In celebration of London Museum Dockland’s Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures - the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to mudlarking, on display until 1 March 2026 - five affordable handmade jewellery collections by emerging UK designer-makers, Kumiko Kihara, Liz Willis, Jo Boateng, Caitlin Hegney and Xinyi Chen, will be available from 24 October 2025 in the museum’s shop.

The showcase is curated by the Goldsmiths' Centre - in collaboration with the London Museum Docklands - on behalf of the Goldsmiths’ Foundation, a founding partner of the new London Museum, having pledged £10 million towards the museum’s future home in Smithfield, opening in 2026. 

Each collection draws inspiration from the River Thames and the practice of mudlarking. Makers have transformed found and weather-worn objects, as well as modern e-waste, into contemporary jewellery that reflects stories of trade, migration, and life along the river.

Four of the five featured makers are alumni of the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s annual new talent showcase Shine, which spotlights the UK’s most exciting emerging jewellers and silversmiths. Through Shine’s open call and tailored training, participants gain practical skills to refine their collections and sell work in retail settings such as the London Museum Docklands shop.

For the London Museum Docklands shop, Kumiko Kihara has created a bespoke range inspired by the Secrets of the Thames exhibition. Her Docklands Stories Collection translates the Thames’ history and artefacts into delicate, sand-cast silver earrings and pendants. Raised in Kyoto among ancient temples and traditional workshops, Kumiko views jewellery as more than ornament - it is a vessel for memory, fragile yet profound. Her pieces are formed using Thames mud, which leaves the river’s mark and echoes the lives bound to its waters.

Alongside Kumiko’s work, Liz Willis offers an exclusive range. Liz transforms found objects - including silver, silk threads, pins, and nails - into contemporary jewellery. Hand-stitched to silver forms, her Mudlarked Collection, created under one of only 30 Port of London Authority Creative Foreshore Permits, gives historic fragments a new chapter as wearable pieces of London’s heritage.

Deputy Director of the Goldsmiths’ Centre Karine Lepeuple explains: 

‘We’re really excited to be working with the London Museum Docklands shop on this showcase. Each collection shares a story of the Thames, reimagining its legacy in jewellery that feels both contemporary and meaningful. At the Goldsmiths’ Centre, our focus is on helping emerging makers build the skills and confidence they need to succeed, and partnerships like this give our Shine alumni the chance to grow their businesses and connect with new audiences.’

Jo Mazzotta, Retail Buyer, London Museum, said: 

‘For thousands of years, the River Thames has been at the heart of London life – a source of livelihood, leisure, transport, and inspiration. Relics of the city’s past, resurfacing with each tide, now enrich the museum’s collection and continue to inspire. This jewellery showcase is testament to that creativity, and we are delighted to be partnering with Goldsmiths to tell these stories through our retail offer, championing beautiful craftsmanship and supporting talented designers.’

This collaboration marks the first public online talk with London Museum. On Monday 13 October 2025, 6pm – 7.15pm, curator Kate Sumnall will present Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures, exploring the history and stories behind the museum’s mudlarking exhibition.

Following the talk, jewellery designer-makers Kumiko Kihara and Liz Willis will discuss their mudlarking-inspired collections and explain how they transform river finds and ideas into wearable contemporary pieces. Visitors are encouraged to explore both the mudlarking exhibition and the jewellery showcase at London Museum Docklands, and to attend the online talk to discover more about how these emerging makers bring historic river finds to life.

For more information, visit www.goldsmiths-shop-talent.org, book your ticket for our talk and to purchase the pieces online visit www.shop.londonmuseum.org.uk