The Birth of a small business

 Imperium Shaving began like a lot of companies in a garage. Dan, who grew up woodworking, made his first razors in 2014 as a thank you gift for a friend. The gift was a huge hit and started him on the path that became Imperium Shaving. Working with limited time, tools, and money Dan, had one goal: To make a beautiful, well built razor. The first few batches were good but not perfect and they refused to start selling shaving sets until they were perfect. So working late hours trying different woods, and shapes, while also researching traditional finishing oils and techniques progress was slow. Along the way Dan invented a proprietary coating that turned a beautiful wooden razor into an elegant, and most importantly durable, work of art. Slowly demand grew for handmade razors and so did the business and in 2016 a part-time hustle became a  full time venture as Imperium moved from a small  basement to a rented, unheated barn in the woods. Determined to keep up with daily orders Dan worked early mornings and late nights 7 days a week. In the winter his coffee would freeze solid and the outdated fuse box meant je couldn't even plug in a space heater. But all the long, cold hours and hard work was worth it: Imperium built a following and a reputation for making the most impressive razors one can find.  

 In 2018 Imperium found a new home– and a bigger team consisting of majority female woodworkers – in a historic mill building in Baltimore City's Clipper Mills complex. Their studio now has over 3,000 sqft including an office, workshop, laser room, clean room, and yes... heat. Since the 1840s, Clipper Mill has been a major site of industrial production: it was once home to the world’s largest lathe, capable of machining wheels 60 feet in diameter. In the shop, we strive to bring those old traditions into a new era, by using both modern machines and traditional woodworking tools to make each unique Imperium razor. The air is filled with the smell of sawdust and linseed-oiled wooden floor planks. Lathes and drills rumble and shriek over our favorite playlists and podcasts. Look out the windows, and you’ll see the trails and woods of Druid Hill Park and the Jones Falls to the right. To the left, converted flour and cotton-duck mills are now home to artists' studios and restaurants. It’s the perfect spot for turning wood, just as generations of craftspeople and artisans have done before us.

OUR MISSION

At Imperium Shaving, we treasure the ritual of grooming, whether it’s a straight-razor shave in a barber’s chair, or a late-for-work morning shave in front of your bathroom mirror. We believe that the things you use every day can and should be beautiful. Starting your day with a razor that’s a pleasure to see, to hold, and to feel on your skin is a way to be good to yourself.

OUR VALUES

Imperium is committed to Baltimore and we see our company as a way to bring honest, quality manufacturing back to our great city. We hope as we continue to grow that we can make a positive difference by building stable, skilled jobs in our community. We are committed to reducing our impact on the planet by supporting reforestation and only using 100% FSC-certified sustainable woods and ethically sourced materials in all of our products. We support local suppliers and artisans whenever possible, and strive to produce the absolute minimal amount of waste.

 

In today’s world of quick bucks and mass-manufacturing, we believe that it’s crucial to incorporate handmade goods and traditional craftsmanship into the things you buy, use, and wear, whenever possible. Our razors are hand-turned and hand-assembled, with an attention to detail unlike any other. Each Imperium razor is held in two hands: ours, and yours.

---