In the modern age, our values are gradually shaped by constant innovation and the thirst for progression provoked fierce competition, which ultimately resulted in a new ‘natural selection’ of material goods and means of production – elimination, disposal, and replacement.

Of course, we can’t deny human advancement is driven by innovation. New materials for construction are being created every day to improve our living conditions with comfort and convenience. But there are certain things and traditions that are worth preserving and believing in, as life isn’t all about function and practicality. If it were, mechanical watches would cease to exist, since smartwatches are able to show the weather forecast for the next week while prestigious watch complications that have taken years to build can only roughly indicate the current moon phase. Fountain pens would only be found in museums, and hand-welted leather shoes that first became fashionable in the 19th century would never have made it into the 21st.

The pen that you signed your first mortgage deed with. The watch that your family passed upon you over generations. These memories are not only personal but also evoke a deep connection with our past. In a society that triumphs over speed and constant innovation, we inevitably find ourselves living in a throwaway culture and actively seeking new replacements; we are gradually drifting away from values such as craftsmanship, dedication, and refined things that are built to last.

Wood floor, for us, not only offers the same level of intimacy with tradition and our past but is also a value for us to defend. It is both a beautiful, natural construction material that has been used for centuries and a witness of countless major events in human history. On a personal level, the floor that your daughter took her first steps on, the first place where your dog chased you around in the house, all these, are deeply embedded in our hearts and are parts of our most important memories. But the question is, can that very floor you and your family share so many memories with still laying in that same spot stand the test of time, or has it become a distanced past that can only be found in old photographs? At Q&Y International, we understand and cherish the value of memories and craftsmanship.

Some could argue that newer modern materials require less maintenance than wood. For instance, the stone-plastic composite is waterproof while wood is not. Yet we believe, wood flooring, just like finely crafted items, has its place in society exactly because it requires maintenance and the effort of care. Leather shoes need to be polished. Watches need to be serviced, and pens, over time, need to get the nib re-grinded. Caring sounds like a lot of effort and at a certain point, overwhelming. However, why don’t we view the process of doing all of that as a good time for reflection? A therapeutic process for us to appreciate things, the real practice of preserving rather than throwing away. Wood is a material that is mendable, sustainable, and with proper care, last years to come. It is a testimony of the value of things and the tradition of craftsmanship, a biotic material that brings aesthetic pleasure, character, and investment value to your home. Preservation rather than replacement, shapes our beliefs and it is in the essence of the wood flooring that we do.