For James Cottingham, co-founder of Cahve, the path to creating an innovative jewellery-making experience in the heart of Sheffield wasn’t necessarily a straightforward one.
In fact, it began with a different creative endeavour altogether – a menswear brand James and his brother Luke ran from home, named SugarSkull. Though the venture gained some traction, it wasn’t destined for longevity. However, a jewellery-making sideline within those operations planted the seed of what would eventually become a new business model.
“We were basically saying to trained jewellers, ‘Can you make me this? I want this shape, this texture in this base metal,’” James recalls. “The jewellery element gained a lot of traction, even more than we expected.” It was a spark of interest that refused to fade, and when the menswear brand eventually fizzled James and Luke decided to pivot.
Their first foray into jewellery workshops began with intimate events at Sheffield venues such as local coffee shops and restaurants. “The first time we delivered a group experience and saw how people responded to it, it clicked,” says James. “For years, we’d design collections, put them on a shelf and people might or might not buy them. But reframing it – making it an experience – gave people this energy, this creativity.”
What set their workshops apart was their accessibility. Cahve’s jewellery-making process removed the barriers of tradition and expertise. “You didn’t need to be a designer, you didn’t even need to be creative really. You just needed to show up,” explains James. “And what people made had meaning. It became about their story.”
The reception to these events gave the brothers the confidence to grow the concept. “That was the lightbulb moment,” he adds. “We knew this was worth pursuing because people weren’t just leaving with jewellery – they were leaving with something they’d made themselves, something truly personal. And it didn’t even have to be in a workshop. It could be in a coffee shop, a gallery, a restaurant, even on a roof.”
Over time, Cahve got its own HQ and evolved into an exciting business reshaping traditional ways of working in the jewellery sector. Now based in Kelham Island, they offer wedding ring workshops, bespoke engagement ring designs and jewellery kits for at-home creations. Though the offer has evolved, the ethos remains the same: bringing people into the creative process and showing that jewellery-making can be both accessible and meaningful.
As the company continues to flourish, James has big ambitions for the future. “We’d love to expand further,” he shares. “The plan is to eventually establish a presence in London, maybe Bath or Bristol, and collaborate with like-minded venues in unique spaces. We want to make this experience more accessible to people all over the UK, because we do currently have people travelling from all over the country to make rings with us.”
They’ve also made significant moves in the corporate world, hosting bespoke workshops for major brands such as Nike and Pinterest. These collaborations allow them to bring their creative jewellery-making process to entirely new audiences. “At Wimbledon, we set up a relaxing space for Nike athletes where they could design jewellery to unwind from the tournament pressure,” James explains. “It was a real moment for us, working with high-profile clients and seeing them engage with the same hands-on process.”
With innovation always at the forefront of what they do, the siblings are also keen to embrace new technologies to enhance their offerings. “We’re working on some really exciting ideas, like using a phone to scan wax designs and produce instant renders in silver or gold,” James says. “It’s about making the process even more engaging, even more personal.”
For more information on what Cahve do – from making bespoke wedding rings to running corporate workshops – head to uk.cahve.com
Or follow their socials @cahve.uk and @cahve.studio to see their latest creations.
