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Emma Bridgewater is a British ceramics manufacturing company founded in 1985 which is named after Emma Rice (''née'' Bridgewater). It is run by her and her husband Matthew Rice. Noted for their polka dot design among others, the company "Emma Bridgewater" specialises in pottery with motifs drawing on techniques stretching back over 200 years. The company is one of the largest pottery manufacturers based entirely in the UK. Most of its products are made in its factory in the city of 
There are two Emma Bridgewater shops in London as well as an outlet store located at the company's factory. The products can be purchased from major UK retailers such as John Lewis.
In 2016, the company's namesake was made President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. She is also a Patron of the Heritage Crafts Association.
The company was founded by Emma Bridgewater in 1984, when she was looking for a birthday present for her mother. Wanting to buy a cup and saucer but being unable to find any she liked, Emma created her own. Drawing four shapes, a mug, a bowl, a jug and a dish, samples were created in Stoke-on-Trent.
Matthew, Emma's husband, also designs for Emma Bridgewater. He indulges his passion for birdlife in the Birds range. In its first year the company had a turnover of around £30,000. By 2009 this had increased to almost £8 million, and £11 million in 2010, employing 180 people.
speaker list
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Emma Bridgewater is a British ceramics manufacturing company founded in 1985 which is named after Emma Rice (''née'' Bridgewater). It is run by her and her husband Matthew Rice. Noted for their polka dot design among others, the company "Emma Bridgewater" specialises in pottery with motifs drawing on techniques stretching back over 200 years. The company is one of the largest pottery manufacturers based entirely in the UK. Most of its products are made in its factory in the city of Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent (often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England, with an area of . In 2019, the city had an estimated population of 256,375. It is the largest settlement ...
, England, while others are produced in Poland.
There are two Emma Bridgewater shops in London as well as an outlet store located at the company's factory. The products can be purchased from major UK retailers such as John Lewis.
In 2016, the company's namesake was made President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England. She is also a Patron of the Heritage Crafts Association.
History
The company was founded by Emma Bridgewater in 1984, when she was looking for a birthday present for her mother. Wanting to buy a cup and saucer but being unable to find any she liked, Emma created her own. Drawing four shapes, a mug, a bowl, a jug and a dish, samples were created in Stoke-on-Trent.
Matthew, Emma's husband, also designs for Emma Bridgewater. He indulges his passion for birdlife in the Birds range. In its first year the company had a turnover of around £30,000. By 2009 this had increased to almost £8 million, and £11 million in 2010, employing 180 people.
Products
Emma Bridgewater's creamearthenware
Earthenware is glazed or unglazed nonvitreous pottery that has normally been fired below . Basic earthenware, often called terracotta, absorbs liquids such as water. However, earthenware can be made impervious to liquids by coating it with a ce ...
pottery designs are also adapted for application onto textiles, glass, tin, stationery, and melamine. Her designs include patterns such as Black Toast, Polka Dot, Union Jack, Starry Skies, Pink Hearts and Figs. During a visit by Prince Andrew, a member of the British Royal Family, Emma discussed the brand's launch of its biggest ever collection of Royal commemorative ware to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
"Festival in a Factory"
For the last few years, the Emma Bridgewater factory in Stoke on Trent has been the home to the "Festival in a Factory" a 3-day literary festival where a number of authors, politicians, artists and celebrities give public lectures. The 2020 Festival, planned for 4–6 June, was cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Recent speakers included:Mary Portas
Mary Portas (''née'' Newton; born 28 May 1960) is an English retail consultant and broadcaster, known for her retail- and business-related television shows, founding her creative agency Portas and her appointment by David Cameron, the British P ...
, Viv Groskop Elizabeth Day, Christopher Eccleston
Christopher Eccleston (; born 16 February 1964) is an English actor. A two-time BAFTA Award nominee, he is best known for his television and film work, which includes his role as the ninth incarnation of the Doctor in the BBC sci-fi series '' ...
, Lauren Child, AN Wilson
Andrew Norman Wilson (born 27 October 1950)"A. N. Wilson"
''Encyclopædia Britannica''.
, historian Tom Holland, author ''Encyclopædia Britannica''.
Ben Macintyre
Benedict Richard Pierce Macintyre (born 25 December 1963) is a British author, reviewer and columnist for ''The Times'' newspaper. His columns range from current affairs to historical controversies.
Early life
Macintyre is the elder son of Ang ...
, historian Andrew Roberts, Rachel Reeves MP, Greepeace UK's Will McCallum, biographer Jenny Uglow, the National Trust's Nino Strachey, the V&A's Oriole Cullen and Claire Wilcox
Claire Wilcox (born 1954) is senior curator of fashion at the Victoria and Albert Museum. She received an honorary doctorate in art and design from Middlesex University in July 2017. She sits on the editorial board of the journal ''Fashion Theory'' ...
, and novelist Deborah Moggach./ref>
Bibliography
* *References
External links
* {{Stoke-on-Trent Ceramics manufacturers of England Companies based in Stoke-on-Trent Manufacturing companies established in 1985 Staffordshire pottery 1985 establishments in the United Kingdom