Scissors from the Taiwanese brand Tools to Liveby

The scissors from the Taiwanese brand Tools to Liveby, products as elegant as they are functional

The products from the Taiwanese brand Tools to Liveby aim to make our daily lives more pleasant. These are essential stationery items that everyone uses every day, like pens or scissors, but designed to be as elegant as they are functional. 

The brand’s creator, Karen Yang, hopes that by using quality products that bring us happiness, everyday tasks will feel more enjoyable. The care given to the finishing of Tools to Liveby products is even reflected in the brand’s packaging, which also becomes a true decorative object. 

The creation of the Tools to Liveby brand 

Founded by Karen Yang in 2013, Tools to Liveby is not just a brand but also a stationery store. While the brand now has two very popular shops in Taiwan, one in Kaohsiung and one in Taipei, she first took the leap to open her very first stationery store in a friend’s garage. 

Karen Yang is a true stationery enthusiast. When she travels abroad, whether for leisure or business, she can’t resist visiting every stationery store she comes across in search of little treasures. She especially loves the “classics,” meaning elegant objects with timeless aesthetics and practical use. 

Before opening her own store, Karen Yang was a graphic designer at an advertising agency and loved observing the type of stationery her clients used. She realized that many people didn’t really pay attention to the kind of products they used and that, in general, many Taiwanese were not familiar with the international brands she loved so much. That’s why she wanted to share her passion with her fellow countrymen and introduce them to quality brands by opening her own stationery shop. 

The first store opened in a friend’s garage in Taipei, which was completely renovated and decorated in the spirit of a concept store. Initially intrigued by this unusual exterior, many customers visited the store and discovered stationery products from around the world, such as the Traveler's notebook, the customizable travel notebooks from the Japanese brand Traveler's Company. The store then became a true meeting point for all stationery enthusiasts in the country, as well as for newcomers who were able to discover the addictive world of stationery. 

Karen Yang selects all the international products that join the shelves of her store. They are chosen mainly based on four criteria: they must be aesthetic, functional, in a classic/timeless style, and of high quality. 

After introducing many stationery products to their customers, it made sense for Karen Yang and her husband Marco Tsai to start creating and selling their own products. In line with the brand’s motto: “the uncommon beauty in common things,” Tools to Liveby products are above all items used daily. These products join those of other brands in their shops and quickly gain success both in Taiwan and internationally.  

Products from the brand Tools to Liveby

The products created by the brand Tools to Liveby are primarily items we all use every day, whether at work or at home. So it’s only natural that among their products you’ll find a wide range of writing-related items, such as pens, mechanical pencils, and fountain pens. The brand also sells notebooks for practicing calligraphy and improving handwriting. You’ll also find useful accessories like paperclips, clips, rulers, and a beautiful collection of scissors. 

Since all these products are meant to be used daily, they must above all be functional. Aesthetics are important, but they should not come at the expense of practicality. There is nothing more frustrating than owning a beautiful pen that doesn’t write properly or doesn’t feel good in the hand. 

Tools to Liveby products are therefore a clever blend of functionality and elegance, allowing us to own items whose use makes us happy. Whether for work or a creative hobby, it’s much more enjoyable to write with a beautiful pen whose tip glides perfectly on paper, to use scissors that cut cleanly on the first try, or to clip documents together with elegant paperclips. 

The Tools to Liveby scissors

Just like pens, scissors are among those essential everyday items that we all have at least one pair of at home. While you might think any pair will do, you quickly realize the importance of having “good scissors that cut.” The Tools to Liveby scissors are precisely designed to cut perfectly. They are made in Taiwan, with Japanese stainless steel coated in Teflon. Teflon is a non-stick coating that prevents glue or other residues from sticking to the blades, which would otherwise stop them from cutting well. The handles are reinforced with rubber for added comfort and to prevent them from hurting your fingers during prolonged use. 

In addition to being designed for functionality, the Tools to Liveby scissors are very elegant. They are made in a very minimalist style, with the only decoration being the engraved brand logo. Their aesthetic is also timeless and reminiscent of old stationery items you might perfectly find at an antique shop. 

The scissors are available in several different sizes, each offered in two elegant colors: black and gold. The smallest version, measuring 7.7 cm, is perfect for storing in an Okamoto Shoten pouch or carrying in a handbag. It’s always very handy to have a pair of scissors on hand, whether to cut a loose thread or a piece of paper. Their small size, which makes these scissors particularly adorable, also makes them a perfect accessory for creative hobbies, like a travel journal or bullet journal, outside the home, sitting at a café terrace for example. 

The largest version, measuring 22.5 cm, has long blades that are perfect for tasks requiring straight cuts. There is also a version with wider handles for even more comfort during long cutting sessions. As for the latest version, with a more classic size (16.5 cm), it is perfect for occasional tasks, whether at the office or at home. 

When the packaging is as elegant as the product

The joy of owning a Tools to Liveby product starts with the packaging. The brand places great importance on providing beautiful packaging for all its products, which then become true decorative objects. The packaging of Tools to Liveby scissors, with their vintage aesthetic, thus becomes superb cases in which you store your scissors after use and proudly display on your desk or in a Toyo Steel storage box, for example. 

Since Tools to Liveby products are designed to last over time, they naturally fit into a waste reduction approach. This approach also applies to the packaging, as it is unthinkable to throw them away because they are so beautiful. Each type of scissors comes with a case of a different size and color, which almost makes you want to collect them all. The decoration on the pouch features an embossed design created with hot foil stamping, a technique that transfers metallic patterns onto a surface for a high-end finish with a beautiful effect. You can also read the Tools to Liveby motto on the pouches: “the uncommon beauty in common things,” which perfectly sums up the brand’s spirit. 

As you can guess, owning a pair of scissors from the Tools to Liveby brand means having a product that is as elegant as it is functional in your hands. Tools to Liveby brilliantly succeeds in brightening our daily lives with objects as ordinary as scissors. Whether for daily or occasional use, at work, at home, or for creative hobbies, there is definitely a pair of Tools to Liveby scissors that suits you and will make you happy.