OUR STORY
FORGE was born out of our founder’s passion to celebrate Hatton Garden’s heritage, promote UK design and protect craft skills, by offering business support and workspace to Artisans and future talent. Our motto is ‘enriching lives through creativity’ and at the heart of that is the belief that creativity is not only inspirational and nurturing, but helps forge long lasting friendships and professional relationships too.
There are over 100 jewellery shops in Hatton Garden, but FORGE isn’t just another jewellery shop – it’s a destination where you can buy jewellery, learn skills, and make jewellery too. It offers unique jewellery collections by independent Designer-Makers, affordable co-working space for established and new Artisans, jewellery making and skills improvement workshops for all levels and experiences, demonstrations, talks, networking, social events, and a whole lot more – all under one roof!
WHY HATTON GARDEN?
Hatton Garden, London’s world-renowned historic Jewellery Quarter is steeped in a history of diamond trading and jewellery making and is one of two surviving manufacturing areas in Central London.
It’s home to a close-knit community of skilled and respected Artisans, Designers, Diamond Mounters, Stone Setters, Engravers, Polishers, Platers, and materials and equipment suppliers.
It gained its name from Sir Christopher Hatton after Elizabeth I relinquished the land to him in 1578. The later overspill of Clerkenwell’s jewellery, watch and clock makers into Hatton Garden soon established its legacy as London’s bustling Jewellery Quarter and a prominent cutting centre for diamonds and gold trading.
Whilst today Hatton Garden still flourishes with an eclectic mix of retail and jewellery trading, it also sits comfortably alongside other creative industries such as advertising and digital design, making Hatton Garden a vibrant mix of creativity.
Image credit: Hatton Garden BID
Meet the founder
Amanda Mansell
Award winning designer Amanda Mansell has a long established jewellery career underpinned by a 1st Class BA (Hons) in 1994, and a Masters degree from the Royal College of Art in 1997. Always willing to get involved she found a passion for championing Hatton Garden and preserving skills and craftsmanship.
Amanda is an established and hugely respected figure in the jewellery industry, working closely with skilled craftspeople, industry experts and professionals. In 1997 she produced a film called ‘For the love of it’ - a behind the scenes insight into the fascinating world of jewellery making in Hatton Garden. Other career highlights include gaining a Gold Craftsmanship & Design Council award, becoming a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company, teaching at the world number 1 ranked RCA, opening a shop called DualPod, and writing a published book called Adorn: New Jewellery. She currently advises on the Hatton Garden Business Improvement District (BID) steering group.
FORGE is a culmination of skills, broad experiences, knowledge, expertise and contacts gained over 25 year career, in this special industry, 18 of which has been based in Hatton Garden.
Our Community
Our community stretches further than the four walls of FORGE – it encompasses the wider network of Artisans, Designers, specialist craftsmen and women, suppliers, professionals, enthusiasts, trading bodies, organisations and institutions within Hatton Garden and beyond.
When our founder first experienced Hatton Garden 20 years ago, she faced secrecy, closed doors, prejudice and sexism. Persistence and a drive to enlighten the industry to the advantages of working with young designers saw those doors slowly open. There is still a way to go, but she is proud of the part she played in making Hatton Garden the more inclusive and knowledge-sharing place it is today.
This is very much at the heart of FORGE which is a place where we can learn from each other, share knowledge, expertise and experience. Great things can happen when we think differently, pool our resources, connect, and work together.
Join Our Club
If you’re a professional, join our FORGE CLUB for access to bench space and equipment, industry advice, promotional opportunities as well as other member perks.
We’re offering different membership packages to help support you wherever you are on your career journey - from annual memberships with your own dedicated bench space, to flexible packages giving you access to the FORGE workshop and equipment by the month or even hour.
We also have pop-up retail packages if you’re just looking to showcase your work.
Enriching lives
Through Creativity
Our motto is ‘enriching lives through creativity’ and at the heart of that is the belief that creativity is not only inspirational and nurturing, but helps forge long lasting friendships and professional relationships too.
Creativity nurtures our souls, helps forge great friendships and enriches our lives in ways that go beyond just the act of ‘making’. We believe that it can be a catalyst for a truly richer life.
And that is whether you are a practicing professional jeweller, jewellery enthusiast, giving jewellery making a go for the the first time or even making your own wedding rings! Come and be creative at FORGE!