OUR ETHOS:
A man is both a Smith and a Savage. Civilized and wild, he continually remakes himself in pursuit of balancing his own duality.
The Smith in us is a creator. He is a maker. He builds and cultivates. He seeks mastery of his crafts and of himself. He is an artist, an optimist, seeking the beauty of the world and finding it. The Smith is the craftsman of his own character. He lives the examined life as a continual work in progress. He not only contemplates philosophy but puts into practice the insights he uncovers. He understands that knowledge becomes power only when combined with action. He knows it is only what he creates in response to what he thinks and feels that contributes to the cause.
The Savage in us is a warrior. He is passionate and wild. He wants to chase and draw blood. To fight, conquer, and destroy. The Savage bares his teeth when he must and doesn’t hesitate to use his power. He protects that which he loves. He fights for the greater good. His obsession with the quest drives him through to the end, beyond all reason for hope. When logic tells him to run and save himself, the Savage stands fast. He shows his courage, beats the odds, and dances at the victory. The Savage remains untamed. He pushes himself to the brink, charging seas and climbing mountains because they are there.
Beyond his own hero’s journey, a man discovers himself. He finds he is composed of both light and dark. At times he is more Smith, other times more Savage, but always a measure of both. His life’s work is to seek his own virtuous balance and in doing so, he is fortified. Through navigating his own duality, a man evolves to become greater than the sum of his parts. Embracing his contrasts, he becomes whole. He lives rightly as the ampersand, seated firmly at the confluence between the two. He embodies the sophistication of the Smith and holds tight the untamed spirit of the Savage. He grows refined and remains wild. He becomes a dangerous gentleman, a warrior poet, a samurai in a suit and tie.
Be civilized. Stay wild.
SMITH & SAVAGE