Meet the Founder of Manor Wild: A Love Letter to Jewellery, Nature and Craft
An Interview with Elizabeth Ingram, Founder of Manor Wild Jewellery
There’s often a moment behind every brand, a quiet thread that connects childhood, career and creativity into something tangible. For Elizabeth Ingram, founder of Manor Wild Jewellery, that thread is deeply personal. Rooted in heritage, shaped by a global creative career, and inspired by nature’s quieter details, her story is one of connection, to place, to people, and to purpose.
We sat down with Elizabeth to talk about her journey, what drives her, and why jewellery continues to hold such meaning.
Q, Your background is in creative marketing and brand strategy. How did that influence Manor Wild?
I’ve always worked in creative roles, from graphic design through to brand strategy, across industries that are quite different on the surface, but actually connected by storytelling. I’ve worked in sustainability and clean tech, translating complex ideas into something people can understand and believe in. And earlier in my career, I worked in fashion publishing, including titles like Grazia, where visual storytelling had to be immediate, emotive and culturally relevant.
That mix has shaped everything I do with Manor Wild. It’s not just about making jewellery, it’s about creating something that feels considered, calm, and meaningful. Every piece has a story, even if it’s a quiet one.
Q, Where did your love of jewellery begin?
It started long before Manor Wild. I grew up around Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, my mum was a diamond dealer there. I spent so many school holidays walking between workshops, seeing gemstones, watching craftsmanship up close.
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter (istock)
At the time, I probably didn’t realise how much it was shaping me. But looking back, it gave me an appreciation for the detail, the patience, and the story behind every piece. Jewellery wasn’t just something you wore, it was something that had been made, handled, considered.
That’s stayed with me.
Q, Your collections feel very connected to nature. Where does that inspiration come from?
Travel has definitely played a role. I’ve been lucky enough to experience places like Mauritius, Hong Kong, Bali, Sri Lanka, and cities across Europe, Paris, Munich, Madrid, Bologna, as well as New York City.
Each place leaves a mark, colours, textures, light. But if I’m honest, one of my favourite places is Lyme Regis. There’s something about the coastline there, the softness of the light, the movement of the sea, the tones in the stones and shells.
That’s where collections like Coastal Air really come from. It’s less about dramatic landscapes and more about subtle, calming details, the kind you notice when you slow down.
Q, Where do you go to feel inspired day to day?
I’m a member of the National Trust, and that’s something that’s become really important to me and my children. We spend a lot of time visiting places like Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House, they’re peaceful, full of history, and surrounded by nature.
Charlecote Park is another favourite, it’s so historic and grand, the Orangery cafe is beautiful and I especially love seeing the deer, there’s something quite special about seeing them roaming freely. It’s those kinds of moments, quiet, natural, unforced, that really influence Manor Wild.
It’s not about big, dramatic inspiration. It’s about small, beautiful details that stay with you.
National Trust House - Baddesley Clinton Gardens (photo Elizabeth Ingram)
Q, Have there been any standout moments or partnerships since launching Manor Wild?
One of the most rewarding moments has been working with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. It felt like a natural fit, a brand rooted in nature being recognised by an organisation that protects it.
What made it even more special was how it came about. They actually found my trader profile through CJ’s Events, which was a real moment of validation. As a small independent brand, you spend a lot of time building quietly, so to be discovered in that way felt incredibly encouraging.
It reinforced that Manor Wild is connecting with the right audiences, people and organisations who genuinely value nature, sustainability and thoughtful design.
Q, What has been the biggest challenge in building the brand?
Balancing it with life. I’m a single parent, so time is always split between responsibilities and also working too. Building Manor Wild has had to fit around family life, evenings, early mornings, small pockets of time.
It’s not always easy, but it has shaped the brand in a positive way. It’s made me more intentional. I don’t rush things, I design collections that feel calm and considered because that’s how I need to work.
My background in marketing means I understand what needs to come first, the research, the planning, the organisation. The parts that aren’t always visible, but are essential. Things like assigning SKUs, building detailed spreadsheets, and making sure margins are right, both for me and for the retailers I work with.
I’ve always been a team player and someone who puts the customer experience first. That means thinking beyond just the product itself, considering how a retailer can successfully sell it, how their customer connects with it, and how someone shopping directly through the website experiences the brand from start to finish.
That balance, between creativity and commercial thinking, is something that sits at the heart of Manor Wild.
There’s also something quite grounding about making jewellery in that context. It’s a contrast to the pace of my previous roles in marketing and publishing. It brings me back to something slower, more tangible.
Q, What is it about jewellery that keeps you creating?
Jewellery is personal in a way that not many things are. People choose pieces for a reason, even if they don’t always articulate it. It might remind them of a place, a moment, or simply how they want to feel.
For me, making jewellery is about creating those quiet connections. Pieces that don’t shout, but sit comfortably with you. That feel like part of your everyday.
That’s what Manor Wild is about, not trends, not fast fashion, but something a little more thoughtful.
Q, We’ve heard there’s a little studio companion, can you tell us about her?
That’s Ella, my Maine Coon, and she very much sees herself as part of the process. She often sits close by when I’m making jewellery, usually surrounded by beads as if she’s supervising everything… really she’s just playing with them!
Ella the ‘helpful’ Manor Wild cat
She has a big personality, very curious, very present, and always seems to know when I’m working on something new. There’s something quite calming about having her there, it adds to that sense of slowing down and being in the moment.
She might not be designing the pieces, but she’s definitely part of the Manor Wild studio life.
Discover Manor Wild Jewellery
Manor Wild Jewellery is inspired by coast and countryside, handcrafted with care, and designed to feel effortless and enduring. Each piece reflects a balance of nature, story and simplicity, shaped by a lifetime of creative experience and a deep rooted love of craft.
