Bolin Webb

Bolin Webb is a British company that designs and makes shaving razors and grooming sets for men, positioned at the premium end of the market. It was founded by Derrick Webb, who set out to make a razor worth leaving on display rather than hiding in a cabinet. Sources differ on the start date: the company and a founder interview place its establishment in 2007 [6], while an editorial profile dates the brand to its public launch in London in 2011 [5]. The razors are made in England and draw their look from classic British car design.

The brand remains active. Its R1 Matte collection was named Best Razor at the Esquire Grooming Awards in 2026 [7], and it ships internationally, with China described as its single largest market [5].

Derrick Webb created the company after concluding that no razor on the market was, in the brand's words, "design-led, contemporary and appealing to the user for handling, appearance and performance." The founding idea, as Bolin Webb tells it, was simple: to make the best men's razor that would be a pleasure to use. Webb has said his aim was a handle that was "curved, balanced and colourful," and that the result was the R1.

The aesthetic borrows openly from motoring. The company says its first razor was "originally inspired by the smooth lines of classic British cars," a reference point it still cites for its curved profiles, automotive paintwork and finish.

The first product, the R1 razor, launched in 2009 according to the company's own account [4]. Public sales of the razors began in London around 2011, the date one editorial profile treats as the brand's launch [5]. Over the following years Bolin Webb expanded beyond the United Kingdom across multiple continents, and the editorial profile notes that China became its largest market [5].

Later releases included limited and collaborative editions, among them the R1 in British Racing Green (2021) and a version featuring artwork by the London-based artist Mr Slowboy. The Generation razor, introduced in the early 2020s, became the brand's most-decorated product.

Bolin Webb describes design excellence as "the cornerstone" of its work and frames its razors as objects "you would like to see on your bathroom shelf as well as use — not something to hide after your shave." The company markets its products as luxury men's razors and stresses British design and manufacturing, weight and balance in the hand, and a coordinated look across razors, stands and accessories.

The razors themselves use proprietary handles fitted with Gillette blades — the R1 takes a Mach3 cartridge, the X1 a Fusion5, and the Generation a Fusion blade — so the brand's contribution lies in the handle, finish and overall design rather than the cutting head.

The core range centres on three razor lines: the R1, the original model; the X1; and the Generation. These are sold individually and in gift and "prestige" sets alongside stands and cases.

Production is split among English specialists. According to the company, top panels are made by a Wolverhampton manufacturer and the finish is applied by a Birmingham automotive paint specialist, with the brand citing Birmingham's standing as a centre of British automotive expertise. The editorial profile adds that the razors are produced in the same industrial setting as components for makers such as Rolls-Royce and McLaren [5].

Bolin Webb has accumulated a substantial run of design and grooming awards. Its Silicone Razor Case received a Red Dot "Best of the Best" award in 2017 [3], the category's top tier, and its razors have taken iF Design Awards in 2014 and 2023. The brand featured in Country & Town House's Great British Brands 2022, listed alongside names such as Vivienne Westwood and Rolls-Royce [3].

The Generation razor and stand were named Best Shaving Product by British GQ and won an iF Design Award in 2023 [3]. Earlier recognition includes a GQ Best Razor award for the X1 Matte range in 2020 and a Beauty Shortlist "Best Razor" win in 2016. Press coverage has appeared in titles including Vogue, The Times and Esquire.

The brand is active. Its most recent recorded activity is the 2026 launch of the R1 Matte collection and its Best Razor win at that year's Esquire Grooming Awards [7]. Bolin Webb continues to trade internationally and operates as an independent company; no parent owner is recorded in the available sources.