Starring role for South West company that boxes clever

Hats off to a Westcountry firm, whose gorgeous goods feature in the latest TV hit.

The Empty Box Company helped set the scene for ITV's Edwardian drama Mr Selfridge, which was watched by millions on Sunday night.

ABOVE: Some of the stars from Mr Selfridge. RIGHT: Some of the Empty Box Company's wares
Lavish costume drama Mr Selfridge, starring Jeremy Piven (above, with Zoe Tapper as Ellen, seated, Frances O'Connor as Rose and Aisling Loftus as Agnes) is using hatboxes made by a Devon company (examples right)

The business provided 120 hat boxes to makers of the show, which were spotted stacked high in Selfridge's foyer when the first episode of the show aired on January 6.

The Tavistock company has specialised in the niche market of Edwardian-style hat boxes for 25 years. Director Giselle Hulme said: "We are thrilled to see our boxes in such a perfect setting of a period drama set in Edwardian times, when hats and dresses arrived in beautiful boxes."

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But she had no idea what the boxes were for until she sat down to watch the show.

"Last autumn we were given a mysteriously large order of 120 boxes from ITV," Giselle said. "But the actual programme they are used for is usually kept under wraps. We just have to keep an eye out for them on the television."

The boxes – which are circular in pearl white with grey ribbon – were first seen on the show when main character Harry Selfridge gave a pep talk to staff before the grand opening of the famous store.

They are also seen dotted about the ladies' gloves and accessories department.

All of the boxes at The Empty Hat Company are handmade in its Milton Abbot workshop before being shipped to customers across Britain and Europe.