Discussing 40 years in business with Alex Monroe

7 Oct

The jewellery designer shared his lessons in life and craft with Rachael Taylor at the Goldsmiths’ Fair

This year is the 40th anniversary of Alex Monroe’s eponymous handmade jewellery business. To mark the occasion, Rachael Taylor interviewed the jewellery designer at the Goldsmiths’ Fair, the annual event that brings together the UK's best contemporary jewellers and silversmiths in one place.

The talk, held in front of fellow jewellers, press and members of the industry, focused on the hard-won lessons that have shaped Monroe’s four decades in business. These included advice like, “Profit is not a dirty word”, “Be consistent and persistent”, and “Focus on what success looks like to you, not how it looks to other”. These insights were all illustrated with colourful anecdotes from Monroe’s long career. He also discussed the importance of protecting your own creative voice rather than chasing trends, and of championing jewellers as artists and craftspeople in an increasingly commercial world.