Ten years of Goldfinger

In celebration of our landmark ten-year anniversary, we took an opportunity to pause and reflect on everything we’ve learned throughout the past decade. Over the past year, we have been sharing ten of the most important lessons we've learned as furniture makers, craft educators, and community members. For the final article in the series, we’re looking back on the Goldfinger journey, and the power that purpose-led partnerships have to uplift one another, and grow our collective impact.

Ever since we first opened our doors in 2013, we’ve been inspired by the support and generosity we have received from our community. As we reminisce on the past ten years, it's abundantly clear: our incredible journey has been fueled by the unwavering support and passion of our cherished partners.

We invite you to explore the milestones and key partnerships that have defined our journey over the past decade, and shaped Goldfinger into what it is today.

Timeline

2013

Goldfinger opens its doors

Co-founders Marie Cudennec Carlisle and Oliver Waddington-Ball open the doors to what was then known as Goldfinger Factory. Based in the iconic Trellick Tower, the architect Erno Goldfinger’s name serves as our guiding inspiration: the material we touch, we turn to gold.

2014

GAIL's Bakery

We partner with our very first commercial client, GAIL’s Bakery, to create custom fit-outs for an array of London bakeries, as well as for the Frieze Art Fair.

Since then, we have collaborated with Holland Harvey to co-create furniture to suit an array of GAIL's bakeries.

2015

John Lewis

John Lewis, the legendary British retailer, commissions us to design bespoke tables for their head offices in Victoria - our first experience bringing sustainable, artisan-crafted furniture into the workplace.

2016

Tom Dixon

Tom Dixon collaborates with us to launch the Trellick furniture collection. Our first foray into retail, the collection is crafted by Goldfinger artisans and makers-in-the-making with cutting-edge fabrication techniques.

2017

Arup

We team up with Arup to create a sustainable homeware collection made from recycled milk bottles and waste timber.

2018

Hermes

The Fondation d’entreprise Hermès becomes a key Goldfinger Academy partner, supporting opportunities for local young people to enter the world of craftsmanship.

Since 2020, we have had the pleasure of delivering Manufacto, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès’ pioneering craftsmanship programme taught in schools. Read about our recent experience at Kensington Aldridge Academy here.

2019

Whistles

Whistles commissions us to create low-carbon Christmas trees for their festive window displays in stores across the UK. Hong Kong and New York. Raising awareness for the circular economy, these trees are sold as a sustainable alternative to a traditional Christmas tree, to be stored away and reused year after year.

2020

Goldfinger rebrand

Taking the opportunity of time in lockdown to pause and reflect, we move beyond our Goldfinger Factory roots and rebrand to better reflect the sleek and refined Goldfinger aesthetic of today.

2021

Inhabit

Inhabit invites us to create bespoke furniture for their flagship hotel in Paddington, in collaboration with our long-term partners, Holland Harvey.

Following the success of this partnership, we were delighted to collaborate once again on Inhabit's second venture in Queen's Gardens.⁠ We have also teamed up with Inhabit and Holland Harvey to make this furniture collection available to purchase, customised to perfectly suit your living space.

2022

Selfridges

The Graze homeware collection launches exclusively with Selfridges. Crafted from trees felled in and around London, this line of contemporary serveware celebrates the beauty of local British timbers. Designed to be shared with others, our best-selling Graze collection is available to take home today.

2023

Tate Modern

We’re chosen as the main furniture maker for Tate Modern’s new riverside cafe and bar, Corner, redesigned by Holland Harvey. We crafted a range of bespoke furniture, celebrating circular design. The collection, collaboratively designed by Goldfinger, Tate and Holland Harvey, is now yours to own, made-to-order in your choice of natural or black finishes.

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By joining forces with like-minded, values-aligned organisations, we've been able to achieve so much more than we ever could have by ourselves. Collaboration has enabled us to not only expand our business as designers and makers of bespoke furniture, but also grow our impact year on year, as we hold firm to our commitment to tread lightly on the planet, give back to our community, and create opportunities for those who need them most.

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