About Oakfirm

At Oakfirm, we believe the future shouldn't be disposable.

Our story began with a growing frustration - a world where products were being designed not to last, but to fail. From brittle appliances to fast fashion and throwaway tech, a culture of planned obsolescence has quietly taken hold. It’s not just wasteful - it’s intentional.

The roots of this problem go back over a century. One of the earliest examples was the Phoebus cartel, a secret agreement between the world’s leading lightbulb manufacturers in the 1920s. They collectively agreed to limit the lifespan of bulbs to 1,000 hours, even though longer-lasting technology already existed. Why? Because selling more broken bulbs meant making more money.

This strategy worked - for them. But for the rest of us, it birthed a global culture of waste: one where durability was seen as a threat to profit, and products were designed to break, fade, or fall out of relevance.

But it wasn’t always this way…

Centuries earlier, the Romans engineered concrete structures that have withstood over 2,000 years of storms, saltwater, and shifting ground. Their secret? A recipe that actually strengthens over time, made from volcanic ash, lime, and seawater. Today, we still marvel at the Pantheon’s dome or harbour walls that defy modern equivalents in endurance.

We’re Building a New Standard

Oakfirm was founded as a response - and a revolt. We exist to challenge the status quo by highlighting a growing movement of brands that reject planned obsolescence. These are makers and manufacturers who build with integrity: who honour their customers by creating products made to last, to be repaired, and to be passed down - not discarded.

We’re more than a platform - we’re a movement.
A curated collective. A quiet rebellion. A living proof that better is possible.

What Oakfirm Stands For

When you see the Oakfirm name, it’s more than a recommendation - it’s a seal of trust. Every brand we feature meets standards we believe are essential to a better future:

• Longevity - products designed for decades, not months

• Repairability - easy-to-fix parts, not hard-to-replace systems

• Circular Design - materials that flow back into use, not into landfills

• Economic Sense - real value over time, not repeated purchases

Why Oak? Why Firm?

The oak tree has long symbolised strength, legacy, and resilience - growing slowly but surely, weathering storms across generations.
The word firm means not only a business, but also something that is unshakeable - strong in principles, reliable in form.

Together, Oakfirm represents our unwavering commitment to products - and principles - that last.