Pioneer of 'protest fashion' made CBE

A staple of the 1980s wardrobe, the designer's stark slogans plastered across casual clothing caught the imagination of a generation disillusioned with Margaret Thatcher's Britain.

But the 63-year-old, from east London, proved her slogans were not empty: as good as her word, she has acted on her political and ethical instincts to try to make a difference in the world in which she works.

"I discovered the fashion industry was responsible for a living environmental nightmare," she wrote on her website.

"I was horrified and felt a moral imperative to do something."

In the past decade, she has fought to raise consumer awareness of issues in the clothing industry and has relaunched her 1980s slogan T-shirts – this time with organic cotton grown to high ethical and environmental standards.

She joins a list of prominent figures in fashion who are honoured today for their services to the industry, including luxury shoe designer Beatrix Ong, who is made MBE, and Raymond Kelvin, chief executive and founder of Ted Baker, who is made CBE.

Alice Temperley, one of those being tipped as a possible designer for Kate Middleton's wedding gown, is also made MBE in this season's honours.

Synonymous with glamour and elegance, she counts among her fans actresses Eva Mendez, Demi Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sienna Miller, Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry.

Designer Tanya Sarne, who is behind the fashion label Ghost, is made an OBE