Mary Quant

Mary Quant: London designer Mary Quant began as an amateur and was one of the many designers who claimed to be the creator of the mini-skirt. She had an art-school background and had been designing and manufacturing her own clothes since the late 50's. Despite having no formal training in business she opened her own design house and retail boutique and introduced the 'mod' era and the 'Chelsea Look.'. She designed such popular items of 1960's fashion as knee-high, white, patent plastic, lace up boots, and tight, skinny rib sweaters in stripes and bold checks. Quant’s fashion shows and window displays were events or ‘happenings.’ She produced original clothing, that was sold in affordable boutiques, for a new youth-orientated market.As her popularity grew she created the micro-mini and the 'paint box' make-up of 1966. She also designed shiny, plastic raincoats and little, grey pinafore dresses. She produced her own range of original patterned tights and also her own range of cosmetics. In 1966 Quant received her OBE for her contribution to the fashion industry. She turned up at the Palace in a mini and cut away gloves. In 1967 she said "Good taste is death. Vulgarity is life." Her last fashion invention for the 60s were ‘Hot Pants.