In the post credit crunch arena some might consider it decadent and even fool hardy to be tempted by those iconic pieces of designer home ware that add the special finishing touches to your home. In some people’s eyes, merely glancing and appreciating the sublime good looks and exceptional build quality of designs such as the Alessi bird kettle by Michael Graves or juicy salif citrus squeezer by Philippe Starck is to place yourself near to financial suicide.

‘Put down that exquisite contemporary product!’ you may hear them cry, ‘put it down before you lose the roof over your head and your children are taken into care!’ 

Who should we believe? What should we do? There are only how many shopping days until Christmas!!!… And where do I find that perfect Christmas gift? 

Like most things in life, it is best to consider the facts, rather than have a knee jerk reaction to the over-hyped sensationalism that is frequently apparent in the press. 

So, why should we buy high quality designer products? 

It is immediately apparent on the high street that there is a plethora of what is best described as ‘tat’ available at budget prices. You may be tempted by the lower price and the fact that there is a vague visual similarity to some wonderful iconic piece of modern product design. But beware – we should avoid these like the plague, or sub-prime mortgage debt, which appear to have the same affect in many ways… 

The ‘budget’ home ware alternatives are manufactured with price as the main consideration. Their primary job is to get you to take them off the shelf and hand over your hard-earned cash. No real consideration is given to how the design performs and in order to reduce costs they are manufactured to last only slightly longer than the time it takes you to get them out of the shop. 

This built-in obscelesence will subtly squeeze your finances over a period of time, as you find yourself replacing those budget items almost as frequently as you change your underwear. 

So what is the alternative? – Simply to use the same amount of money to buy less of the good stuff… 

Products created by people such as Alessi, Menu A/S, Design E, Louis Poulsen and the like, have been designed to look good, function well and are built to last.  

There is no denying that you will pay substantially more for these designer products than the budget alternatives and fear not, you will be rewarded for your actions. You will be purchasing design classics that have a wonderful timeless quality that is unaffected by fashion and remain eternally youthful. The Aalto savoy vase has been around since the 1930’s and looks as fresh and cotemporary today, as it did when it was first revealed to the world. Designs such as this can be described as functional art and have the ability to bring a smile to your face as you pass by from one room to another. 

These companies care about quality and craftsmanship and many of the designs are still manufactured in Europe or Scandinavia by skilled craftsmen who take pride in their work. This is a far cry from the Chinese budget alternative, where health and safety issues for the workers are frequently brushed under the carpet and profit is paramount. 

At this moment in time, we also have the spectre of global warming hanging over planet and it is clear that the current ‘throw away’ culture cannot continue if we are going prevent global catastrophe. 

We don’t necessarily need to return to the ‘make do and mend’ philosophy from the past but we do need to have products that are more able to withstand the passage of time. The designer brands such as Alessi, Menu A/S, Design E, Louis Poulsen etc have always been built to last and probably always will be. Add into the equation the fact that they will be shipped to the UK from Europe or Scandinavia, rather than all the way from China and it is clear which purchase is best for the environment. 

So there you have it – when making your next home ware purchase remember that spending a little extra to begin with is better for your soul, your wallet and the environment…