The contents of our pockets reveal glimpses into our lives: our tastes, our hobbies, and our daily needs––keys are the gatekeepers into our homes; wallets, into our personal economy. But what about our daily rituals of relief? The little things we do to focus, socialize, or tune out? The lighter, which used to be a fixture of most pockets, has become a stay-at-home accessory for many. Today at Sway, we’re thinking about how these little trinkets of daily life have changed alongside decades of culture.

Men regularly carried pocket lighters by the early 1900s, in some cases treating them as mini emblems of personal style. While some companies embellished designs to attract different customers, others strived for versatility—like the Ronson Master Pack, which combined a lighter, cigarette case, and watch. At home, where smoking was as commonplace as a cup of tea, beautiful and ornate table lighters waited at the ready, next to equally opulent ashtrays.

One of the most iconic lighters, of course, is the Zippo, which was standard issue for soldiers in World War II. Etching into the crackled black finish, soldiers carved designs to mark these lighters their own.

During the Vietnam War, soldiers carried Zippos again—this time, turning to local vendors to personalize them with carved images or messages. Sometimes crude, sometimes heartbreaking, these missives could speak when a soldier, potentially wounded or killed in battle, could not.

While plain plastic Bics have ruled since the ‘70s, we think rituals of relief can still be smart and revealing—even if lighters aren’t in our pockets every day. Case in point, presenting guests with Ralph and Vivienne certainly rings more elegant than the pot brownies we cobbled together as teenagers. However you choose to indulge and display, here’s to keeping it stylish

The contents of our pockets reveal glimpses into our lives: our tastes, our hobbies, and our daily needs––keys are the gatekeepers into our homes; wallets, into our personal economy. But what about our daily rituals of relief? The little things we do to focus, socialize, or tune out? The lighter, which used to be a fixture of most pockets, has become a stay-at-home accessory for many. Today at Sway, we’re thinking about how these little trinkets of daily life have changed alongside decades of culture.

Men regularly carried pocket lighters by the early 1900s, in some cases treating them as mini emblems of personal style. While some companies embellished designs to attract different customers, others strived for versatility—like the Ronson Master Pack, which combined a lighter, cigarette case, and watch. At home, where smoking was as commonplace as a cup of tea, beautiful and ornate table lighters waited at the ready, next to equally opulent ashtrays.

One of the most iconic lighters, of course, is the Zippo, which was standard issue for soldiers in World War II. Etching into the crackled black finish, soldiers carved designs to mark these lighters their own.

During the Vietnam War, soldiers carried Zippos again—this time, turning to local vendors to personalize them with carved images or messages. Sometimes crude, sometimes heartbreaking, these missives could speak when a soldier, potentially wounded or killed in battle, could not.

While plain plastic Bics have ruled since the ‘70s, we think rituals of relief can still be smart and revealing—even if lighters aren’t in our pockets every day. Case in point, presenting guests with Ralph and Vivienne certainly rings more elegant than the pot brownies we cobbled together as teenagers. However you choose to indulge and display, here’s to keeping it stylish