What Rosh Mahtani has achieved in the six short years since she founded her brand, Alighieri, is nothing short of remarkable. Almost single-handedly she – and her remarkable team – have revitalised London’s jewellery industry, injecting a fresh wave of energy into the storied streets of Hatton Garden. Ever since the 19th century, the area has played host to jewellers, its cobbled streets sitting atop labyrinthine tunnels linking vaults to workshops, and it’s here that her internationally renowned business has been built.
“We make everything within these six streets, and this is our home in so many ways,” said Mahtani. “It’s such an honour to be able to [work] here – ever since I first stumbled into my caster’s workshop with a little broken and textured wax mould that I’d made myself. They didn’t laugh in my face – even though that little crustacean [I showed them] had two legs missing. They said, ‘Let’s see if it works.’ And they have been supporting me ever since. It’s thanks to them we’ve managed to build this.”