We’re long-term fans of Tatty Devine at Stylist (and we were thrilled by the collaboration the jewellery makers did with our sister publication Emerald Street), so we were very happy to see Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden awarded an MBE for services to the fashion industry last week.

You’ll know them for their quirky and well-made pieces including their signature Perspex name necklaces and their eyelash sunglasses, this year’s celebrity favourite worn by Rita Ora, Azalea Banks, Miley Cyrus and Nicola Roberts. We were also lucky enough to speak to the duo before they picked up their awards.

“We got the letter on November 22nd,” said artistic director Harriet. “And it said we had to keep everything strictly confidential. I was so shocked when we received it that I pretty much read it out word-for-word in the workroom, so all the staff knew! It was so hard over Christmas as you always see all your friends around then and I felt like I would burst.

The two co-founders have always been proud of the British-ness of their brand in both in practical terms (all of their pieces are handmade by teams in London and Kent) and their inspiration.

“A lot of work references British heritage, but at the same time we have a strong streak of individualism which is also very British,” says managing director Rosie.

Are you after a Royal Warrant now too?

“We’d love a royal commission,” says Harriet. “We’d make the Queen a corgi brooch. With wheels on!”

The fashion industry is worth £21 billion a year to the UK economy and employs almost 1 million people in Britain. Designer Stella McCartney and campaigner Caryn Franklin were also honoured this year.

Tatty Devine duo awarded MBE