Mary Quant selecting fabric, 1967 ©Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images
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Ahead of her time in marketing and promotion, Quant was the embodiment of the label. Her distinctive, photogenic style, playful energy and revolutionary approach made her the ultimate ambassador for the brand. The show explores some of Quant’s most memorable moments from collecting her OBE to the evolution of her rising hemlines. The exhibition looks at her collaborations with manufacturers, diversifying into underwear, hosiery and cosmetics, all made to her designs, and packaged with her distinctive daisy logo. It also explores her own line of dolls, known as Daisy dolls, a rival to Barbie.
Jenny Lister, co-curator of Mary Quant at the V&A, said: “Mary Quant transformed the fashion system, overturning the dominance of luxury couture from Paris. She dressed the liberated woman, freed from rules and regulations, and from dressing like their mothers. This long- overdue exhibition shows how Mary Quant’s brand connected with her customers, how she made designer fashion affordable for working women, and how her youthful, revolutionary clothes, inspired by London’s creative scene, made British streetstyle the global influence it remains today.”
From small boutique to international label, Quant revolutionised British fashion with energy, flair and rebellion. Mary Quant at the V&A features never before seen designs and provides an unrivalled insight into the career of one of Britain’s most revolutionary and important fashion designers.
The exhibition Mary Quant runs from 6 April 2019 – 16 February 2020. Tickets are £12
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