Our story
Modern hardware, made with care.
We're sticklers for detail. When we started Swarf in 2018, contemporary, well-made hardware with just the right proportions was pretty hard to come by. Our aim is to make considered handles that enhance how people interact with their spaces every day, while supporting UK manufacturing.
Materials and the making process are at the heart of what we do. Our designs are informed by traditional manual machining practices and as a celebration of this, our designs are named after British lathe makers from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Swarf was founded by Sam Fish and Kate Worthington.
With over 15 years of metalwork experience, Sam has made pieces for some of the world’s most influential artists and galleries through his fabrication workshop Fish Fabrications. Kate has worked for leading interior design titles including Elle Decoration and Livingetc.
Our combined eye for design and problem-solving skills led to making handles for our own home using the 1960s Colchester lathe in Sam's workshop. A love for the lathe-turning process quickly followed, and Swarf began.
We are advocates of UK manufacturing and are committed to producing our hardware entirely in Britain. Made in small batches, our pieces are designed and prototyped in-house, testing every design at home to ensure they’re as nice to use as they are to look at.
Machining and hand-finishing takes place in our workshop, and where needed, we use trusted local suppliers for other processes.
This hands-on making process allows us to be flexible when it comes to customising or adapting our designs, as well as giving us complete traceability and greater control on sustainable practices.