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Rosh Mahtani of Alghieri to receive Queen Elizabeth II Award

Lauretta Roberts
13 February 2020

Rosh Mahtani of jewellery brand Alghieri will receive the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design on the final day of London Fashion Week.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will present Mahtani with her award in recognition for the craftsmanship of her jewellery, which is produced in Hatton Garden using sustainable materials.

This is the third year the award has been presented. In 2018 The Queen caused a sensation at London Fashion Week by sitting on the front row of fashion designer Richard Quinn's show before presenting him with the inaugural prize.

Last year Bethany Williams won the award, which was presented by the Duchess of Cornwall.

The prize was conceived in recognition of the role the fashion industry plays in society and diplomacy and the movement of young designers that are both talented and making a difference to society through either sustainable practices or community engagement.

Caroline Rush CBE, CEO, British Fashion Council commented: “We are delighted to announce Rosh Mahtani from Alighieri as the third recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. Mahtani has managed to translate her passion for jewellery and storytelling into a highly successful business while using responsibly sourced materials.

"Her ethical approach and commitment to local manufacturing, combined with her ability to make beautiful, timeless, made by hand jewellery, makes her an inspiration for many young British designers. We are incredibly proud to recognise Mahtani and look forward to seeing her business grow.”

Born in London and raised in Zambia, the founder of Alighieri, Rosh Mahtani, studied French and Italian at Oxford University. Upon graduating in 2012, Mahtani was inspired to create Modern Heirlooms, born from the literature she had studied such as Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy in particular. With no formal training, and an obsession with the idea of imperfect sculptures, Alighieri was officially launched in 2014.

Alighieri has become known for its hand-made gold-plated antique-style designs with each piece made from a process of lost-wax casting at some of the oldest suppliers in Hatton Garden. The brand is firmly rooted in literature and travel and each biannual new collection is based on a different aspect of Dante's The Divine Comedy.

Each year a designer is selected by the BFC, in collaboration with the Royal Household, to be recognised by this Award. The Award, designed by Angela Kelly, inspired by The Queen Elizabeth rose, has been hand-produced by Lucy Price at Bauhinia Studios and in Birmingham's famous jewellery quarter.

The Princess Royal is also the president of the UKFT and spends much of her time visiting British fashion brands and manufacturers.

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