Hey There,
My name is Ben.
The mission with my brand: Contrast, is to deliver top-notch services and craft gear that you can depend on in the toughest situations.
The items that are sold here are created by myself or in partnership with Canadian manufacturers.
I am not interested in making more redundant products destined for the landfill so I will only make things that I think fill a niche or use materials in a unique way.
And most importantly last a long time.
The projects I work on will be documented on Instagram then the end products sold in small batches periodically throughout the year.
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What Does Contrast Mean?
If you haven’t guessed, Contrast Made is an outdoor brand.
I have spent my life recreating and working in the outdoors, but as you get older, responsibilities grow and you have a family to support. These things can be all-consuming; if you aren’t able to keep perspective, you can lose sight of the things that challenge you and fill your soul.
"Without contrast, we can’t appreciate the comforts and gifts we have right in front of us."
Humans are designed to seek comfort, and this has served us well for most of history. For a good chunk of humanity, that is still true. But if you are privileged enough to live in a developed nation, I think that instinct often hurts you.
We try to fill voids with screens or distractions, when what we really need is to go the opposite direction and do hard things.
The Concept of Contrast
I believe in seeking out hard things. For example, after a week of -20°C in a tent, you truly appreciate the magic of heat coming out of a vent or hot running water.
You appreciate your people more.
The "hard" things in your day-to-day life get a little smaller and more manageable.
It doesn’t always need to be that extreme, but seeking out hard things builds resilience for life’s unexpected hardships and deepens your appreciation for the small, everyday moments that bring joy.
I’m here to help you enjoy the small things and challenge the hard moments