# Less *3 June 2025* ![A worn pair of Wells Lamont leather gardening gloves](250526-wells-lamont-gloves.webp) I've become less interested in acquiring new stuff and more appreciative of things that last. I recently read [Patrick Grant's book Less](https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Patrick-Grant/Less--Stop-Buying-So-Much-Rubbish-How-Having-Fewer-Better/31256755), where he argues passionately against the throwaway culture of fast fashion and for buying quality that lasts and can be repaired. In my lifetime the world has changed from one of hand-knitted jumpers and TV repair shops, to one where we just throw things away, to make way for the new model. I'm sure some of this is an effect of ageing, but there's no doubt the planet can't cope with our current rate of consumption. I can't deny, there's something amazing about living in a [Joe 90 world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_90) (a reference for the kids), where you can get an instant message from the other side of the planet on your watch. In the 1980s, Casio launched a [calculator watch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calculator_watch) and I really wanted one. I wanted one so much it hurt. If my parents had relented (they didn't), I'm sure, for a while, I would have been entranced. But how long would that fascination have lasted? I suspect the same will be true of today's smartwatches. Who really needs to log their REM sleep, and is it even healthy to do so? Yes, you can get an iMessage on your watch. Until the operating system is updated or the battery dies. I was in the middle of cutting the grass when this came to mind, and I found myself looking more closely at the gloves I was wearing. They're made by Wells Lamont, an American brand, whose website tells me have been making gloves since 1907. This is actually my second pair; I foolishly left the first pair outside where a fox thought they'd make a great chew toy, and they weren't wrong. So, on a work trip to Dallas a few years ago, I bought these. I can't remember where, but they weren't expensive. Wildlife accidents aside, I'll probably never need another pair; there's something very reassuring about that. In the future, I'm aiming to consume less. When I do need to buy something, I'll follow Patrick Grant's lead in trying to shop locally and choose things that last. Let me know if there's something you own that you aim to keep forever. Nigel PS. I'm thinking about moving away from Gmail to a smaller provider who's not going to scrape my data. Is there a service you'd recommend? <br><br> > [!Comments] > As yet, I don't have any way to accept comments directly on the blog. Feel free to [email me](mailto:[email protected]) and I'll post your comment below. > > If you want to email in confidence, that's also perfectly fine - just make it clear in the email.