The scissors from the Taiwanese brand Tools to Liveby

The scissors from the Taiwanese brand Tools to Liveby, products that are as elegant as they are functional.

The products of the Taiwanese brand Tools to Liveby aim to make our daily lives more enjoyable. They are essential stationery items that everyone uses every day, such as pens or scissors, but are designed to be as stylish as they are functional. 

The brand's creator, Karen Yang, hopes that by using quality products that bring us happiness, everyday tasks will seem more enjoyable. The attention to detail in the finishing of Tools to Liveby products is even reflected in the brand's packaging, which also becomes a true decorative object. 

The creation of the brand Tools to Liveby 

Founded by Karen Yang in 2013, Tools to Liveby is not just a brand, but also a stationery store. While today the brand has two very popular stores in Taiwan, one in Kaohsiung and one in Taipei, it was in a friend's garage that she took the gamble of opening her very first stationery store. 

Karen Yang is a true stationery enthusiast. When she travels abroad, whether for a trip or for business, she can't resist the urge to visit every stationery shop she comes across in order to uncover little treasures. She particularly loves the "classics," meaning elegant items with a timeless aesthetic that are also practical. 

Before opening her own shop, Karen Yang was a graphic designer at an advertising agency and loved to observe the type of stationery her clients used. She realized that many did not really pay attention to the type of product they were using and that, in general, many Taiwanese were not familiar with the international brands she loved so much. This is why she wanted to share her passion with her fellow countrymen and introduce them to quality brands by opening her own stationery shop. 

The first store opened in a friend's garage in Taipei, which was completely renovated and decorated in a concept store spirit. Initially intrigued by this atypical exterior, many customers visited the store and discovered stationery products from around the world, such as Traveler's notebooks, the customizable travel notebooks from the Japanese brand Traveler's Company. The store then became a true meeting point for all stationery enthusiasts in the country, as well as for newcomers who were able to discover the addictive world of stationery. 

It is Karen Yang who selects all the international products that join the shelves of her store. They are selected mainly according to four criteria: they must be aesthetic, functional, in a classic/timeless style, and of high quality. 

After introducing numerous stationery products to their customers, it was only logical for Karen Yang and her husband Marco Tsai to start creating and marketing their own products. In line with the brand's motto: "the uncommon beauty in common things," Tools to Liveby products are primarily items that are used in everyday life. These products thus join those of other brands in their stores and quickly achieve success both in Taiwan and internationally.  

The products of the brand Tools to Liveby

The products created by the brand Tools to Liveby are primarily products that we all use every day, whether at work or at home. It is therefore quite natural to find among the products a wide range of items related to writing, such as pens, mechanical pencils, or fountain pens. The brand also sells notebooks for practicing calligraphy and thus improving one's handwriting. There are also useful accessories like paper clips, binder clips, rulers, or even a beautiful collection of scissors. 

"As all these products are intended for daily use, they must be primarily functional. Aesthetics are important, but they should not come at the expense of practicality. There is nothing more frustrating than owning a beautiful pen that does not write properly or does not feel good in hand." 

The Tools to Liveby products are therefore a clever blend of functionality and elegance, allowing us to own items whose use makes us happy. Whether in the context of work or a creative hobby, it is still much more enjoyable to be able to write with a beautiful pen whose tip glides perfectly on the paper, to use scissors that cut on the first try, or to clip documents together with elegant paperclips. 

The scissors Tools to Liveby

Just like pens, scissors are among those objects that are essential to our daily lives and of which we all have at least one pair at home. While one might think that any pair will do, it quickly becomes clear how important it is to have "good scissors that cut." The Tools to Liveby scissors are specifically designed to cut perfectly. They are produced in Taiwan, with Japanese stainless steel coated with Teflon. Teflon is a non-stick coating that helps prevent glue or any other residue from sticking to the blades, which would hinder their cutting ability. The handles are reinforced with rubber for added comfort and to prevent them from hurting your fingers during prolonged use. 

"In addition to being designed for functionality, the Tools to Liveby scissors are very elegant. They are made in a very minimalist style, with the brand logo engraved as the only decoration. Their aesthetic is also timeless and reminiscent of old stationery items that one could perfectly find at an antique shop." 

The scissors are available in several different sizes, each offered in two elegant colors: black and gold. The smallest version, measuring 7.7 cm, is perfect for being stored in a pouch from the brand Okamoto Shoten or carried in a handbag. It is always very convenient to have a pair of scissors on hand, whether to cut a stray thread or a piece of paper. Its small size, which makes these scissors particularly adorable, also makes it a perfect accessory for doing creative hobbies, such as a travel notebook or a bullet journal, away from home, sitting on a café terrace for example. 

The largest version, measuring 22.5 cm, features long blades that are perfect for tasks that require straight cutting. There is also a version with wider handles, for even more comfort during long cutting sessions. As for the latest version, with a more classic size (16.5 cm), it is perfect for occasional tasks, whether at the office or at home. 

When the packaging is as elegant as the product

The joy of owning a product from the brand Tools to Liveby begins with the packaging. The brand takes pride in providing beautiful packaging for all its products, which then become true decorative objects. The packaging of the Tools to Liveby scissors, with their vintage aesthetic, thus becomes a superb case in which to store the pair of scissors after use, and which one enjoys displaying on their desk or in a storage box from the brand Toyo Steel, for example. 

"As Tools to Liveby products are designed to last over time, they naturally fit into a waste reduction approach. This approach also applies to the packaging, as it is unthinkable to throw it in the trash because it is so beautiful." Each type of scissors comes with a case of a different size and color, which almost makes you want to collect them all. The decoration of the pouch features a relief created with hot foil stamping, a technique that allows for the transfer of metallic patterns onto a substrate, resulting in a high-end finish of the most beautiful effect. Moreover, you can read on the pouches the motto of Tools to Liveby: "the uncommon beauty in common things" which perfectly summarizes the spirit of the brand. 

You will have understood, owning a pair of scissors from the brand Tools to Liveby means having in your hands a product that is as elegant as it is functional. Tools to Liveby successfully meets the challenge of brightening our daily lives with objects as ordinary as scissors. Whether for everyday or occasional use, at work, at home, or for creative hobbies, there is surely a pair of Tools to Liveby scissors that suits you and will make you happy.