Derby

Derby is a Turkish razor-blade brand owned by the Istanbul manufacturer Azmüsebat Çelik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. [2]. It is best known for inexpensive double-edge blades used in traditional wet shaving, and according to one retailer it is the only Turkish company that produces razor blades [3]. The brand remains active, manufacturing in Istanbul and distributing to more than 65 countries [3].

How far back the brand reaches is not settled. The Derby brand site states that it has made razor blades "since 1939 in Turkey" [1], while published retailer descriptions give different dates — one says the company has manufactured blades "since the 1950s" [3] and another dates it to 1990 [4]. No founder is named in any accessible source.

The Derby name belongs to Azmüsebat Çelik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., a joint-stock company headquartered in Tuzla, within the Istanbul administrative area. Wikidata and several trade listings identify Azmüsebat as the manufacturer and owner of the brand [2], and the company's products are catalogued as cartridge safety razors, double-edge blades, shaving cream, disposable razors and lighters.

The brand's own positioning copy traces its heritage to 1939. That figure is presented here as a brand statement rather than an independently confirmed date, because the page on which it appears has the characteristics of a reseller microsite rather than the manufacturer's official property. Retailer accounts place the start of blade production later — in the 1950s or, in one description, 1990 — so the founding year should be read as disputed.

The clearest milestone in the available sources concerns the company's standing at home. According to the retailer Moquer, Derby was among the 40 largest companies in Turkey during the 1960s [3], a claim that points to a substantial domestic manufacturing base rather than a small specialist operation.

Derby's core product is the double-edge razor blade, sold under names such as Derby Extra and Derby Premium. The range extends to single-edge and shavette blades for straight razors with replaceable blades, alongside safety razors, disposable razors and shaving cream. The manufacturer's catalogue also lists broader care lines, including Derby Lady and Derby Professional [2].

The brand is positioned at the affordable end of the market. Retailer descriptions emphasise durable, sharp blades and broad availability rather than premium pricing, and credit Derby's blades with coatings such as chromium-ceramic, tungsten and platinum [4]. Blades are manufactured in Istanbul and reach more than 65 countries across six continents.

Among traditional wet-shavers, the Derby Extra double-edge blade is a widely cited budget option. Moquer calls Derby "one of the most popular razor blade manufacturers to this day" and describes its blades as favoured by people who enjoy traditional wet shaving [3].

Derby is active. Its blades are manufactured in Istanbul and sold through retail and online channels in over 65 countries, with current listings across multiple markets [3].