Inspired design, an eye for detail and access to excellent manufacturing partners in the UK means British grooming brand Bolin Webb makes some of the most exciting and enjoyable razors in the world of shaving – selling through an impressive list of top-end luxury retailers that reach from San Francisco to Tokyo.
Shaving is an everyman routine, like it or not. Some may shave daily. Others put blade to face less regularly. Whatever the pattern, the distinctive and colourful razors made by Bolin Webb remind us that we can enjoy as well as apply a tool that we pick up and use more often than we care to count.
Originally, sports cars were a main design cue for Bolin Webb. Early stage mood boards, with images emphasised shape, colour, excitement and emotion. These were prompts only: the design process was not about replicating an exact shape, but about ultimately finding a form that worked in terms of the balance, curve and the “energy” it projects.
Colour is important. Bolin Webb took time to select and trial different colours for their razors, choosing paints that were distinctive, striking and that captured a spirit and aspirational appeal. Bolin Webb took colour cues from Aston Martini, Lamborghini and Porsche among others, adapting these to these handles to really narrow down to a product the company is proud of.
The right material choice makes a difference across many dimensions: form, weight, colour, durability, grip, hygiene and cost of production. Bolin Webb uses materials that are fit-for-purpose and tactile, bringing distinct manufacturing processes together in different ways – for example by applying automotive paint to razor handles, or using silicone for their award-winning razor case.
Bolin Webb razors are made in Birmingham. Working locally has benefits in terms of product development, flexibility, lead-time and relationships. Different suppliers make different components, which are brought together to one point for assembly. They make a unique product that cannot be copied by others, employing processes that require a high degree of coordination and quality control.
It's no surprise to us that Bolin Webb has received as many design and brand awards as they have.
Bolin Webb razors are available in two different models: the R1 range is fitted with Gillette’s 3-blade Mach3 cartridge, while the X1 range is fitted with Gillette’s 5-blade Fusion ProGlide cartridge. Both blade types are widely available, either online or on the high street. Bolin Webb razors are fitted with one of these blades with purchase, and presented in a rigid gift box.
