Inside the Last Manner x Tokyo Pipe Co. Field S+ Collaboration
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Time to read 4 min
In 2023, our search for uncompromising craftsmanship led us to a small, unassuming workshop in Japan: Tokyo Pipe Co. What we found wasn't just a manufacturing facility — it was a team of master artisans hand-assembling the finest lighters in the world with a staggering 1/100th of a millimeter precision.
But bringing our vision for a custom collaboration to life took more than a simple pitch.
This is the story behind the Last Manner x Tokyo Pipe Co. Field S+ Lighter, and why we believe in championing the artists behind the objects worth owning.
Table of Contents
Solid brass and duralumin, limited to 100 pieces
A 3-year partnership with Tokyo Pipe Co. led to first-ever custom collab
Precision waffle-cut design, engraved with Last Manner
The Groomsmen Gift That Started It All
I'm a shopper. I love to shop. So it should come as no surprise that this collaboration — and in many ways, the story of Last Manner itself — began with me shopping.
Years before I ever thought about starting a store, I was online searching for unique, well-crafted everyday carry items you couldn't find just anywhere, and I stumbled across the Tokyo Pipe Co. Field L lighter in solid brass.
It was precise, held fluid longer than average lighters, and just looked incredible. I loved it so much that I ended up buying one for every single one of my groomsmen.
When the idea for this store — originally called Gladfellow — was born in 2023, I knew I had to launch with a product like the Field L. It represented everything I wanted the brand to stand for: beautiful craftsmanship, incredible practicality, and objects built by artisans who deserve to be valued and appreciated.
The Pitch, The "No," and The Pivot
I threw together a rudimentary, early-stage website and pitched Tokyo Pipe Co. on carrying their lighters. The answer was a polite but firm no. Coming out of the pandemic, their workshop had limited craftspeople, and they couldn't accommodate the request.
I was devastated. But having spent most of my life working as an actor, I've learned that a "no" is usually just an obstacle. It tells you where to go next, not that the road is closed. Looking objectively at that early website, I realized I probably wouldn't have said yes either.
I had work to do. So I rebuilt the site (below), brought on other Japanese lighter manufacturers and vendors I believed in, and built a real business.
The Comeback
When I finally went back to Tokyo Pipe Co. with the new site and a proven track record, they loved what they saw. They agreed to let us carry their lighters, and for the next three years we proudly stocked their Field L, Field S Plus, and Neo lines.
A Rebrand & A Reimagined Lighter
By 2025, Gladfellow had grown into something bigger than its original name. What started as a scrappy attempt to prove myself to a Japanese lighter maker had become a real business with a real point of view — one that deserved a name as considered as the objects it carried. So we began the work of becoming Last Manner: a new identity built around restraint, craftsmanship, and objects that don't need to shout to be worth owning.
A rebrand like that needed a launch to match. And there was no better way to announce who we were becoming than with the maker who started it all.
Designing the Tokyo Pipe Co. Field S+ Collaboration
The result is machined from solid brass and high-grade duralumin, finished with an intricate, precision-cut waffle design across the body. Our "Last Manner" name is custom engraved on top. The run is strictly limited to 100 pieces.
The Materials: Machined from solid brass and high-grade duralumin.
The Texture: Features an intricate, precision-cut waffle/diamond design.
The Details: Custom engraved with our "Last Manner" name on the top.
The Rarity: Strictly limited to a single run of just 100 pieces.
Why This Collaboration Matters
When I started this store in 2023, the entertainment industry was in the middle of a massive strike. As an actor, I found it incredibly frustrating to see artists undervalued, unseen, and underpaid for their worth — especially with the onslaught of AI.
I kept asking myself: how do I make change in this world? How do I show people how easy it is to value and celebrate artists?
That's why I started this company. To show it isn't hard to get behind artists. To show artists and craftspeople are at the root of the human experience. They remind us of the ever expanding capabilities of humans. And they prove that not everything can be done by a computer.
And thank God I did.
Because now we're part of Tokyo Pipe Co.'s story, and they're part of ours. We get to showcase the beautiful objects they make and shine a light on the craftspeople behind them. Lifting up these artisans is the exact goal I set out to accomplish years ago, and I'm thrilled to finally share this milestone with you.
Only 100 pieces exist, and they're already moving fast.
Who We Are
About Last Manner
Known for their carefully curated gifts made by expert craftspeople from around the world, Last Manner has been the home for sophisticated, boutique luxury accessories since 2023.
