The science is interesting….but to be honest, it doesn’t really add much much to me. Because for me, scents hold a magical power. They are the closest I can get to time travel….to going back in time and almost…..just almost…being in that place again….or with that person.
]]>“… I carried to my lips a spoonful of the tea in which I had let soften a bit of madeleine. But at the very instant when the mouthful of tea mixed with cake crumbs touched my palate, I quivered, attentive to the extraordinary thing that was happening inside me.”
“À La Recherche Du Temps Perdu,” 1913, Marcel Proust
The scene that Proust describes is still as beautiful and poetic as the day when it was written. The only difference today is that we have hard science to explain it.
Smells evoke such strong memories because they have a direct link straight to the limbic system in the brain - the amygdala and the hippocampus - the regions related to emotion and memory.
The science is interesting….but to be honest, it doesn’t really add much much to me. Because for me, scents hold a magical power.
They are the closest I can get to time travel….to going back in time and almost…..just almost…being in that place again….or with that person.
Nostalgia can be a potent emotion; one that often has hue of melancholy about it. Revisiting the past is human, but I’m pretty sure it’s best served in micro-doses.
This poetry and magic is the reason why I decided to do something that’s almost counter-intuitive………to sell perfume online.
Often the more profound purchases we make, are not so much about the physical product itself, but about what it represents, and the emotions it creates.
In early 2022 I was visiting a distributor near us in north eastern Italy. ‘Distributor’ doesn’t do him justice. His name is Cesare, and he is one of the good guys in this industry.
Whilst walking around his showroom, selecting pieces for next winter’s collection, I kept smelling this incredible scent. Eventually I had to ask what it was: and that’s where our relationship with the perfume maker ‘Naso di Raza’ began.
Cesare reached into a box and brought out a bottle of perfume. He then started to tell the story behind it.
The maker of the perfume is from Rome, but trained in Paris, the heart of scent production and know-how.
This particular perfume was called ‘Giuseppe’. The maker had wanted to recreate a scent that would remind him of his father. Many years of hard work later, the perfume which he named ‘Giuseppe’ was made.
The way in which we react to scents can vary greatly from person to person. My sister likes the smell of freshly laid asphalt on the road……I love the smell of Hyacinths and Lapsang Souchong tea……my wife loves the smell of mountain forests.
I will tell you with complete honestly that the scent of the Giuseppe perfume, is the most beautiful scent from a perfume that I have ever experienced. It creates such a reaction when I smell it, that it’s almost confusing….I keep smelling it to try and understand what is so wonderful about it.
I can’t say it smells like my father….because he used a different type of cologne (Wellington Cologne from Geo F Trumper in London to be precise). But, Giuseppe is the kind of scent that made me immediately say….”this is how I want to smell”…..this is the emotion and experience I want people to have when they encounter me.
And so, we placed an order for a small quantity of the ‘Giuseppe’ perfume, and today I am writing this, to accompany the launch of this perfume in our store. There is just far too much to say…..and a little product description would not do it justice. Not everything needs to be squashed into a soundbite.
The discovery of Giuseppe has now become part of my evolving story. I use it every day, and perhaps in twenty or thirty years time, it will become part of my children’s fabric of memories and stories.
So, how do you sell a perfume online?
With each order from today, we will include a little tester card sprayed with the perfume 'Giuseppe'. This will be placed inside a sealed bag, to ensure it stays fresh and doesn’t transfer onto the products in the box. This will allow our customers to experience the scent first, as returns will not be possible of perfume purchases.
You can find the perfume for purchase here.
By Jonathan Maher
Store Owner @ The Revive Club
]]>
Who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia right? And there’s nothing that gets the old memories flowing more than our childhood TV theme tunes. If you’re wondering which era we’re talking about? Most of these are from the 80s, some 90s...actually one or two span into the 70s and 60s.
We're curious to know what your memories will be when you listen to these tunes again! Is it the chair you used to watch TV in? The things you used to love eating whilst watching TV? For sure the memories will roll back and that's always fun.
We’ve picked our top ten - in our opinion they are all epic….don’t be a party pooper and jump all the way to number 1…enjoy the ride!
Remember the time travelling duo Sam and Al? We think their theme tune deserves to be in the top 10 for sure.
One of our favourite shows with a great tune - the adventures of 'Jon' and 'Ponch' as they cruise the California highways. Apparently, Erik Estrada ('Ponch') didn't have a motorcycle license right up until the show started filming. Great tune though!
Starring Jan-Michael Vincent who sadly died in February of this year, the show was about all the cool things you could do in an advanced prototype supersonic helicopter with stealth capabilities.
Taxi won eighteen Grammy Awards in its day, and featured the daily life of the functional 'Sunshine Cab Company' in New York. Perhaps best known for the role of Louie played by Danny DeVito, and 'Latka' played by Andy Kaufman. Written by Bob James this is a timeless tune that just seems perfect for this show.
First airing in 1981, the show featured a fictional police station 'Hill Street' in an unnamed large city. This one could have easily been in the top 3, but a democratic compromise put it in at sixth place.
Do you know anybody who doesn't love this series? There's just so much for a guy to enjoy here. Sonny Crockett had it all....except a house. Well he lived in a cool boat with a pet alligator called 'Jaws'.....and somehow, managed to drive a series of unbelievable awesome cars on a cop's salary. One of those cars was a white Ferrari Daytona - which was actually a Corvette with a body kit. Ferrari got so pissed about this, they insisted the show get rid of the car. So in Season two, it got blown up - and Ferrari as a thank you, sent two brand new white Testarossas. We could go on and on about this show....enjoy the tune!
An institution more than a show with an equally great theme tune.
The moustache, the car, the tropical lifestyle. This was the life we all dreamed about as kids.
Although by now the show has achieved cult status around the world, it only ran for five years. In the end it was a show about violence in which you never actually saw anybody get killed! It's certainly one of the best theme tunes in our opinion....but the only reason it doesn't get a number one spot, is because it has an amazing first few seconds to the theme tune...but is a bit repetitive - not the kind of theme tune you could happily listen to in full in the car......speaking of which....
Well you may have already guessed it by now....it had to be in this list and we think it's the number one theme tune. Remixed and reworked and loved all over the world, it featured the adventures of Michael Knight and 'Kit' his heavily modified Pontiac Firebird.
Hope you enjoyed our Top Ten TV theme tunes! Feel free to leave your comments if you feel we made any criminal omissions or want to tell others about great theme tunes from your own country that maybe not many others know about!
PS. My wife and I have not stopped arguing for the last few days about which theme tunes should be in this list. So - being the gentleman that I am, I will dedicate this special prize for Honourable Mention to the greatest crime fighter of all time - Jessica Fletcher and 'Murder She Wrote'.
]]>
Welcome to our new blog series ‘How to Wear it’. We know that not many of you operate at the bleeding edge of fashion - in fact most of our Revivalists are just guys who appreciate good quality clothing with a modern twist on classic designs. As new pieces arrive in the store we wanted to make it easier for you to imagine how you could wear a particular garment - and maybe even venture into new styles, colours and patterns you've not worn before. Sometimes it’s nice to change things up, surprise those around us.
To start off our ‘How to Wear It’ series we commence with the Camo Jacket.
Listen, we get it - camo is not an easy pattern or style to wear - but keep in mind the following. If you’re going to try just one item of camo clothing - let it be the jacket.
The camo jacket is infinitely easier to style than say trousers, t-shirts or shirts. The jacket is not only an accesible way to wear camo - but it gives your style an edge, without making you look like you’re starting your own Militia.
So gents - we're not going to give you a complete history of camo in fashion here - although that in itself is quite interesting and part of it's enduring appeal - we'll just dive in to some styling inspiration.
Below we want to share some ideas for some of our favourite ways to pair an outfit with a camo jacket. We've selected a bunch of styles that we really like. As with much of fashion and style, rules are never concrete - hopefully the below ideas will give you some inspiration.
If after this you’re feeling inspired and ready to dip your toes into camo, then check out this great jacket from Taylor Stitch. It’s made from a dry wax fabric that instantly gives it a vintage feel. We also happen to think that this particular ‘arid’ camo pattern absolutely rocks. Enjoy folks!
]]>
Some garments are so iconic, that it’s almost a crime if we didn’t write this article about them. We’re talking about the ‘Harrington Jacket’, also known as the ‘G9’. You may not know it by name, but you will almost certainly recognise it. We wanted to write about it because it really embodies the kind of garments we as a company, aspire to sell. Rich in history and tradition, it's a fascinated story of how an item of clothing can come to symbolise an attitude and way of life. Throw in several decades of the jacket being worn by some of the coolest actors and musicians, pivotal in major cultural and style genres…..well you’ve got a garment that’s worth talking about.
The ‘Harrington’ as it was eventually called, was a practical outer-shell jacket designed to keep the British man comfortable, dry in showers, and stylish. Designed and created by the British manufacturing company ‘Baracuta’, the jacket was launched shortly after the company was formed in 1937. Based in Manchester in the north of England, this was at the time, one of the most important places in Europe for producing cotton garments, producing at its peak in the early 20th century, eight billion yards of cloth per year.
The jacket still today uses the same tartan lining since the beginning. This particular tartan is from the Fraser Clan, and when the jacket was created, permission was given by the then chief of that Clan for its use.
The jacket was popular, but it’s journey to iconic status was one paved by the cool cats that chose to wear it. The Harrington name comes from a US soap opera called ‘Peyton Place’, in which a character called Rodney Harrington would often wear a version of the jacket. From the 1950s onwards, the jacket was imported into the US, then to be nicknamed the ‘G9’.
It’s thought that the reason it became so popular in the US, was that the cut and look of the jacket closely resembled the jackets worn by US bomber pilots in the Second World War and Korean War. It was a jacket that made a statement for those who wore it; strong, masculine yet stylish. It portrayed an image that men of the day wanted to embrace. The G9 jacket as it’s called in the US, was there to stay.
James Dean wore one in Rebel Without a Clause (1955). Elvish Presely wore one in the film King Creole (1958), Steve McQueen wore it in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), as well as Frank Sinatra and various other James Bonds over the years.
Meanwhile back in England, the jacket became adopted as a symbol of several ‘countercultures’. The Mods, Skinheads, punks all found a place for the Harrington in their fashion statements that said “up yours to conforming’. The jacket became a way for these people to stand out, to feel different, and to use style as a powerful statement. As Baracuta say, they make ‘uniforms for belonging’.
Today, the Harrington Jacket is still made by Baracuta, and there a few brands out there making their own interpretations. The US has its own takes on the G9 jacket, and we have chosen to sell Taylor Stitch’s interpretation of this iconic piece. They call it the Montara Jacket, and honestly, we just love what they’ve done. It features a 70% cotton and 30% Nylon shell with a custom cotton lining. It has the signature double button Mandarin-style collar that’s lined with 100% corduroy. It comes in two colours - Hunter and Vintage Blue.
]]>
As a kid, I dreamed of being The Bush Tucker Man. I used to think he had the best job in the world, and now at the age of forty three, I still think that. The adventures of this man are like a portal that still now allow me to climb in, and be transported back thirty years.
So partly this post is about wanting to share with you something that might also transport you back....but also the broader issue of keeping that childlike sense of hope and dreams alive as you get older. The willing suspension of disbelief, the disregard for trivial things such as practicalities and details.....but that burning flame of imagination that makes you feel like a kid again....and just maybe pushes you to take a little adventure of your own.
'The Bush Tucker Man' refers to a retired Major in the Australian army called Les Hiddins - Major Les Hiddins. Les was always something of an expert in the flora and fauna of the Australian bush - and it was this interest and knowledge that led to him being given the mother of all jobs by the army. Les was tasked with the job of travelling the Australian outback, researching how to survive on the land. Drawing on the ancient and deep knowledge of the Aboriginal communities, Les explores the outback in his Army issue Land Rover.
In the late 80s, Les was given his own TV series in Australia called 'The Bush Tucker Man'. It follows him around on his adventures, as he explores the land, camping each night, and explaining how to survive eating the food that can be found on the land - hence the name for the show. 'Tucker' is an Australian word for food for those of you scratching your heads at this point.
Years back I ordered the DVD box set from Australia. The quality of the recordings is loooooow....but for me it's part of its charm. I mean doesn't that say something - that an old pixelated video can stir your soul like that? I reckon if it was in 4k quality, it wouldn't quite have the same charm. The accompanying music through the shows is just perfect - evocative and uplifting. Les is a no-nonsense, say-what-you-mean Aussie and his enthusiasm, dry wit and love of his environment is both addictive and infectious. I feel like I've been with him on all these adventures.
For those of you who may be interested Les wears his signature Akubra hat that he's basically reshaped to give it that unique slant or 'bash' as Les refers to it. Apparently the shape he gave to his hat was a style very common to cattle men in northern Australia - sort of a style unique to them. It's the 'Sombrero' model hat that Akubra make, which in its original shape, looks quite different. Aside from his trusty army fatigues, he always wears a sturdy pair of Australian RM Williams boots.
There are a bunch of videos on YouTube you can see to give you a taste including this one where he meets up with Bushcraft legend Ray Mears and talks about how he got into the job of cataloguing Australia's bush tucker. But there are some things I personally don't mind paying for. Maybe that's the kid in me telling me that Les gets some of the money in return for his passions.You can order the box set from the ABC Network directly in Australia here or from Amazon in the UK here.
Enjoy and I hope you manage to find a little space in your imagination and dreams for the adventures of Les Hiddins, the Bush Tucker Man.
]]>
My children are no longer interested in the human experience. Well sort of....but it's a constant battle. Through no fault of their own - they are eight years old - the allure of the screen is simply too strong for them. This morning we woke up to a snow-covered world and we suggested going straight out to play in the snow. They wanted to play on the iPad. A few months ago we experienced a super moon, but they wanted to search on YouTube for videos of super moons. Last weekend was beautiful and sunny - one of those crisp but cold winter days with a un-naturally blue sky. They wanted to stay in and play the iPad. It's not their fault - the desire to use them is simply far stronger than they are. They are of course designed that way.
As parents we consider ourselves 'non-addicts'. We're vocally against smartphones. We see the dangers of over-use of smartphones, and we try very hard to keep our kids enthralled by the world around them....but we've picked a tough fight. A multi billion dollar behomoth wants our kids' attention, wants our attention.....at all costs. That's quite an opponent.
It's like we're competing with a virtual version of the world. Reminds me of the time somebody told me they preferred Italian food in America to the stuff you find in Italy. But that's where we find ourselves - having to convince our kids that the real version of the world is infinitely better.
And what about memories? The ones we create every time we stand up and go outside. The sounds of the cicadas that night we stayed up late to watch the sun setting in France. The smell of the Atlantic Ocean, wet fishing nets and the gentle sound of seagulls as we strolled along the harbour on the west coast of Ireland. The feeling of crisp golden leaves under foot as you walk through a forest in Autumn. Or that time you stood by a blackberry bush last summer and ate the most delicious berries.
Equally as important are the everyday moments and experiences. The things you miss if you're glued to a screen. Boredom, waiting, reflection are all essential parts of the human condition. Experiencing them is equally as essential for children. Today kids have an incredibly low boredom threshold. In an instant world, where pleasure is just a swipe away, it's no surprise that going for a walk holds such little appeal. The human condition requires that we put effort in - we want something, we strive for it, we get it. Although as Oscar Wilde correctly observed - "There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it." When stimulation is on tap, and when it's appeal is engineered by User Experience, pixel count and refresh rates....the essence of the human experience is torn apart.
The hand that gives, also takes. The phones in our pockets got smarter, but the price we and our children are paying, is our imagination and interest in the real world. The world is no longer as interesting as the world on the screen. An experience is no longer meaningful if it's not being shared online. That beautiful sunset is not beautiful unless you take a selfie of yourself in it. Those cicadas filling the night air are meaningless if they're not on YouTube. And those blackberries we ate from the bush that summer, never happened if they didn't end up on Instagram with the right filter.
We are all complicit in some way, but nobody more than the companies who create and sell the devices that are robbing an entire generation of their ability to fully experience the world.
You may at this point think 'what terrible parents', and look at those kids wasting their time indoors. The reality is that it's a constant fight, and we impose rules to ensure that screen time is limited to just a couple of hours over the weekend if all homework has been done by Friday. And when they do go outside, they have the best time ever. And when they forget for a moment about screens, they invent the most incredible games with their imagination. But then there's no money to be made in people just being outside, breathing fresh air, going for walks and simply being alive.
The task at hand? In the short-term to re-distract our children. Long term to ensure that a generation who will live with technology all around them, understands the dangers and how to find a healthy balance.
]]>In the beginning I didn’t plan to open an online store. I wanted to change the world - but needed to find a way to turn it into a business.
What did I want to change in the world? I’ll explain.
]]>Today seems like the appropriate day to write this post. It’s Friday 24th November. Black Friday.
In the beginning I didn’t plan to open an online store. I wanted to change the world - but needed to find a way to turn it into a business.
What did I want to change in the world? I’ll explain.
Humans have been hacked. The very essence of what allowed us to survive six million years, is now being exploited to sustain a model of consumption that is destroying the planet, and destroying us. It’s the last part that I wanted to do something about.
Technology has been the catalyst. Specifically, the internet and smartphones. In just ten years, they have shaped and morphed human nature in a way that previously may have taken hundreds, perhaps thousands of years.
How have we been hacked? By whom? Why?
Ironically, the very instincts that allowed humans to survive on this planet, are now the ones that threaten us the most. Industry knows this, but now has the tools to take it to another level.
Abundance, convenience and distraction. This is how we were hacked.
Industry found out how to keep us in a constant state of desire and want. Our taste buds were hacked to keep our brains constantly craving cheap unhealthy foods - even if it means eating ourselves to death. Our dopamine receptors were hacked, and now through smartphones, we live in a constant state of distraction. This works well for business, because whilst we’re addicted to dopamine sparks in the brain, and whilst we’re distracted, we can be harvested for every piece of our consciousness, hung by the feet and relieved of every pound, euro and dollar we may have.
So, today, we rarely talk to each other, we don’t look up from our smartphones, we eat too much, buy too much, and have sacrificed real human interaction for the illusion of a connected virtual framework that in the end is nothing but a hack for our dopamine receptors. Social network - the irony is painful.
So you see the dilemma. How the hell do I turn this mission, into a business - into something I can support my family with, whilst still effecting change. Perhaps most important of all, if I want to do something about over-consumption, how is starting another store part of any possible solution?
Well, it does play a role, and, as The Revive Club approaches its first birthday, I’m starting to see how it all fits together.
The answer to over-consumption is of course not no-consumption - but smarter. The change must come from empowering people to see they’ve been hacked, and regain control of their minds. That doesn’t happen from hiding your smartphone. It comes from using it on your terms; on better terms. Choosing not to open a store will not change anything - but perhaps opening a store with different values may. A store that can prosper through a different relationship with it’s market and customers.
I think, that perhaps opening a store, is the only way to demonstrate the change that I’d so much like to see elsewhere. I know it’s a much used reference but as Mahatma Gandhi said, “you must be the change you want to see in the world”.
The Revive Club will be doing this by doing two things. First, by hopefully showing that a business can prosper whilst promoting sensible consumption. You will see this in the way we buy products, how we sell them to you, and importantly how we market to you. The second way is something I’ve been working on since day one. The Revive Days.
The Revive Days will be a series of annual events, workshops and talks that will help restore your human perspective. Seemingly simple acts such as making and repairing things, learning valuable human skills, conversation, friendships…..become part of a restorative experience. Over the coming weeks and months I’ll be posting more details on The Revive Days and how you can be involved.
To make all this happen, and stay in business won’t be easy of course. Competing at the sharp end of business is unforgiving. Simply to survive, a business must use every tool in the box to outwit the competition, and own the customer. But can you survive or prosper as a business, if you choose not to play by these rules?
There has to be a better model of business and consumption - a different way to run the race. To do this we need to change the rules of the race. Consumers must drive that change. Change that puts value and merit in how you run the race, not how fast you run.
So this is why it’s the perfect day to write this post. I hope this post will explain why Black Friday is something we could not possibly consider doing. We’ll still be here on Saturday, and so will you.
Jonathan
Revive Club founder
]]>Jonathan Gibson, from Melbourne Australia came from a family with adventure and bikes running through the veins. His father and grandfather all rode Royal Enfields, and despite his parents' usual concerns, it seemed inevitable that one day he would set out on his own adventure.
As Jonathan's journey approached Europe, I heard he was passing by Venice - so I immediately made the offer of a bed for the night and some Italian home cooked food. My family and I spent only a day with Jonathan, but he left quite a profound effect on us. Bike adventures can be life-changing - but they also touch the people you encounter too. I know Jonathan met many people as he travelled, and I'm sure he left an impact on them too.
The following is an interview I did with Jonathan upon his immediate return to Australia.
I have always liked motorcycles and a decent challenge. This journey felt like a great way to combine both. Further to this I had lost a few people close to me to suicide and this would give me the chance to combine something I love (riding motorcycles) with raising money and awareness for issue that is important to me - mental health.
This trip had been in my mind for a little while but I always assumed I would do it later in life. Then I realised I was in a point in my life where there was not really that much keeping me tied to one spot. I was just out of a relationship, my job wasn't fantastic and I knew that with a bit of determination, and Nihilist like detachment I would be able to leave most of it behind.
Some of my friends laughed, some of them raised their eyebrows and thought it was just some drunk chat. Others smiled and offered to help in anyway they could. Early on I made a point of telling a few people close to me. That way I knew I wouldn't chicken out. Hemmingway once said you should do sober what you said you were going to do drunk. I felt that once I had told enough people I would have no choice but to carry on ahead.
I did very little planning and very little prep. It took me about six months from when I made the call to leave to when I jumped on the bike. I did some basic research into visas but when traveling for this long it’s hard to plan too much ahead as many regions and polices change quickly. Some of the things I did plan ahead didn’t work out. My Pakistan visa expired, my Indian visa expired, and it was only luck that I was able to get a visa for Iran as they stopped giving visas to certain countries. It all changes as you go along. As my bike was never one for deadlines I just had to wing it as I went.
It’s been interesting to note the change your head goes through on this trip. Once on the road you go from stressing about work and deadlines to having very basic requirements and worries. Food, fuel, weather and a running bike - other concerns just do not matter that much. Political concerns, personal hygiene and dress standards all go out the window and you just worry about getting further down the road. There was a time in West Pakistan (an Australian Government advised do not travel zone) when my bike was broken down, I had no money due to a faulty transfer and due to the security situation the safest place to stay was a heavily fortified prison. When things go that bad you really have no choice but to focus on the basics and what needs to be done next.
In Chennai, my first day riding in India after waiting for 2 months for my bike to clear customs, I crashed into a school girl when she stepped in front of the bike on the highway. I was doing about 60-70kms an hour and she was crossing the road. She looked at me stopped walking then just walked in front of the bike. I locked up the back and collected her as I slid sideways. I hit her at a solid speed and the bike jolted as she became airborne just before I highsided over the front of the bike. That feeling, spread out on the highway knowing I just hit a child was by far the scariest moment. I turned and saw her get up and run away very quickly.
I was always a firm that people, regardless of nationally, religion, social and economic background are inherently good. People always tend to be afraid of the next village, town, religion or group of people they have not met or understand. People were forever warning me how difficult Sumatra was. Then in Sumatra they warned me about India then it was Pakistan et.. When you get to these places you realise people are the same just about everywhere. And almost any people are happy to help, talk and share experiences.
If you don't use it, gift it, swap it or send it home. I am a big fan of allowing yourself some luxuries on the road and for me it was an aeropress coffee machine and a small travel fishing rod. These are things I could have done without - I didn't fish as much as I had planned and instant coffee is perfectly appropriate on a RTW trip, but for me I liked carrying them and using them. The rest of the gear was an evolving collection of spares and tattered items as I lost, broke or wore out things over the 16 months.
In 1913 Carl Stearns Clancy rode around the world, Nathan Millward did Sydney to London with 2 days notice/ and Ted Simons couldn't ride a motorcycle before he took off for four years on his 74 Triumph Tiger. These trips are not as difficult or as expensive as people think and you don't need to have a special skillset or personality. It's really just like riding a bike. Each day you just ride your bike.
If you want to do it, that feeling will never go away so perhaps address it sooner than later.
If this has stirred your wanderlust spirit and need for adventure - fear not! In July of 2017 we'll be running a Revive Club Adventure across the Himalayas on Royal Enfield motorcycles. Details online very soon!
If you'd like to see some great videos about Jonathan and his adventures, check out this great video from the series 'Stories of Bike' here.
]]>
The Revive Club started in my head as a 'cause', a way of thinking - a set of values. The seeds of that idea were sown twenty years ago, but it would take me that long before I could understand how it would all come to life.
Progress, change and innovation can be a truly amazing thing. It has and continues to bring incredible advancements that can effect real positive change in our lives. In the last ten years, the pace of that change has accelerated rapidly. At the core of that change is a trend towards convenience, abundance and distraction.
My fear is that we are rapidly loosing a precious and essential human perspective. Where we once repaired things, we now simply throw away and buy again. Where once we required patience to sit, wait or reflect, we now immerse ourselves in our devices at the onset of a moment's pause. Although the world has never been more connected, we even talk to each other less.
I should point out, I'm not blindly nostalgic, peddling some twee vision of a time when everything was merrier. Technology is part of my life, my childrens' lives and I'm sure yours too. But this is precisely the point. Preservation needs to be about finding a way to embrace the future and the past. Artificial intelligence, driverless cars, thought-controlled fridges - don't worry, they're all coming soon enough. What we need to do is to ensure balance so that we preserve that precious human perspective as we move rapidly forward.
I believe that The Revive Club can play an important role and effect positive change whilst also being a commercial venture. At the point when I realised this, twenty years suddenly came into focus.
The Revive Club store will seek out brands and makers who's commitment to craftsmanship, longevity and quality are clear. These will be brands with a story, driven by people who are not only passionate about their products, but actually use them. When we support these kind of brands, we ensure a future for them.
If what you've read above resonates with you, then I think you'll love the Revive Journal. Although we have products and services to showcase and sell, the primary goal for the journal is to leave you informed, inspired and to get you outdoors doing something positive. Inspiration can come from many places, and we hope the Revive Journal will do just that. We'll bring you stories of people doing amazing things, of great adventures, and making great products. We'll have a Revive Club Spotify playlist that you can subscribe to, and we'll regularly introduce you to great music that will lift your soul.
My name is Jonathan, and I suppose you could say I'm a 'transitioner'. I made that word up but I think it does describe somebody who grew up before the digital revolution, and is now part of it. I'm from England, although I've lived in Italy now for almost fourteen years. I worked in the tech industry in a past life, then decided to burn my suit and tie, move to Italy, and start a travel business. For eight years I ran photography workshops, taking groups of people all over the world with their cameras. Then, the startup era started to take hold, and worrying that I'd miss my chance to become an overnight billionaire, I jumped on the bandwagon. Two years later, having learned a great deal but made no money, I jumped back off the bandwagon and went into depression. After the dust settled and the fog started to clear, the Revive Club started to come into focus, and today I find myself energised and truly excited by what lies ahead.
Lastly, a long overdue credit must be made. I believe there are many other people out there upon starting a venture take enormous strength from the support of their wives, husbands or partners. Through past ventures, and now this new one, my wife Marzia (the blonde in the photo with antlers on her head), has not only shown her support by help, advice and endless conversations, but in the sacrifices that are made on a daily basis to allow you to start a business. When you're not present, they step up to the mark, when you must make cut-backs, they do so. They play an essential role in allowing somebody to start a business and I would like to acknowledge that openly.
Ok I did it! The most difficult blog post in the world to write - which in the end wasn't so difficult. Whether you buy from us or simply follow our posts, I hope you will join us on this journey and become part of something special. Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter (form at bottom of page)!
You can also follow us via our Facebook Page and Instagram!
See you out there!
Jonathan Maher
]]>