At our Plateware factory in Stoke-on-Trent, England, pottery is a way of life.
Since the 17th century, Stoke-on-Trent in England has been a pottery hub thanks to its proximity to pristine local clay and the skill of its artisans. Their citizens take enormous pride in their trade, always looking to push beyond the limits of experimentation and craftsmanship—as seen by the bottle ovens and large kilns that stagger themselves throughout the grounds (even the local soccer team is proudly called “The Potters").
This is where Made In's Dinnerware Collection is made. After going through the hands of these artisans (many of whom have been honing their craft for well over 40 years) and 53 individual quality checks, the end result isn’t just beautiful, it’s well-crafted, ripe with history, and incomparably durable. Best of all, all excess clay is recycled—making it one of the most sustainable manufacturing processes in the world.
Their unique commitment to craftsmanship made them the clear choice to produce our Plateware. In the past, this factory only produced for restaurants, making us the first company to bring this same high-quality to your home. Here’s how we get it done.
Our clay isn’t shipped in from distant countries—instead, it's entirely harvested along the English coastline. Renowned for its quality and lack of impurities, the clay is mixed with alumina to provide unrivaled strength, color, and impeccable heat retention. You'll find this across all of our Plates, Bowls, and Serving Platters—must-haves for any finely set table.
All of our molds are made in house to ensure each piece comes out exactly as it should, before it heads to the kiln for firing. After the first firing in the kiln, our pieces get stamped with our logo. Our red and navy rimmed Plateware is loaded onto a machine that applies the signature painted rim.
Our pieces are suspended by three pins, allowing for glaze to be applied top and bottom—resulting in 360° scratch- and chip-resistance, without an unfinished "foot" that can cause scratches when plates are stacked. In addition to being more elegant, this makes each piece of Plateware much more durable.
This method of craftsmanship, not commonly used for most consumer plateware due to its high cost to manufacture, also imbues a beauty mark on each piece. Notice that we're calling them "beauty marks" rather than "blemishes"—they do not impact the functionality of the piece, and in fact are indicators of the high quality process it has gone through. After one final check to make sure all products are perfect, they are ready to be shipped to our warehouse and from there, to your table.
These craftsmen have been making the most refined Plateware for the world’s best restaurants and hotels for over 150 years, and now, for the first time, you can experience them in your own home. See the difference restaurant-quality Plateware that looks as good on its 100th dish as it did on its first can make in your home.
