Is Luxury Even Real? 

Let us know if Barnstable Bricks sends a private investigator over 😅😅

After your LV video I was talking to my daughter about this exact thing. A handmade $100 wallet was much better than a LV $500 wallet, but if placed together, the LV would sell every time. There is a saying in the gallery industry, “Buyers look at the price before they look at the art”.

I found a brick in our backyard when I was a kid - this was around 1970 or 1972 in New Jersey. Something about how it had aged fascinated me. I brought it upstairs and used it as a doorstop for my bedroom door - specifically to hold my door closed so it'd annoy my younger brothers when they tried to barge into my room to bug me lol! Anyways ... a few years later, my aunt taught me crochet and I crocheted a cover for that brick, primarily because mom kept "yelling" at me to get that "ugly rock" out of the house ;) Considering how unskilled I was at crochet and didn't know a thing about how to calculate stitch counts etc., it came out pretty darn good! Anyways, I'll be turning 60 later this year, and that brick is still with me. In the 80s, it came to college with me and lived in my dorms and first apartments. In the early 90s, it lived with me during that year I spent in a tent in a campground when I was homeless (yet working full time). In the 2000s, it lived with me in my first house, and then in the 2010s, spent 4 years living with me in a RV after I lost my first house to a natural disaster, and now in the 2020s, it lives with me holding open the door of my tiny craft room in my current home, where I live in a cheap, small, old renovated bungalow on a river in the wilds of Oregon, living peacefully and free. Over the years, I did eventually replace the crocheted cover with a better crocheted cover and then a few years ago, having mastered quilting, I made a quilted cover for that brick. To me, luxury is knowing that no matter what life throws at me, I will always find a way to survive and even thrive, that within me is the ability to figure out any problem and find a solution, to never stop learning , always being as resilient and steadfast as that brick.

The West Barnstable Brick Company was very important to all of MA. You can find bricks out in Springfield. For me, it's more about history. Today's "Luxury" brands use cheap labor, cheap parts and then sell it back to consumers at top dollar because their name is on it. No thank you. Why can you find a West Barnstable Brick still today? True quality. One of the reasons I enjoy watching you and what you put out to the world. We need more.

After starting leather crafting only 8 months ago, and watching all of your videos, I have realized that the people I know are more interested in what I make than luxury brands. I am making simple totes with added features that my friends want, that they cannot purchase from a retailer. The goods that I produce are hand cut, hand stitched, and hand finished; they have flaws but are ridiculously durable and made with passion. I thank you for your ramblings about luxury and I preach the same to others whenever they will listen. I wish you a very good day and thank you for your time and knowledge.

Man, you're a deep thinker... It's becoming a rare trait, so I appreciate your... "discussion" videos like this. Good stuff.

Luxury, is me, a man who has a wife and kid, has the time to watch a video of a man who also takes pride in his specific trade, to help show the world that the act of refining their trade (no matter what it is), is the key to finding an enriched life. That's a blessing. Religious or not, my definition of luxury is essentially someone who is blessed enough to partake in things that are outside of meeting their immediate common needs. There's far more luxury in today's society than we acknowledge.

I like antiques. They are luxury to me but young people and relatives think they are fugly just because they are quite old. But I like stuff that withstood the test of time and has retained its craftmanship.

We've had a stone with a cover made of crocheted red yarn as a door stop for many years now. Luxurious doorstop owners of the world unite.

I think most luxury brands become so due to their quality, but at some point they start to monetize their luxury status and that's when quality starts to drop. Eventually they're selling exclusivity.

Luxury is that which is superfluous to necessity, yet enhances the enjoyment and quality of life.

Luxury to me means quality materials, R&D, process, care and skilled labor. A lot of time goes into those things, which is our most valuable commodity.

My first (and only serious) leatherwork project was to stitch a leather cover onto my bicycle handlebars. I had simply gotten tired of how the standard, spiral wrapped tape never stayed in place. So, I cut strips of leather wide enough to wrap around the bars. I had to guess as to how much the leather would stretch once the stitches were pulled tight. I soaked the strips in water, punched holes with an awl as I went (so the hole pattern would account for the curves of the handlebars), and had to completely invent my own stitch pattern so the seam would lay flat (because I could find no info on that, back in 1988). I got compliments everywhere I went. I had the "luxury" of knowing enough to figure out how to do what I wanted, on my first try. Then I had the "luxury" of the additional comfort and gripability of my handlebars. And I had the "luxury" of not needing to bother with those crappy handlebar tapes for the over ten years that I had that bike. I'm a lot of ways, the most "luxurious" things that I have ever owned are things that I have been able to EXACTLY the way I want them to be.

I don’t wanna promo my own art, I’m not even comfortable w sharing it, but I’ve had this concept art, just plastering a face on top of a bag and labeling it as “dirt cheap” just to highlight the self fallaciating nature of “designer” products. Another artist on Instagram who works with mixed media absurdism uses the monicker of “pure designer pain” which I absolutely love. Keep up the great work, I’m happy I found this channel.

Luxus ist für mich zu lernen. Mir Zeit zu nehmen bis meine Hände die Fähigkeiten haben z.B. die Naht so gleichmäßig zu nähen wie ich es möchte. Luxus ist für mich, wenn ich Einzelstücke fertigen kann. Die genau so für die Person angepasst sind die es bekommt möchte. In die Gerberei zu fahren und mir die Häute vor Ort aussuchen zu können. Luxus ist Zeit! Luxus ist für mich wenn ich mir gutes Werkzeug kaufen kann das zu mir passt. Luxus ist wenn dieses und andere Handwerke nicht aussterben. Luxus ist das Gefühl wenn ich mit meinen Händen etwas schönes geschaffen habe. Und wenn ich gebrauchte Kleidung kaufen kann die mal teuer war, ist es prima, nur kein Luxus oder Status. Danke für Deine Videos und das Du uns an Deinen Gedanken teilhaben lässt. Fröhliche Grüße aus Deutschland

I liked your point about how now that everything has been mass manufactured, the human element itself has become luxury. So an example could be “hand-stitched” or just the word “handmade” on an item. Its also interesting to see this same exact thing on items from long ago. I have an axe that says “hand-hammered” that must be 100 years old. So even back then, the idea of a tool being forged by a human hand was captivating.

So so nice, so funny, so beautiful. From a woman who worked in Haute Couture and love every items made by human hands and skills, whatever the domain is. Industrial items speak about money, hand made items speak about life, love and dedication.

Now my mrs can be safe on a night out

For me luxury is restoring beautiful old hand tools to make beautiful new objects. Great video!

I've not tried my hand at leatherwork but it's clear even to me that you make beautiful and rugged pieces. I knit, the only person in my family to still do so. I consider it a luxury, to take this skill my Grandmothers passed down to me, and spend weeks of my free time making something to keep the newest baby in the family warm.

I think this is cool. Btw i like the vibe of your latest videos 😁

I want you to know that I watch Everything you post, and I genuinely see and feel the passion you have for this beautiful craft. There is no other creators on this platform that can provide the knowledge in the way you provide it, these videos are more than valuable to me, Thank you, Genuinely. I hope to do the same for many others in the near and distant future.

you are right on the money with luxury is time. time is the one resource that truly limits us as living beings.

Love this! As someone who has had the luxury to learn the craft of stained glass, I can totally relate. I compete with cheaply built low quality works while doing my best to learn and preserve the classical methods that produce works that will stand the test of time. There really is a difference under it all and love how you help tell teat story. Let me know when you want to collaborate on a stained glass purse 🙂

How neat is that. A story holding your door open.

Both videos are a great explanation of how we are in control of our decisions! I would rather have one of your bags, Then a LV

My first ever project was replacing an old leather strap & buckle on an antique rifle. Time had worn this poor thing to pieces but I remade it, took my time, and it looked terrible when it was done. But I was and still am proud of that piece. To me, that feeling of pride and accomplishment is a true luxury.

your voice and your voice over is relaxing. great content!

I wanna thank you for making videos to show how it’s possible for everyone to make something. I fixed my keyboard wrist rest with some leather from a local show, I pulled it apart and rewrappd the pad.

Luxury for me is having time to grow food, mill grain for bread and stocking our pantries and freezers with food I preserved because my husband works hard so that I have the freedom to do those things. My time is mine and I don’t take that for granted.

My mother used to work in sales for a handmade quality leather goods company that has since gone out of business. After working there for some time and seeing what *actual* leatherwork looked like, she explained to me how most luxury leather goods brands like LV, Coach, etc are basically plastic pieces glued together with maybe a minimal fraction of actual leather material.

also, that brick-purse is a piece of art, in every sense of the words. it's dadaist and belongs in museums.

I feel you wholeheartedly… I am a portrait artist and struggle with the astronomical prices of garbage art that is nothing more than thrown paint on a canvas… this helps put it all in perspective. You definitely earned a follow here brother.

Thank you. I really needed to hear those words of wisdom. I've been having a hard time trying to find my own identity with my leather crafting. I felt that is what everybody wanted was a overly priced, low quality name brand product. Thanks again for this video.

This video is saying what I’ve thought about since I first started using your videos to help with my leather craft. You can buy a $400 handbag from a craftsman that is better quality and can look nicer than a $2,000 from a big label

The brick idea.. just amazing! Where has this hobby been my entire life... ❤

Luxury should mean quality materials, long lasting, craftmanship, Unique designs.

That is the most beautiful doorstop I have ever seen!

Great project. And I enjoyed your philosophical musings

Someone once asked me what the difference in vintage and modern glass marbles are and I said it just comes down to what was hand made and what was mass produced. I'd absolutely love to wear vintage marble earrings over diamond earrings. I like the idea of luxury as something we can't find easy or something that takes time to make. Time is the real luxury.

The storytelling, the message, the RESULT?! Amazing all around!

I love your sense of humor! Stay awesome!

I do believe time is what luxury is. As one who makes bespoke costume items, there is more skill in something I and we do, than in any piece of wallet or handbag. We, being very just middle class, sent our kids to a high end private school, but i was making very high quality items for our kids, things the children of the very wealthy parents could not make - they either didnt have the time or skill, or both as it turns out. WHile they lived in big houses, and drove fancy cars, their friends wanted the coat they had, or the merch branded copy costume on book day I made myself. What parents didnt understand is that often these items took weeks each to make. There was a quality in these items that was not in the off the internet bought items. Yes - time is what makes something valuable.

In the context of both your interpretation and the world of consumer goods, "Luxury" can be distilled down to this: when presented with two or more options to a choice, you have the ability to choose. most often, the chosen option is the one with "more", be that cost, options, recognition, or quality. unfortunately, the majority of the time, "luxury goods" aren't chosen for their own merits, but rather for the perception those merits cast onto the owner. This topic then is relevant to your previous video regarding counterfeits, which only convey the appearance of being able to choose.

Just a wonderful video and full of food for thought. I love your reflections on the modern time and the lack of manual knowledge. That is why I love to do leather work. Cause not everyone have the knowledge and it needs to be continued. Also love your videos and patterns.

“The human element will become luxury…” I needed to hear that !

Excellent video and thank you❤. This is my second video of yours to watch. The first video I saw was just snip its of it on another channel which led me to yours. I love your work, outlook and views.

Probably my favorite video of yours that I've seen, and I've watched a lot of them over the past few years. Thanks for what you do.

An accurate articulation of where many crafters arrive. I often ask prospective clients "Name an item you own along with the person who crafted it." When they cannot, I simply assert they don't understand *High Luxury*. It's a person or group intimately committed to craftmanship, because it's who they are. It's their identity. They're on a path pursuing idealized perfection and growth. Design houses forgo the very nature of artisanal crafters when they negate creative expression for corporate gain and brand recognition. If any of them cared about developing growth they'd include the crafters name below the brand logo. Something like: Louis Vuitton via Joe Smith. Not only does this encourage individual development, but it encourages competition ultimately arriving at better products. Sadly, design houses are only interested in margin and brand leverage. I've long been at the point where I regard major design houses as mediocre pretenders. Now and again I wander inside to see what designs are trending,..but there's no genuine respect. Thanks for the chat Eric. 🥃

i feel that way about my handknit sweaters! also nothing tends to fit me so it's nice to knit something that 100% fits me hah. i've had people beg me to knit them the same sweaters, even with commission, but honestly it would be so time-consuming that i'd have to charge something like $500 lol and even then i wouldn't really want to do it. i think that was probably a moment for some people that unless they themselves learn how to knit, they may never get something like that _ever_, and that makes it insanely exclusive.

Truth. Rich. Beauty. Style. Original. Pure Luxury ❤ Congratulations.

What a beautiful narration, I enjoyed... Thank you

love this doorstop, well done sir!

Luxury is my opinion a tax term for importation of goods, we tend to call Luxury items foreign brands, we don't consider coach or ralph lauren Luxury. I do but in our popular culture it's always foreign imports.

What a great storyteller

I have a brick with my name on it. In northern Minnesota the train track and little depot sat on our farm going to Duluth and Lake Superior. That long before I was born. We would find all kinds of neat items. I kept one brick for myself. It have gone all over the US. I would love to have it transformed like you did. Amazing work. 😊

Your video changed the direction of my day. Thank you for this.

This is ansolutely genius and a true work of art. This belongs in a museum. I'm not being facesious.

Beautiful Commentary, and beautiful work

And hence after occasionally seeing items handmade... I decided I won't really go for luxury brand instead a very good quality handmade one. The one that truly uses good quality and workmanship.

9:15 i love it. As someone who works with bricks and old building materials (house restoration), i have my fair share of "door stops" even a few desktop items. That said, i can tell, just by looking that this is a quality brick. A far cry from top quality bricks today.

Great video - love your louis brickton design. Excellent crafting skill.

My antique red brick doorstop comes from Augusta Georgia and was salvaged from one of many original red brick streets there.

Now I need a handle for one of my hometown bricks. I have a bunch of bricks, given to me by my dad, that were made in my hometown. Some have been used in walkways, some are stored. I think I need a nice handle to use one for a doorstop. I certainly have a need for that as crosswinds blows doors shut when 2 windows are open. As a crafter of jewelry, and quilts, I too have the luxury of creating. I usually gift a quilt for wedding and births. Jewelry is sometimes a bridal gift. Selling can be challenging because not all understand the time and skill involved. This didn't come from China via Walmart. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful thoughts along with the end product.

I think you have made the most luxurious door stop on the East Coast. You leather skills are (and have been) top notch. Your ideas are slightly on and off the beaten path. That is a good thing. If I had a brick that was made last century, I might feel the need to 'luxurisize it'. I think I will look up the brick comany's history. I do know that automated brick manufacters were responsible for better homes. Fire resistant. Faster and cheaper to build. Thanks Eric. (where did you get the strap cutter? I hate my wood one.)

I swear you need to out a tool list on all your videos. What on earth is that small strap cutter?!?! It's so diddy and cute!

My particular recycling style manifests as an idea to saw a half inch facing off the brick, reinforce by gluing to 1/4” wood, then build working purse around that…

Love your doorstopper idea! Going to find myself an old brick! Your leather crafting is admirable and an inspiration to many. Thank you!

Impressive talk. Thank you for your words, and craft.

I think that is absolutely true! That is also a really pretty brick (my regular job and whole life has been in residential construction)!

You have a captivating outlook, You are a interesting person 😊

Great point and perspective...so true! Thanks for the magnificent video. 😄

I agree with you 100%! So far I have refused to buy LV pieces, but if I saw one for cheap on 2nd hand market I would snag it. I think other brands are superior quality for a fraction of the cost. For example the Dooney & Bourke Florentine line line is made of 100% veg tanned leather from Italy for a fraction of the price of a LV canvas bag. Coach 1941 line is not a bad product for the price. They are not so expensive that I wouldn't modify them to meet my needs. You have great craftmanship. The brick door stop is way cool!! TFS

Luxury is growing a taste for resource expendeture, rather than growing a taste for minimizing resource expenditure. You end up less happy because your goals aim for inefficency. If you had grown a taste for something as strongly as have for a luxury peice, you would be happier because it wouldnt require you too use way more resources than would otherwise be needed if opperating towards efficency.

Thank you for demonstrating luxury, but most importantly American made luxury

I agree a person making his or her project is a artist.

The most important commodity any of us has is time, so using a lot of that to create something is one of the things that makes something a luxury. But clearly, the word has multiple definitions, cost and rarity are two further metrics.

I think agree, the time to learn and make something that is unique is luxury. Just as I love my backpack that took me 1 month to make, it's cheap (only 20-30 Dollars in materials) but the time and thought out into it makes it a thing that is worth so much more that it's materials.

THE BEST PURSE EVA MADE. I am Born & Raised NYer. My Grt.GrandMother needed a Purse just like this in the 1970s. If she didn't jab a stick-up guy with her Ice-Pick THIS would work well for her. She was that type of Elderly Lady.

Staying rich isn’t about not spending the money (realise that was in jest). I do spend money, and do still wear brands like Loro Piana which fit into the middle class end, but only buy the fabric. Everything’s made bespoke - Saville Row, no brands, no one knows what I’m wearing. There’s nothing more distasteful to me than wearing a brand but I appreciate that’s just an opinion and love that everyone gets to have their own style/ expression.

As a retired engineer starting to explore the arts again working in stone, I found this inspiring.

I must say, this was a really well thought out message.

Great work, thank you for sharing your skill along with your "words of wisdom"

Great talking point! A conversation you can't have with people who don't have a craft. Thanks

Good subject matter

A luxurious personal defense weapon. Neat.

On the topic of wrapping rocks, as an Argentinian, I would love to see you making some luxury bolas (or boleadoras). Extra points if you use some of that LV leather or the blue alligator from Hermes. Blue Alligator Scrotum Bolas, now that's luxury!

Really interesting point of view. I’m not sure it’s generation thing or not, but it seems like the value and perspective of luxury have changed over the years. Thanks for the video. You are a great inspiration of my leather craft.

I love the idea! Great job.

You are absolutely right.

Tbh I very closely know a few millionaires, and also their rich peers, they DO buy LV and all these other luxury brands. Idk why people keep saying they don't buy these things

Personally I’d have wrapped the parameter of the brick to leave the face open and made the handle attach transversely, but I think the workmanship and materials used are the height of luxury. Loved last week’s video, btw. Corporate greed.

What's funny is that you could take that to a gallery and charge $1,000 and somebody would buy it but if you charge $10 people would snub their nose at it lol

What you are saying in the beginning of the video, about those brands customers’ target, is the absolute truth. They don’t want to sell to rich people, they are selling illusions to normal people

Those are some very interesting thoughts. Unfortunately (for me), I was distracted by the carry handle you made. That's the kind of quality we used to be able to find on high priced leather h goods. It's a shame such quality isn't readily available anymore.

Yes! send that to the MFA as an art installation. perfect.

To me, luxury are things and experiences that afford me (not necessarily others) convenience, beauty, or comfort.

I would seriously like the pattern to that

Sending this to a good freind of mine with a passion for artistanship. You got this Charl

Excellent use of a nice brick.