UK there is once again an upsurge in artisan, bespoke, and cottage industries, and this is great to see  (as shown in the Owen Bush Forge image at the top of this post).   Our hope is that both Canada and the USA can revive industries that provide future prospects for our young people and reward inward investment.  

Where we see that the same ethos of investment is being made by small independent companies in other countries, making world class materials or tools, of course we also support that.  Currently we are using materials from Veritas Tools (Canada), Sauer & Steiner Tools (Canada), Auriou Tools (France), Hermann Oak Leather (USA), Wickett & Craig Leather (USA), Waterhouse Leather (USA), Feibings Leather Products (USA), Lie-Nielsen Tools (USA), Glen - Drake Tools (USA), Mr. Makato Aida (Tools, Japan).

If you are, or know of, a supplier, in North America making materials that we use please contact us.