Style & Grooming

The One Old-School Dopp Kit Accessory That Goes Anywhere

Wilde & Harte’s Eltham safety razor is an Art Deco masterpiece.

1508174783_lede-the-one-razor — Photographer: Janelle Jones for Bloomberg Businessweek; Prop stylist: Alex Brannian

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By Ami Kealoha

October 17, 2017 at 3:57 PM UTC

This article is part of the October 23, 2017 issue of businessweek.

THE CHARACTERISTICS

Wilde & Harte Ltd. is a newcomer to expensive razors. Started in 2014 by two veterans of the luxury shaving market, the company manufactures all its products in the U.K. The Eltham is a traditional double-edge safety razor, a type that’s making a comeback among men who enjoy the close shave of a straight razor without the nicks that can go along with it. Unlike a twist-to-open-style safety razor, the three components of the Eltham’s head—top, bottom, and the blade in between—come apart only after you unscrew the octagonal handle. Made of noncorrosive stainless steel, the razor weighs 110 grams (4 ounces) and is 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) long. It’s named for Eltham Palace, a residence of Henry VIII.