In the creative heart of South East London, tucked away in a studio filled with the hum of machinery and the radiant glow of molten silica, sits Gather.
Founded by visionary glassblower Phoebe Stubbs, this vibrant workshop is a whirlwind of vivid colour, intense heat, and high-stakes craftsmanship.
Gather is far more than a standard production facility; it is a creative haven where joyful, hand-blown glassware comes to life through a process that feels equal parts heavy industrial manufacturing and beautifully choreographed dance.
During The Plum Edit team’s visit, we caught the studio mid-production on their signature Miami collection. Inspired by Phoebe’s postgraduate studies in the United States alongside her love for Italian postmodernism, the glassware series features bold, sculptural silhouettes infused with vivid colour memories.
Phoebe's vision for the Miami collection was born from an inspiring blend of fine art history and nostalgic memory. The collection draws heavily from the playful, geometric forms of the Memphis Group and iconic Italian designers such as Ettore Sottsass. Rather than attempting to replicate exact real-world shades, Phoebe focused on capturing sun-soaked hues that evoke the warmth of a nostalgic childhood dream.
The collection also nods to historical European art, borrowing intricate vessel shapes, unique proportions, and narrative charm from antique ceramics and historical glassware.
Watch our full studio walkthrough and interview with founder Phoebe Stubbs below:
The Miami range is instantly recognisable for both its playful aesthetic and its technical complexity. Wine glasses, tumblers, and champagne flutes across the line feature sculptural, hand-shaped stems adorned with glass discs, organic spheres, and diamond geometries dropped onto the hot vessel body in real time.
To achieve such deeply saturated, rich tones, the studio utilises a specialised ground-up glass powder technique. Vibrant combinations like fiery orange, marigold, soft powder blue, and bright sunshine yellow are layered seamlessly into the molten gather.
Because each piece requires a synchronised dance between a team of three skilled glassblowers, no two finished items are ever identical, giving the glassware a rhythmic, organic quality that mass factory production simply cannot replicate.
Glassblowing is a relentless, high-stakes battle against gravity and rapidly dropping temperatures. Unlike pottery, where the maker directly touches the clay, a glassblower works through metal rods and wood blocks, continuously managing a material that is fighting to change state from liquid to solid.
Watching the Gather team work around the 1200°C furnaces is witnessing a true flow state in action. Every gather of hot glass must be turned constantly to prevent gravity from pulling the piece out of alignment, requiring instant communication between the team
Gather's incredible craft has led to prestigious creative partnerships, crafting bespoke glassware lines and installations for brands like Lulu Lululemon, Fortnum & Mason, and Soho Home.
Despite the economic challenges facing independent UK manufacturing, Gather remains deeply committed to public engagement, hosting hands-on beginner glassblowing workshops to share the magic of the furnace with local craft enthusiasts.
For those looking to explore the world of glass making for themselves, check it out here.
From high-end interior collaborations to public taster sessions, Gather proves that there is nothing quite like the camaraderie, passion, and warmth found around the kiln.
