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This week The Edit features London based creative couple Gemma Holt & Max Lamb. Gemma works with Martino Gamper and publishing company Dent-De-Leone, as well as having her own personal design and art practice. Max is a designer who makes distinctive furniture with an emphasis on materiality and the hand crafted. We spoke to Max & Gemma about their favourite pieces from the Everyday Needs range.

1. Japanese rice straw broom

The pattern of our Cornish granite kitchen tends to camouflage the mess so this is a useful tool to brush away the crumbs.

2. Rustic nails

Proving that practical, everyday objects can and should be beautiful.

3. The Heron Migrates

As collectors of studio pottery this book has been a great research tool, especially before a trip to Japan last year. We can’t wait to visit New Zealand one day and add some of the great NZ potters to our collection!

4. Handspun & handknitted wool socks

We both have a bit of an obsession with socks and a great admiration for the handmade.

5. Sori Yanagi salad servers

Because you can never have too many beautiful Japanese utensils.

We spoke to fashion designer and stylist, Paris Mitchell, about her favourite pieces from the Everyday Needs range. Paris is part owner and creative director of beautiful new online boutique, The Mercantile.

1. Hario glass teapot

This 1920s style Japanese teapot has been a feature in my kitchen for a while now. It sits beautifully on my Martino Gamper Board. It’s the perfect marriage of scientific glassblowing and craft-based making.

2. Sans [ceuticals] Activator 7 Hair, Face + Body Oil

I’ve always been told by beauticians to look out for vitamins A and E in skincare products and by using Sans Perfect Body Wash I am obeying! It's a bonus that Sans is packaged so beautifully and smells incredible — we’re addicted at home.

3. Martino Gamper board

I first spotted this Martino Gamper Board at my brother’s place, and got one the first opportunity I had. They’re unfussy and angular — the perfect chopping board.

4. Handknitted cloths

By local talent Harriet Were, the array of muted tones won’t have you hiding your dishcloths any more. Better yet, Harry’s handknitted dishcloths are reusable and are made from organic eco-dyed cotton.

5.  Hotaru light by Barber Osgerby

I’ve always loved how paper lanterns are a harmonious blend of Japanese handcraft and modernist form. This Hotaru Buoy light is at the top of my Christmas wish list.

Our friend Ambra is a curator of design and an incredible art director. Based in London, Ambra works on interesting projects all over the World. Ambra has shared with us an Edit of her favourite pieces from our range. "The following truly are my everyday-needs!"

1. Sea Salt Soap

This sea salt soap leaves your hands feeling clean and smells divine! How cool is the packaging? It took me two weeks to throw out the box...

2. Willow weave bath towel

These gorgeous towels made by a family business in South African are simply awesome! They’re perfectly absorbent and don’t occupy a ridiculous amount of space in the washing machine. Both practical and beautiful!

3. Hario glass teapot

The proportions of this teapot are absolutely delightful and perfect. I drink tea most of the day and making tea for one person in a regular size large teapot can make you feel lonely and wasteful. This teapot is perfect for a little cup for two people or ideal for a single heavy tea drinker.

4. Handknitted cloth

Harry Were is a knitting super star! She makes the most extraordinary jumpers, socks and these small cloths that are my new best friends. As a new mother I find myself wiping down almost everything: my kid, the kitchen table and my jeans.

5. Hotaru Double Bubble Light

These lights are pure and friendly. I especially like the massive version, the light is soft like a giant luminous cloud. So friendly!

Our friend Murray Crane is the founder of menswear brands Crane Brothers and Gubb & Mackie. Murray has shared with us an edit of his favourite pieces from the Everyday Needs offering.

1. Gidon Bing ceramic citrus juicer

Tactile, practical and utilitarian. Small things that you use often should bring you pleasure. This ticks all the boxes for me.

2. Martino Gamper salt and pepper spitz

Pieces of design that can be used, unlike the chair. These liven up any dinner party and make avocado on toast that little bit more exciting.

3. Type 75 Anglepoise Lamp

I always visit Margaret Howell’s Wigmore Street store when in London. I love her devotion to English manufacturing and Mid Century Design. This lamp sits on my desk and reminds me of that every time I switch it on.

4. Hotaru lights by Barber Osgerby

On a recent trip to Tokyo I was reminded of how beautiful good rice paper lights can be and how simple Japanese design is still unprecedented.

5. Martino Gamper one-off chair

This was a gift for my Art Friend and it sits in our hallway. I walk past it every morning and marvel at its weirdness. I’ve never sat on it and probably never will, but its angles, corners and form never fail to amuse and inspire me.

Grant Bailey has long been our go-to maker for all custom and one-off furniture pieces. He created the much admired peg boards and point of sale unit in our Ponsonby store. We are excited to have some of his beautiful work now available to purchase online. Click here to shop Grant's pieces. We spoke to Grant about his favourite items from the Everyday Needs offering.

1. Ruth Castle garlic basket

I like the idea of it being one maker's work. Each one from Ruth's hands to you. An authentic object.

2. Hinoki bathroom stool

I'm a big fan of Japanese family made objects. Perfected generations ago and faithfully reproduced ever since.

3. Handcrafted Modern by Leslie Williamson

It's not just all the great pictures of amazing stuff. It's the personal story of some of my favourite designers and makers. This book came out at a pivotal time for me and helped me realise where I wanted to go with my work.

4. Ceramic incense burners

To me they are sculptures. And they hold incense!

Our friend Amy Yalland is one half of design studio, Index. Amy and her partner Jonty Valentine are graphic designers specialising in publications. Known for their beautiful work with risograph printing; they often print their work in-house. Amy & Jonty have a work-live space in industrial Henderson which they have renovated themselves. We visited on a rainy afternoon and took some pictures of their Everyday Needs pieces in-situ. We also spoke to Amy about her five favourite pieces from our offering.

1. Ruth Castle garlic basket

We have our garlic basket hanging by a nail that goes through a hole in the Lundia we use as kitchen shelves. Every time I see it I am happy.

2. Iris Hantverk dish brush

Smells like horse… The long angled shape of the head means it can reach into my tall glasses I use for juice, and get the turmeric stains out. Since we have open shelves in our kitchen, everything is ‘out’ and I don’t have to hide this one like I would a plastic brush.

3. Wooden doormat with bristles

Gives great scraping action to get the dirt off the soles of our boffer boots (which I am always wearing). Hardy as, and I like how it introduces timber into our space as soon as you step inside.

4. Iris Hantverk toilet brush and roll holder

A twosome that looks totally natural in our industrial space, on our concrete floor. I love things in pairs. On a practical level too, the brush works far better than ones we’ve used in the past.

5. Reverse umbrella

My absolute favourite orange. Doesn’t wet the car seats when you have to chuck it inside after a downpour! And when you’re inside it, everything glows…

We are happy to introduce our good friend, Maryse, who is an amazing natural beauty specialist. Maryse has created a line of natural skincare products we swear by. We are very excited to now be stocking her eponymous range of cult beauty products in store and online. 

1. Bio-Nutrient Face Oil

This is one of the hero products from my collection. It's an organic conditioning face oil thats non greasy, absorbent and packed full of vitamin c, omega 3 and nutritive antioxidants. The perfect mid-Summer hydrator.

2. Beeswax candles

All through my home and my treatment room I burn these candles, I have dozens. I have always used beeswax candles but these are the strongest yet sweetest honey-smelling ones due to their high concentration of organic wax.

3. Belgian linen tea towel

I had never invested in good quality tea towels before but these are so worth it. I didn't think there was such a thing as good looking tea towels until now.

4. Handknitted cloth

These organic handmade cloths are the best! Not only are the colours great, they are machine washable and last forever. No more buying ugly supermarket throw away ones anymore, these are far more eco friendly.

5. Godmother Stansborough wool blanket

These beautiful wool blankets have been on my wish list for ages. I was lucky enough to be given one by my boyfriend this Christmas. I especially love the different colour combinations of each one - so few of them are the same.

This week for The Edit designer Matthew Arnold - of Christchurch based, Sons & Co. -  shares with us his favourite pieces from the Everyday Needs offering. Matthew wrote Down the Long Driveway, a beautiful book on Modernist houses in New Zealand, with photography by Mary Gaudin.

1. Arnold Circus stool

These things are just great. As a seat, side table, stacked, or upside down as a bucket, Martino Gamper killed it.

2. Iron bottle opener

This little guy opens beer and reminds me of Michael Illingworth's Adam and Eve figures. Kampai!

3. Type 75 Anglepoise Lamp in Margaret Howell Ochre

The Anglepoise lamp, Margaret Howell and Kenneth Grange: three of my favourite English things in one. They aced it, ten out of ten.

4. Vintage Liberty cushion

Murray Crane used to make these lovely Liberty print shirts that I never had the courage to wear. But I could do a cushion, I think.

5. Duralex French glasses

I really like milky coffee in a glass, rather than a cup; there's a much larger opening for dunking pastry, for starters.

This year to celebrate Valentines Day we are focusing on love for our ongoing series, The Edit. We are happy to feature our good friends Ophelia Mikkelson and Ryder Jones. Ophelia and Ryder are wonderful artists and makers who are to be married in March. They each shared with us five of their most loved pieces from the Everyday Needs offering.

1. Stanley stainless steel thermos

R: Every morning I walk from our room to put the kettle on without seeing, the light goes red and I put a dry tea bag in the mouth of the thermos, sometimes I seal it up if I have to leave the house, or leave it open if I stay. It makes this satisfying noise when I open it, like a miniature exhale and the smell of tea comes out.

O: We don’t have a teapot yet, so the thermos is our teapot. We take it everywhere, it’s filled with Earl Grey, always.

2. Brass contour key ring

R: I clip the key ring to my belt so I don’t lose my keys. I used to wear a wallet chain but this is better because it’s short enough not to touch your knee while driving the car. When I’m walking I sound like a dull bell clinking.

O: I have four brothers and six nephews; this is a lot of boys. The key ring is a very, very good present for boys in particular if you’re stuck. I am never stuck though, presents for boys are my specialty now, I’ve had 25 years of training. We are getting these for our groomsmen to gift to them on our wedding day!

3. Recycled sari twine

O: When I was little I studied Indian dance at school. My sari was yellow. I loved the feeling of wearing it and the way colours in fabric intertwined into each other making textures in the silk. This twine is made from recycled sari by a group of woman that trained in rope making. I love to think of the hands that made it when I use it. I use the twine for lots of different things - for wrapping and packaging up the socks I make and for tying tomatoes to their stakes.

4. Clover cast iron bottle opener

R: I like to put a beer in the freezer and take it out before it freezes, so it’s all frosty on the green glass. And then I walk to this special hook on the wall, that’s where the opener lives, the top hollow of the clover slots in there good, then I go back to the frosty bottle and snap it open.

5. Iris Hantverk mini nail brush

O: For over one hundred years Iris has employed the visually impaired to hand make these brushes. The tenderness within this knowledge envelops me.

R: I wash my hands before I go to sleep. There is this feeling I love, I call it being situated. Like when every thing is in its right place, like when you’re clean and your shoes laces are done up tight. I want this feeling all the time, so I scrub my hands, fingers and nails before I get into bed.

Photo of the couple in their studio in Tairua by Yasmine Ganley.

The Edit is an ongoing feature in which our friends share their personal favourites from the Everyday Needs range. The first Edit of the year is an introduction to our lovely new store manager, Lucy. Lucy is a talented artist who has a knack for finding the best vintage clothing. We love her and we know you will too.

1. Ruth Castle woven dish

Ruth is so talented and it’s amazing that she’s still so dedicated to making these dishes after 40 years. I have two hanging above my bed at home and it makes me happy to see them every day.

2. Martino Gamper salt and pepper spitz

I’ve been coveting these salt and pepper mills for a while now. My favourite thing about them is that each one is different depending on the lines of the woodgrain. I feel that these are an essential item in my life as I am a severe over-user of pepper.

3. Florentine Rosewater

I use this Rosewater every day and it smells so good! It’s refreshing and perfect for my sensitive skin.

4. Ophelia's linen baby socks

These socks are such beautiful little objects and the colours Ophelia has used in her new collection are all so pretty.

5. Belgian linen duvet cover in Brick Lane Floral

This linen is amazing quality and it has such a satisfying weight to it. Not to mention the Grandma-esque floral print and matching ruffled pillowcases.

Our friend Liam Bowden is the designer behind hugely successful local brand, Deadly Ponies. We are lucky enough to have collaborated with Liam on the Deadly Ponies x Everyday Needs diffusion line of utilitarian bags, of which new season styles and colours have just dropped. We spoke to Liam about his picks from the Everyday Needs range.

1. Stanley stainless steel thermos

Got one of these last year, they are the perfect bush walk companion.

2. Everyday Needs x Deadly Ponies garden bag

A little biased but these bags are so handy, I use the red one in the garden, green one as a picnic basket and now have a blue one to carry around all my samples.

3. Beeswax taper dinner candles

I go through candles like wild fire. These last for ages and smell great.

4. Folded metal bookends

I am a sucker for anything brass.

5.  Godmother Stansborough wool blanket

Constantly on my wish list, the problem is I can't choose just one. Amazing story and beautiful colours, maybe someone will take a hint and get me one for Xmas!

Our good friend Kirsty Cameron is the woman behind ‘Godmother', a brand known for it's cult wool blankets and super cool range of sun hats. Kirsty is a filmmaker and costume designer who has worked on some of New Zealand's most loved films. We are excited to share with you Kirsty's most recent project, The Wool Lover, a digital journal that will pay homage to New Zealand wool with stories from art, craft and fashion, science and technology and cultural history. This week for The Edit we spoke to Kirsty about the products from our range that are her true Everyday Needs.

1. Deadly Ponies x Everyday Needs laptop case

I’m not very practical and after being too loose with previous laptops I double bag my latest one, and my outer is the laptop wallet EDN has made with Deadly Ponies. For all its good looks, it’s probably not the most beautiful thing in the store but something I can’t do without on a daily level.

2. Hario glass teapot

My brother sends down Vital Force tea from the far north, a delicious mix of homegrown herbs which I make in the Hario glass teapot in differing concoctions. That is when not making kukicha tea, a liquid addiction since doing a macrobiotic cooking course with Bevan Kaan many many moons ago.

3. Japanese incense

Living in a house built in the early 70’s, that feels a little like a boat or a playhouse, and with no electronic ventilation, incense is a daily practise. I like the idea that incense improves the vibrations of the place it is burnt in.

4. Maryse Treatment Balm

I have bought Maryse’s treatment balm for friends and assistants, and everyone has become, like myself, unable to live without it. Not a daily practise but an hourly one.

5. Olio cutlery set

In the kitchen nothing is more everyday, and in some ways more intimate, than cutlery. We are forever putting it in our mouths and it takes attention to clean it properly. The Olio cutlery set designed by Barber & Osgerby is beautifully simple and ergonomic.