Can I get a Second?
One question, two objects, and three sources for this week's obsession: SECONDS.
Welcome back to Your Design Friend! In the last missive we obsessed over INDEPENDENT RETAIL, and this week we’re going all in on SECONDS.
One Q: Why are kids the only one that get to mess up art projects— why can’t we all have not-as-nice things?
I’m in your inbox to call you out! Does that mug really have to be perfect? Scared of a little warp on a lamp? Yes, that particular rug DOES have an accidental color change halfway through the thread, but it’s also 50% off now so… grow up and add it to your cart.
You probably just cackled. Lincoln? The Type-A in chief? 🤔 Dragging ME for wanting perfection? Correct.
I didn’t come to this journey alone— I had help from expert, independent makers who dared to live a little. If only they knew that their lil wonky rascals were helping me trade a life of boring polished, perfect, poised products in exchange for ADVENTURE.
I need to be clear and precise here. I’m not talking about vintage or buying resell products. To put SECONDS in a smaller, definitive category, please see the below uber strict guidelines.
For a purchase to be considered a SECOND, the product must;
Come from an independent small-batch maker, we’re talking individuals or small teams that don’t mass manufacture their products. They make the best mistakes!
Have something (slightly, extremely) wrong (RIGHT?) with it compared to its goody two-shoes sibling. A sag here, a ploop there. Mugs that have some bumps from faulty glaze. A plate with a disastrous colorway that was supposed to give rainbow but turned out muddy tie-die. Are you following? Some character.
This one is crucial so come closer— the product must be discounted. Why? Because you’re not going to have people out here thinking I’m guiding you to spend a premium on ‘kinda damaged things’. That’s why.
I first stumbled upon the religion of SECONDS in 2018 as I started acquiring more full-price ceramics and homewares from independent makers. After purchasing the items with all of my coin, I would stay connected on social and check their website drops frequently.
I’m not sure when I spotted that first faithful SECONDS website section header that my eyes are now trained to search for, but it happened. I clicked SECONDS to see words like final sale — slight defects — and my favorite — 50% off.
A typical SECONDS product page is a love letter to transparency. Zoomed in pictures of the crooked handle in question, written text asserting OOPSIES in business speak, assurances that this lil guy you’re looking at purchasing has no other viable signs of life. Do you want to be the one to send it out to pasture?
What’s fun about SECONDS is not only that the actual product is often a remnant of human error, a spontaneous blip that didn’t result in waste, but by purchasing SECONDS from a maker you want to see do well, it feels like a signal to them that you welcome their tinkering. When I hit that checkout button, I’m lovingly shouting “DON’T BE SHY, MESS UP SOME MORE.” As smaller makers continue being cut and copied by conglomerates, mass consumption, and waste, it’s a small way to signal that I not only appreciate their fully-realized visions, but also the progress along the way.
Now that I have both called you out and forced new rules upon you, let me be of service. Here are my tips for sourcing SECONDS and some of my favorite product misfits.
Two Objects
My favorite SECONDS object categories are:
CERAMICS: Okay, y’all know that handmade ceramics from independent makers can be (rightfully) EXPENSIVE. So, this is my favorite product category for seconds. There’s something about knowing that a persons hand slipped, or they were playing with a new color, that adds a story and character to your home.
3D PRINTED PRODUCTS: Okay, super niche, but makers who use 3D printers often have more seconds because you know, they be freestyling sometimes! Or the robots revolt! The whole concept of integrating technology into homeware is that the products are.. perfect, identical, polished. So the allergic-to-authority me wants to stick it to the robot man and purchase the broken toys!
Three Sources
Deep Black: My all-time favorite SECONDS! Deep Black is Sherród’s ceramics practice based in Portsmouth, Virginia. His work is organic, textured, and alive with color. I have a spoon rest, mug, and snack bowl from Deep Black. All were SECONDS!
Not Work Related: NWR is based in NYC and ceramist Sarah Hussaini is notorious for her breakneck sell out speed, so signing up for drop alerts is a must. I have a vase from NWR that has a couple of winky color-bleeds. But guess what? It holds water AND flowers!
Wooj: 3D printed lighting accessories based in NYC! We have 3 of these 3D printed lamps, and some just have some drops and plops. But, spoiler: they still work as lamps!
Until our next obsession,
🖤,