Mary Quant

Mary Quant - Fashion, Family and Childhood

Violet FieldHome › BritishMary QuantFebruary 11, 1934576 views

0 based on 0 rates
Mary Quant Biography Stories 

Mary Quant's Personal Details

Mary Quant is a Welsh fashion designer and British fashion icon known for popularizing the miniskirt and hot pants

InformationDetail
BirthdayFebruary 11, 1934
NationalityBritish
FamousGoldsmiths College, Goldsmiths, University Of London, Fashion, Fashion Designers
SpousesAlexander Plunkett-Greene
Known asMary Quant, Dame Barbara Mary Quant, Mrs Plunket Greene
Universities
  • Goldsmiths College,Goldsmiths, University Of London
  • 1955 - Goldsmiths
  • University of London
Notable Alumnis
  • Goldsmiths College
  • Goldsmiths
  • University Of London
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Bazaar
  • Ginger Group
Birth PlaceBlackheath, London
Height175
GenderFemale
FatherJack Quant
MotherMildred Quant
Net Worth$50.4 million as of Jan 2017
Sun SignAquarius
Born inBlackheath, London
Famous asFashion Designer

// Famous Goldsmiths College

Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst is an English artist and entrepreneur who is most famous for his artworks of displays of dead animals and medicine cabinet sculptures.

Dame Vivienne Westwood

Dame Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood is an award winning British fashion designer. Read this biography to learn more about her profile, childhood, life and timeline.

Mary Quant's photo

Who is Mary Quant?

Mary Quant is a Welsh fashion designer and British fashion icon known for popularizing the miniskirt and hot pants. A major figure in the London-based Mod and youth fashion movements during the 1960s, she promoted fun fashions and encouraged people to dress to please themselves rather than conforming to societal norms. Popularly hailed as the inventor of the miniskirt, one of the defining fashions of the 1960s, Quant considered the shortening of the skirt a practical and liberating development for women. Born to Welsh teachers in 1934, she grew up during the World War II period. Too young to realize the seriousness of the war, she actually enjoyed the wartime activities as she was an adventurous young soul. Her progressive minded parents encouraged her to pursue a career and wanted her to choose a stable profession. Mary, however, had made up her mind to study illustration to which her parents reluctantly agreed. After completing her studies she started a business with Alexander Plunket Greene whom she later married. She promoted fun fashion wear which became immensely popular with the younger generation and within years she established herself as a British fashion icon. In addition she is also the author of the books ‘Quant by Quant’, ‘Colour by Quant’ and ‘Quant on Make-up.’

// Famous Goldsmiths, University Of London

Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst is an English artist and entrepreneur who is most famous for his artworks of displays of dead animals and medicine cabinet sculptures.

Dame Vivienne Westwood

Dame Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood is an award winning British fashion designer. Read this biography to learn more about her profile, childhood, life and timeline.

Childhood & Early Life

Barbara Mary Quant was born on 11 February 1934, in Blackheath, London, to Jack and Mary Quant. Her parents were Welsh teachers, hailing from mining families. They were well educated progressive people who believed that girls should study well and establish themselves professionally.

She grew up during the World War II period and her family often moved from one place to another. Too young at that time to understand the seriousness of the war, she actually enjoyed the adventures it brought, often investigating crashed planes and ransacking the debris.

Her initial schooling was random due to the war. She later on went to the Blackheath High School. Blessed with a creative bent of mind and artistic abilities, she developed a love for sewing at a young age and realized that she had an innate sense of fashion.

Her parents wanted her to choose a stable profession but young Mary was adamant about pursuing a creative career. She managed to win a scholarship to Goldsmiths College and her parents reluctantly allowed her to study illustration. She eventually earned a Diploma in Art Education.

Career

Mary Quant became an apprentice at Erik, a high-end Mayfair milliner on Brook Street next door to Claridge's hotel. She earned a measly salary and struggled to even afford proper meals.

She teamed up with a former classmate Alexander Plunket Greene and a friend Archie McNair to start her own business. They opened a boutique called Bazaar. A creative young woman, she promoted a fun and spunky style of fashion that would appeal to the youngsters.

She was always on the lookout for new, interesting clothes for the boutique and also started designing her own range with time. The business thrived and she married her business partner Alexander.

The best selling items in the boutique were short skirts, funky dresses, bright tights, stretchable leggings and T-shirts. Quant is credited to have popularized the miniskirt, a garment that was one of the defining fashions of the 1960s. A fashionable young lady herself, she wore short skirts which led her clients to demand even shorter skirts which came to be known as miniskirts.

Another garment Quant popularized was the colored and patterned tights worn along with the miniskirt. Some credit her to be the inventor of this garment while others believe she only popularized the creation attributed to the Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga.

Eventually the business became a roaring success and her creations were selling all over the world in countries like the United States, France, Italy, Switzerland, Kenya, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. By this time she had also expanded her brand to include a range of cosmetics and other fashion accessories.

Quant revolutionized the way women dress and in the late 1960s popularized the hot pants—extremely short shorts for women, made in luxury fabrics such as velvet and silk—that were youthful, fun, and sexy at the same time.

The massive success of her fashion range prompted her to expand the business and in the 1970s and 1980s she branched out into household goods and cosmetics as well. In 1988, Quant designed the interior of the Mini (1000) Designer.

Even though internationally popular, her cosmetics company Mary Quant Ltd. was most famous in Japan. She resigned as the director of the company in 2000 after a Japanese buy-out.

Mary Quant is the author of many books including ‘Quant by Quant’ (1966), ‘Colour by Quant’ (1984), ‘Quant on Make-up’ (1986), and ‘Classic Make-up and Beauty Book’ (1999).

Major Works

Mary Quant is regarded as a high-profile champion of the miniskirt, a very short skirt with a hemline well above the knees. Though it is debated whether or not she is the inventor of the garment, she is credited to have made the miniskirt extremely popular during the 1960s. She also popularized the hot pants, extremely short shorts for women made in luxury fabrics such as velvet and silk.

Awards & Achievements

In 1963 Mary Quant became the first winner of the Dress of the Year award.

She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding contribution to the fashion industry in 1966.

In 1990 she won the Hall of Fame Award of the British Fashion Council.

In the 2015 New Year Honors, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to British fashion.

Personal Life & Legacy

She met her future husband Alexander Plunket Greene at Goldsmiths College in 1953. They got married in 1957 and had one son. Theirs was a happy marriage that lasted till Alexander’s death in 1990.

// Famous Fashion Designers

Guccio Gucci

Guccio Gucci

Guccio Gucci was a famous fashion designer from Florence, Italy, and the founder of the world-renowned fashion brand ‘Gucci.’ Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Kiko Mizuhara

Kiko Mizuhara

Kiko Mizuhara (Audrie Kiko Daniel) is an American-Japanese actress, model, and designer. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Donatella Versace

Donatella Versace

Donatella Versace is a well-known Italian fashionista and current Vice President of the Versace Group. This biography offers a glimpse of her childhood, career, achievements and timeline.

Mary Quant's awards

YearNameAward

Other

0Order of the British Empire
0 Chartered Society of Designers
0 Royal Designers for Industry

Mary Quant biography timelines

  • // 11th Feb 1934
    Barbara Mary Quant was born on 11 February 1934, in Blackheath, London, to Jack and Mary Quant. Her parents were Welsh teachers, hailing from mining families. They were well educated progressive people who believed that girls should study well and establish themselves professionally.
  • // 1963
    In 1963 Mary Quant became the first winner of the Dress of the Year award.
  • // 1966
    She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding contribution to the fashion industry in 1966.
  • // 1988
    The massive success of her fashion range prompted her to expand the business and in the 1970s and 1980s she branched out into household goods and cosmetics as well. In 1988, Quant designed the interior of the Mini (1000) Designer.
  • // 1990
    In 1990 she won the Hall of Fame Award of the British Fashion Council.
  • // 2000
    Even though internationally popular, her cosmetics company Mary Quant Ltd. was most famous in Japan. She resigned as the director of the company in 2000 after a Japanese buy-out.
  • // 2015
    In the 2015 New Year Honors, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to British fashion.

// Famous Fashion

Sophie Reade

Sophie Reade

Sophie Victoria Reade is a British model and reality show star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life, including her age, birthday, boyfriends, and some interesting facts.

Maria Zulay Salaues

Maria Zulay Salaues

Maria Zulay Salaues Antelo is a Bolivian model and girlfriend of the French footballer Paul Pogba. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Christine Baumgartner

Christine Baumgartner

Christine Baumgartner is an American model and the wife of famous American actor Kevin Costner. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Kyla Cole

Kyla Cole

Kyla Cole is a Slovak glamour model and former television presenter. This biography profiles her childhood, life, modeling career, achievements and timeline.

Annie Bakes

Annie Bakes

Annie Bakes is an American adult model and the ex-wife of Dennis Rodman. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Nora Fatehi

Nora Fatehi

Nora Fatehi is a dancer, model, and actress of Indo–Arabic descent. This biography profiles her childhood, family, personal life, etc.

Mary Quant's FAQ

  • What is Mary Quant birthday?

    Mary Quant was born at 1934-02-11

  • Where is Mary Quant's birth place?

    Mary Quant was born in Blackheath, London

  • What is Mary Quant nationalities?

    Mary Quant's nationalities is British

  • Who is Mary Quant spouses?

    Mary Quant's spouses is Alexander Plunkett-Greene

  • What was Mary Quant universities?

    Mary Quant studied at Goldsmiths College,Goldsmiths, University Of London, 1955 - Goldsmiths, University of London

  • What was Mary Quant notable alumnis?

    Mary Quant's notable alumnis is Goldsmiths College, Goldsmiths, University Of London

  • Which company or organization was founded by Mary Quant?

    Mary Quant was the founder/co-founder of Bazaar, Ginger Group

  • How tall is Mary Quant?

    Mary Quant's height is 175

  • Who is Mary Quant's father?

    Mary Quant's father is Jack Quant

  • Who is Mary Quant's mother?

    Mary Quant's mother is Mildred Quant

  • What is Mary Quant's sun sign?

    Mary Quant is Aquarius

  • How famous is Mary Quant?

    Mary Quant is famouse as Fashion Designer