Last updated at 16:30, Monday, 12 November 2012

Cumbria Crystal, an Ulverston based company with 17 employees, attended the nationally-renowned great Week of Creativity in Hong Kong this month.

The event last week celebrated British creativity from luxury brands, design and craftsmanship.

This year, industry leaders, international press and the Chinese luxury brand sector will be admiring and purchasing crystal produced thousands of miles away in a tiny factory by local Cumbrian craftsmen.

Cumbria Crystal, one of few remaining producers of hand-blown and hand-cut full lead English Crystal, produces very high quality, handmade, crystal tableware in its Ulverston factory where visitors can watch craftsmen and women producing crystal in the time honoured way.

Katy Holford, uniquely both the designer and MD of Cumbria Crystal, said: “Being tucked away in a remote area in the southern Lake District is an unlikely place to be marketing and making products to appeal to global markets, however sales have doubled in the last year and we’ve seen a dramatic rise in our bespoke business overseas.

“We have made significant investments in our brand in order to compete in the global luxury markets and appeal to an increasing international audience & customer base. Showcasing our crystal in international luxury markets is a challenge for a small artisan craft business and we are exceptionally proud that our glass is gracing tables across the world.”

Katy designs bespoke glassware for renowned retailers Harrods and Thomas Goode, as well as exclusive commissions for international designer Lee Broom and furniture designer and nephew to HM Queen Elizabeth, David Linley. Cumbria Crystal makes commemorative gifts to celebrate significant occasions such as the Royal Wedding of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as supplying all Commonwealth embassies with crystal to grace formal dinners.

Cumbria Crystal’s latest stemware collection, Six, has been so successful in the UK that it has formed the inspiration for the magnificent Six Gift collection, an elegant range of vases launched earlier this year. The Six Collection, now including Six Gift, is a mix of 6 styles of contemporary glass designs matched to make one unique collection.

Through supplying crystal tableware for ITV’s Downton Abbey, Cumbria Crystal has also experienced a remarkable upshot in US sales. The crystal used on set is Cumbria Crystal’s most classic design, Grasmere, which suits the formal Edwardian tables.

First published at 16:29, Monday, 12 November 2012
Published by http://www.in-cumbria.com