In October 1955 Mary Quant joined forces with her husband, Alexander Plunkett-Greene, and Archie McNair, to open a clothes shop on London’s Kings Rd called Bazaar. Her best sellers were small white plastic collars to brighten up black dresses or a black sweat shirt.
Following the positive reaction to her outfit for the Bazaar launch party, and unhappy with the variety of clothes already on the market, Quant decided to design and make her own range. Initially working solo, she soon employed a few machinists. A second Bazaar opened in Knightsbridge in 1961 and in 1965 she started exporting to the U.S.A. By 1966 she was working with 18 different manufacturers.
Skirts had been getting shorter since about 1958 – a development Quant felt to be practical and liberating. The miniskirt, for which she is arguably most famous, became one of the defining fashions of the 1960s. Its design was developed separately by Andre Courreges, and there is some disagreement as to who came up with the idea first. Mary Quant named her miniskirt after her favorite make of car - you’ve guessed it - the mini! Whether she invented the miniskirt or not, Quant was one of its major popularisers. This was largely thanks to Bazaar being a popular haunt for the fashionable “Chelsea Set”.
Quant’s popularity was at its peak in the mid 1960s, during which time she produced the dangerously short micro-mini skirt and plastic raincoats. She was described as being the leading fashion force outside Paris.
In 1966, Quant was appointed an OBE for services to the fashion industry. She was a truly influential women’s tailor and as such her clean cut, no-nonsense designs are as desirable today as they were in the 60’s.
Add New Comment
Viewing 10 Comments
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Add New Comment
Trackbacks
(Trackback URL)