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A brush that feels right Based on a tradition with roots over 100 years old, Iris Hantverk is the brush-binding business that produces lasting quality brushes that feel right in the hand – and on the conscience. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Iris Hantverk
“You can tell just by looking at them,” says co-owner and vice president of Iris Hantverk, Sara Edhäll. “Our brushes have been carefully designed with a purpose in mind; they’re made made to last.” Officially founded in 1953, the company grew out of a long struggle for rights to active participation in society by the visually impaired. Today they employ visually impaired artisans in both Sweden and Estonia, hand-drawing brushes that embody the meaning of the word handmade.
“Take a plastic dish brush,” Edhäll illustrates. “It may be a lot cheaper than a natural dish brush like ours, but wash a greasy frying pan once and that’s nearly the end of it. You’ll probably buy ten plastic brushes at least to make up the life span of a natural brush, so at the end of the day you’re paying the price – not just financially, but environmentally as well. And don’t get me started on our sweeping brushes – they’re almost impossible to wear out.”
The wood used comes from Swedish forestry companies, all of which have both a Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, ensuring that the wood has been sourced in an environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable manner. Moreover, Iris Hantverk recently stopped using paraffin oil in its production, instead opting for coldpressed, boiled linseed oil. As far as sustainability goes, it is a no-brainer.
While the clearly visible wire at the back of each brush makes for a beautiful hallmark, the design most certainly puts
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functionality over style. The materials used have been sourced specifically for the purpose of the product: tough materials handle heavy-duty cleaning; fine bristles such as cereal root make root vegetable cleaning a pleasure; and goat hair carefully cleanses the skin on your face. There is a great deal to be said for the care that goes into handdrawing brushes using natural materials, not least, as Edhäll insists, because the natural bristles sweep so much more effectively. “There’s the right to self-sustainability for our artisans, which is key to our existence, and there’s the fact that our products are kind to nature, kind to the skin and, yes, kind to your conscience,” says Edhäll. “At the end of the day, I think it comes down to a good choice.”
For more information, please visit: www.irishantverk.se