Staff from the nation's leading restaurants have come to a Canberra knifemaker for their handmade blades, and the fact she is 12 has not stopped them paying top dollar.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tharwa's Leila Haddad started making knives when she was six, and her experience in combining attractive multi-layered blades and perfectly carved handles means she can now charge up to $500 for those after the personal touch.
Three of the schoolgirl's knives feature as a cutlery treat for consumers of multi-award winning Melbourne restaurant Attica's degustation menu.
Another order was for a Damascus petty knife requested by the head cocktail waiter at Sydney's exclusive Rockpool restaurant, one of about 10 clients a year happy to wait several months for the handiwork.
But it's the enjoyment of knowing her customers have a product for life - and beyond - rather than the culinary elites which motivate the humble Garran Primary School student.
"It's thinking about the other people that will use it, it's the next generation that will use it because it lasts such a long time," Leila said.
"You can tell the stories of what happened to it, or how you found the wood."
The talented knifemaker is not alone in setting a blade-driven trend in the national capital.
Dean Jard said he was now the nation's largest handmade razor manufacturer, after crafting more than 200 in the last year.
The Banks resident said the combination of traditional straight razors and handles with a colourful flair had drawn the attention of customers of all ages, but his use of a US-sourced ceramic coating meant even the toughest were catered for.
"The people [who buy] are those who love nostalgia, who love tools which do the right job," Mr Jard said.
"We [also] came up with the idea of pitching them at Defence personnel, including ADFA cadets - we came out with the military colours.
"They won't break ... and not only can you shave with them, you can cut your sandwiches, and rope, and bandages."
Karim Haddad, Leila's father, said his knifemaking school had run a record 55 courses this year and the resurgence in interest was set to overflow to the Canberra Custom Knife Show on December 7.
"There'll be 500-plus people there, it'll be double what last year was," Mr Haddad said.
