Tucked away in West Auckland and surrounded by native New Zealand bush – the hum of industry, born from fire and steel, rings out from the workshop. ‘Made for Hayden’ steps inside the world of Hayden Scott aka Champion Knives, where connection and craftsmanship come together with every knife forged.
‘Made For …..’ is our new series showcasing people from the Barkers community who inspire us in their chosen fields. These are people who are striving each day – honing their craft, pushing boundaries and searching for progress to create a better world, whatever that may be to them.
We first met Hayden to talk shop back in 2021 as part of our Change Makers series. Now three years on Hayden has moved to working full time with his brand ‘Champion Knives’ leaving behind his career of 25 years in the culinary world.
Hayden’s efforts on continually developing his technique, his knowledge and purpose have seen the brand evolve over the years. All created with use in mind, the knives range from hand forged everyday kitchen workhorses to knives that could be treated as works of art themselves, with feather pattern folded steel and reclaimed native timber handles. It’s a never-ending journey mixed with the harsh truths of working with what at times can be delicate material and the limitlessness of the imagination.
That balance of practicality verse style is something that we work to constantly when designing clothes and picking fabrics. Knives and clothing intersecting as products that look as good as they feel and allow you to get on with the task at hand.
Hayden on clothing:
I’m always looking for hard wearing classics, something that looks sharp but informal. Slowly those transition to the workshop and become everyday workwear. Buying quality clothing that lasts is mandatory.
For us at Barkers, from the threads we choose to the stories we tell, our goal is simple: to equip New Zealand men with the confidence to navigate all aspects of their busy, varied lives. Throughout the ‘Made for …..’ series we’ll be featuring people wearing Barkers in their own lives, in their own way.
“They say it’s the clothes that make the man, we say the man does that.”
- Barkers, Made For Life.
