About: Mary Quant

Mary Quant, born on the 11th of February 1934, is a fashion designer and a British fashion icon. She was one of the leading figures in the 1960 Mod fashion movements in London. She is credited with popularising, and some say inventing, the miniskirt, hot pants, and coloured tights/stockings.

She also invented waterproof mascara, and was the lady who popularised the ‘bob’ haircut – the ‘bob’ was invented for her by famous hair designer Vidal Sassoon

The miniskirt is one of the garments most associated with the 1960s, and in particular with Mary Quant. Many people say that Quant invented the miniskirt, although some suggest the inventor was a male designer, also working in London at the time, called John Bates.

Mary Quant said that she gave the miniskirt its name because her favourite car was the Mini.

Mary Quant made youthful clothes for young people. Her aim was to promote fun fashions and encourage young people to dress happily and treat fashion as a game.

As the miniskirt became more and more popular, Quant introduced patterned and colourful tights to accompany the miniskirt. These too became popular on the streets of London in the 1960s.
In the late 60s, Quant introduced hot pants, and these too became hugely popular. By the end of the 60s, Mary Quant had become a fashion icon.

In the 70s and 80s, Mary Quant continued to design clothes and sold them all around the world. She also created a range of make-up, cosmetics, as well as household goods.

In 1988, Mary Quant designed the interior of a special edition Mini car. Only a few thousand were released, and as a result they were, and still are, collectors items.

In 2000, her cosmetics company was bought by Japanese company ‘Mary Quant Cosmetics Japan’.

Now it is April 2017, and Mary Quant is still alive and well. She is 83 years old, and lives in Surrey, just south east of London.