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Mary Quant Biography
- Born: 11-02-1934
- Birth Place: London, UK
Mary Quant Biography
Immortalised by fashion iconography as the originator of the mini skirt, London designer Mary Quant had an art-school background and had been designing and manufacturing her own clothes since the late 50's. She had one distinct advantage over previous designers: she was a contemporary of her clients, rather than of an older generation. Convinced that fashion needed to be affordable to be accessible to the young, she opened her own retail boutique, “Bazaar”, on the Kings Road in 1955, introducing the 'mod' era and the 'Chelsea Look.'
In her quest for new and interesting clothes for “Bazaar”, she was not satisfied with the range of clothes available and decided that the shop would have to be stocked with clothes made by herself. Knee-high, white, patent plastic, lace up boots, and tight, skinny rib sweaters in stripes and bold checks, which came to epitomise the “London Look”, were the result. Along with trendy fashion shows and window displays, she secured her reputation through the production of original clothing, sold in affordable boutiques, for the new youth-orientated market.
Following on the success of the first Chelsea store, a second Bazaar opened in Knightsbridge in 1961. By 1963 Mary was exporting to the USA, going into mass-production to keep up with the demand, and the Mary Quant worldwide brand was born.
The mid sixties saw her at the height of her fame, when she created the micro-mini and the 'paint box' make-up of 1966, and added the shiny, plastic raincoats and little grey pinafore dresses that came to epitomise the 60’s fashion era. She expanded her brand further into a range of original patterned tights, a range of cosmetics and other fashion accessories.
In 1966 Quant received her OBE for her contribution to the fashion industry. She arrived at Buckingham Palace to accept the honour in a mini skirt and cut-away gloves.
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