OUR STORY
FORGE is a jewellery creative hub in the heart of Hatton Garden, created to bring learning, making, selling, skills sharing and community together under one roof.
Founded by award winning designer Amanda Mansell, FORGE launched in February 2023 with a belief that the jewellery industry needed a new kind of home: somewhere independent designers could be seen and supported, makers could access affordable workspace and specialist tools, and visitors could connect more closely with contemporary jewellery and the people who make it.
Today, FORGE is a place to discover and buy work by independent jewellery designers, take part in workshops, attend events, join a co-working jewellery community and build meaningful connections across the industry.
What began as a vision for a small creative hub has grown into an award-recognised jewellery community, supporting makers, learners, collectors, teachers, industry professionals and jewellery enthusiasts in the heart of London’s historic jewellery quarter.
FROM VISION TO REALITY
FORGE took six years to become a reality, and the path to opening was far from straightforward. The idea grew from Amanda’s work with Camden Council and other organisations to champion Hatton Garden’s jewellery industry, while raising awareness of the pressures facing makers, from rising rents to the loss of former workshops. When she saw the potential of a council-owned premises, she wrote a detailed business plan for an affordable jewellery workspace, showroom and creative hub.
Camden Council supported the vision with a grant towards the communal workshop, and Amanda prepared an equity crowdfunding campaign with Crowdcube. Building repairs, scaffolding and a disconnected electricity supply then delayed the project by 18 months. The day after the electricity was restored, the country went into Covid lockdown. Amanda launched the Crowdfunding campaign anyway and successfully raised the funds. Sadly not long afterwards Amanda’s mother passed away in April 2021. She was a constant, supportive mothers so the loss was devastating.
Amanda finally signed the lease in August 2022. With rising material costs, disrupted supply chains, one contractor and a limited budget, the refurbishment took six months instead of three! With help from family and friends, a lot of blood, sweat and many tears, FORGE finally opened its doors in February 2023 with an incredible launch party!
AMANDA MANSELL
FORGE founder Amanda Mansell has spent more than 30 years working across the jewellery industry, including over 20 years based in Hatton Garden. Her career is underpinned by a First Class BA (Hons) degree, and a Master’s degree from the Royal College of Art.
An award winning designer, educator, author and industry advocate, Amanda has built a career around jewellery, craftsmanship and the people who make the industry so extraordinary. Before founding FORGE, she volunteered her time on steering groups and initiatives with Camden Council and the Hatton Garden BID, working to promote Hatton Garden’s jewellery industry and raise awareness of the pressures facing its makers.
Her pre-FORGE career highlights include winning a Gold Craftsmanship & Design Council Award, becoming a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company, teaching at the Royal College of Art, opening the jewellery shop DualPod, writing the published book Adorn: New Jewellery, and producing For the Love of It, a short film about Hatton Garden jewellery making.
FORGE grew from Amanda’s deep knowledge of the jewellery industry, her first-hand understanding of the challenges facing independent designers and makers, and her belief that creativity, skills and community need space to thrive.
THREE YEARS IN
Since launching in February 2023, FORGE has grown into a thriving jewellery community and an award-recognised space to learn, make, sell, connect and share knowledge.
In our first three years, we curated 41 monthly jewellery showcases, promoting 353 independent designers through a visible platform in central London. We welcomed collectors, buyers and industry professionals through 37 Private Views, creating genuine opportunities for makers to connect with people who support their work.
Education has remained central to FORGE. We delivered 100 workshops to nearly 700 attendees, led by 48 skilled and generous teachers. Through talks and in-conversations, we have hosted respected voices from across the jewellery world, including Charles Lewton-Brain, Alex Monroe, Solange Azagury-Partridge, Shaun Leane and Stephen Webster.
We have also supported 49 resident members through affordable co-working space and hosted 31 free LINK-UP networking events for the jewellery community.
In 2024, FORGE won Community Engagement of the Year, was Highly Commended at the UK Jewellery Awards and was a Professional Jeweller finalist.
SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS
FORGE exists because many people believed in the need for a space like this in Hatton Garden.
In November 2020, we successfully closed an equity crowdfunding campaign with Crowdcube. Without the generous support of friends, family, clients and investors, FORGE, formerly known as LOUPE, would not have been able to get off the ground. We are deeply grateful to everyone who invested, whether their contribution was large or small.
Camden Council’s Economic Development team played an important role by approving a significant grant towards the refurbishment and refit of the co-working jewellery workshop. Their support helped return the premises to affordable jewellery use for designers and makers in Hatton Garden.
The Hatton Garden Business Improvement District also supported Amanda in securing the premises with Camden Council and continues to promote FORGE within the local community. The BID works to strengthen the commercial area, give local businesses a collective voice and celebrate Hatton Garden as a destination.
Together, this support helped FORGE become part of a wider effort to protect craftsmanship, talent and creativity within Hatton Garden, while creating opportunities for its future.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to key crowdfunding investors:
David Mansell, Justin Wilson, John Samson, Jeremy Stokes, Oliver Boundy, Hardev Singh, Nicola Peachey, Yuk Wai Leo Ng, Brenda Whittaker, Anthony Dellow, Mark Greenwood, Gary Williams, Nicola Miller, Anne-Marie Reeves, Remo Mongiat, Gabriel Henriksen, Jeremiah Scanlon, Simon Thomas, Anna Britton, Justin Abbott, Lynne Bartlett and Claire Finlay-Thompson.
“I couldn’t have kept going with FORGE without the love, help and continued support of some extra special colleagues, friends and family” – Amanda Mansell, FORGE founder
With special thanks to Carol Mansell, Amanda’s lovely mum and biggest champion, who heartbreakingly passed away in April 2021; Russell Mansell, Amanda’s kind, caring and incredibly supportive dad; Dave Mansell, Amanda’s loving and inspirational brother; Justin Wilson; Laura Cave; Geraldine Kane; Jeremy Stokes, Simon Thomas, Karin Paynter and Rebecca Van Rooijen.
Industry Sponsors & Support
The Goldsmiths' Company: CEO and Director Annie Warburton spoke at FORGE's one year anniversary.
Crafts Council: Executive Director, Natalie Melton officially Launched FORGE in February 2023
Benchpeg: Leading trade newsletter. sponsored our launch event and 1st birthday celebrations
We are also grateful to our LINK-UP sponsors who supported FORGE in first few years:
The National Association of Jewellers: The UK’s leading jewellery trade association.
Mastermelt: Precious metal recycling and refining specialists in Hatton Garden
Cooksongold: Suppliers of precious metals, tools and equipment for jewellers.
Elliot Fitzpatrick: Professional polishers and platers in Hatton Garden
Marcus McCallum: Specialist gem suppliers in Hatton Garden
Laser Engraving Services: Specialist laser engravers for the jewellery trade.
Ino: CAD and casting how is Hatton Garden.
Misfit: Canadian specialist diamond and sapphire suppliers with UK office in Hatton Garden
G. F. Williams: Specialist stone supplier with a long standing reputation in Hatton Garden.
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!