We’re delighted to share that Birmingham has officially been designated a World Craft City by the World Crafts Council – and even prouder that this global recognition is centred on our historic Jewellery Quarter.
This exciting development was recently highlighted in The Honesty Box on Jewels, the insightful jewellery newsletter by Kate Matthams. The piece celebrated the Jewellery Quarter’s extraordinary 200-year legacy as a centre of craftsmanship, creativity, and innovation – home to over 700 jewellery businesses and the renowned Birmingham School of Jewellery.
Fei Liu Fine Jewellery has been part of this vibrant community for more than two decades. Our founder, Fei Liu, moved to Birmingham from China in the 1990s to study at the School of Jewellery – and never left. Reflecting on the city’s new status, he shared:
“Birmingham being named a World Craft City is a powerful recognition of its historic role in jewellery and craft. The Birmingham Jewellery Quarter has been a shining light for craftsmanship for hundreds of years.”
While the accolade rightly celebrates Birmingham’s past, it also shines a light on its future. As Fei notes, the longevity of the city’s jewellery legacy depends on inspiring and supporting new generations of makers:
“This important recognition will help future generations to discover and appreciate the value of handcrafted jewellery. The Jewellery Quarter is a truly special place where one of the longest-practised traditional crafts finds relevance in contemporary culture – and long may it continue to do so.”
This sentiment was echoed by others in the feature, including Norma Banton, co-founder of the MasterPeace Academy – a culturally relevant jewellery school based on Vyse Street – who spoke of the opportunity this brings to showcase Afro-Caribbean contributions to the British jewellery trade.
At Fei Liu Fine Jewellery, we are committed to honouring the traditions that shaped us while continuing to innovate and evolve. As a brand proudly rooted in the Jewellery Quarter, we see this recognition as both a celebration and a responsibility – to preserve, promote, and pass on the art of fine jewellery.
We look forward to a bright future for Birmingham’s jewellery community, and to continuing our role in its ever-growing story.