Quant opened the London boutique, Bazaar, in 1955. Her first best-sellers were small white plastic collars to brighten up black dresses or sweaters. These sold for the equivalent of 30 cents each. Blackstretch stockings were also a popular item.
Quant attempted to find new and interesting items for the shop, but as a buyer, she wasn't satisfied with the range of clothes available to her. And so she decided to design and manufacture her own.
Some of her early experimental designs included balloon style dresses and knickerbockers. Large spots and checks were mixed. She designed the first range of coordinates in England with items such as sleeveless dresses featuring unusual color combinations.
By 1963 she was exporting her fashions to the U.S.-the focus was on "mix and match" separates, coats, boots, stockings and accessories and began mass-producing. The Mary Quant brand was born.
In 1964, the first mini-skirts arrived in New York. By now, the "mod look" was taking hold worldwide. Mary Quant became the major fashion force outside of Paris, she was THE designer of the mid-60s. Besides the mini-skirt, Quant is often credited with creating the colored and patterned tights that were worn with the mini.
Among her numerous designs were vinyl boots, dresses with strong colors and striking geometric designs, the extremely short micro-mini, plastic raincoats, white, knee-high, lace-up boots, tight, skinny sweaters in stripes and bold checks.
She also said that “Suddenly every girl with a hope of getting away with it is aiming to look not only under voting age, but under the age of consent.”
In the late 60s, Quant launched the short-lived fad of hot pants, which was her last big fashion design. In the 1970s and ‘80s, she concentrated on household goods and makeup, but she will always be known for her innovative, designing style that helped define the 1960s.
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