Alex Pole has always had a fascination with metals. From sitting with his mum watching her make jewelry as a four-year-old, to casting lead soldiers in his pre-teens, he has always been drawn to these materials. In 2006 he established the Alex Pole Ironwork which is known for its production of high-quality functional products for the home and garden. It has slowly evolved over the years to specialize in hand forged kitchenware and utensils which lead him to establish Forge Kitchenware in 2015. The primary aim of the forge is to promote blacksmithing, and the makers movement and to show its relevance in the 21st century.