Charlie Borrow Key Clip

A piece of sueded, flesh out, hand cut, fragrant English oak bark tanned leather.

Edges burnished with beeswax. 

Folded around a Walsall cast solid brass clip and split ring.

Then set by hand with a copper saddle rivet.

Beautiful elements, which when skillfully put together become something tough, functional and elegant.

Charlie Borrow’s tactile key clip, well actually mine, but made on Columbia Road by CB, is a wonderfully sensual reminder of the ties which bind.

A reminder of why small things matter, items made with care from good things by people with passion. They aren’t throwaway, just use until no more.

Each use adds to story, the darkening brass, the outer leather becoming richer with touch – I particularly like that with the suede you can see the underside slowly changing colour through simple age. 

A clip is a connector, a protector, used across life to keep the items we love held together and close to hand.

Connection is vital, from brief to life long. It humanises us, bringing wisdom, warmth and belonging, helping to build communities and adding colour to life. 

The past couple of weeks has seen conventional modes of connection frozen. But, instead of sitting here filled with melancholy for what is beyond our grasp, we’ve sought new modes of communication, new means of bringing people together, of sharing in life whilst protecting those we love. 

By the time, this is over - although ‘over’ seems wrong, as if some return to before is possible - Charlie will be near to opening his new workspace/shop/lots of exciting things, a couple of hundred yards from Columbia Road. The old newsagents by the cut through transformed. The one you might walk past on way from Shoreditch, before you bump into someone you know sat on benches outside the Birdcage. 

It’s a big move, a confident and I believe timely one. 

The increase in space will be great, a chance for the work to breathe.

It’s also a statement. A commitment to the area, because outside of the nitrous oxide, skinny jeans and fake floored lofts, Shoreditch and East London is still where people with creative aspirations flock.

A commitment to the old school, to British production, of having a wonderful product and business, a business of making beautiful things and wanting to grow.

And a commitment to creating a hub, a community outpost, which creates connections and culture, actual culture, not force fed or think tanked.