Modern Lighting Blog

Handmade Glass Lighting History

Written by Katie | 1/18/16 6:44 PM

Over the last many years, Niche has shaped into what you know today - designers and makers of elegant, hand-blown glass lighting. It has been a long ride, but quite the rewarding one. Continue reading about our handmade glass lighting history below.

 

2003

Co-founders Jeremy Pyles & Mary Welch renovate a former bodega market and open a gifts & homewares store in New York City's East Village.

 

 

2004

 

When the search for the proper lighting fixtures for the shop returned no results, Jeremy & Mary decided to make their own. After collecting electrical parts and collaborating with a glass-blower, Niche's first product, the Stamen pendant light, was born. The original Stamen that hung in the window made a statement and soon become to store's best selling item.

 

 

 

2006 

 

With a series of 8 hand-blown glass pendant lights now in the collection, Niche HQ relocated to the Hudson Valley, though the glass pendants were still being made in New York City.

 

 

 

 

2008

 

Niche makes their second move to a beautiful, light-filled 8800 sq. ft. loft building in Beacon, New York.

 

 

 

 

2011

  

Niche expands their operations and begins producing their signature glass pendant in a 20,000 sq. ft. abandoned bronze foundry in Beacon, New York.

 

 

 

 

The Cold Shop and Warehouse renovation begin.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Niche Hot Shop renovation starts. Glass furnaces and other equipment slowly, but surely, make their way into the new space for installation. 
 
 
 
 
  

2012 

 

The Cold Shop is completed!

 
 
 
 

After extensive renovations, the Hot Shop is fully operational. Niche expands their team of glass-blowers and now produces every single piece of glass in Beacon, New York. 

 

 
 
 

2013

  

Niche introduces the Tabletop Collection, featuring a variety of colorful vases, votives, and carafes.

 
 
 
 
 

2014 

 

Our Cold Shop, Hot Shop, and Warehouse Team grows to an even bigger family.

 

 

 

 
The first new pendants in years are introduced and the Crystalline Series is born!
 
 
 

 

2015

 

Factory mezzanine renovation begins to house both the offices and production in the same building.

 

 

 

 

The renovation includes a new photo studio space.

 

 

 

 

We begin to use our very own CNC machine in-house to make models and prototypes, just how we want them!
 
 
 

 

 

 

At long last, the mezzanine office renovation is complete and the entire Niche team now resides in the same building.