Power; Humour of Art

By Nikki Narayanan

There once was a design duo named Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden who met in 1999 at Chelsea College of Art. After graduating, they could not stay away from each other leading to the design of a company called Tatty Devine. Their pieces were statement jewellery with the signature look that will continue to tell stories and generate conversations by anyone who looks at it. 

From trading in a market stall in East London to being lauded in Vogue and stocked in Harvey Nichols and Whistles, their unique looks took them everywhere within a year. The duo decided to take it further by pushing the boundaries and conventional jewellery making. In 2001, they invested in a laser cutting machine which allowed them to explore more creative aspects and have more freedom. They turned everyday disposable objects like cake decorations into personal jewellery that captured the attention of fans all over the world. 

tatty devine pic

And you can now see it as well, with free entry at the summer exhibition dedicated to Tatty Devine’s 20-year-old anniversary, launching at Central Saint Martins’ Lethaby Gallery, London from 20 July to 11 August. That is not all, there will be a UK-wide tour that will start in September 2019.

After 20 years, every single piece is still made by hand and in the UK. They continue to stay culturally relevant and design audacious pieces that help with campaigns they care about. For example, some pieces created relate to Fawcett Society and Comic Relief and Battersea Cats and Dogs home. 

This anniversary will release the publication of a new book called Misshapes: The making of Tatty Devine. Misshapes is supported by the Crafts Council who made the exhibition possible in the first place. The book will feature over 100 pieces from the past 20 years, and never before seen designs from the personal archive and collaborations. You can see the advancement of earlier pieces like paint belts to Tatty Devine’s newer art embracing the shifts in technology. While reading, you will be taken through the immense journey of creativity, techniques along with the glamour and humour that Tatty Devine is known for. 

Check out for more info: tattydevine.com

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