A lively portrait of a fascinating woman and her time
1950s London was as sartorially conservative as the next place. But gradually art schools started to turn out designers and artists who would challenge the post-war status quo and change fashion forever. One of the biggest of these names was Mary Quant, a quiet, reserved, Welsh-woman, who went on to found a global fashion empire, and is forever remembered as the mother of the mini-skirt.
Quant is a warm and loving look at the woman and her extraordinary vision. Director Sadie Frost has pulled together new interviews, archival footage, and some recreated scenes to paint a picture of a woman, a time, and a look. But this is also the story of a business. Quant, along with Cardin, was one of the first designers to subscribe to the idea of branding. Very early in her career, Quant teamed up with her husband, Alexander Plunkett-Green, in a business partnership: he very much the business brains; she the creative force. Prescient business decisions were made, which helped not just their own success, but the recognition of British fashion as a world player. These included opening the first real “boutique” (as opposed to “dress shop”), Bazaar, on the King’s Road.
This is a lively, fun, fascinating and colourful look at a quietly interesting woman, and a hugely influential time in British fashion. Interviewees include Zandra Rhodes, Orlando Plunkett-Green (her son), and even Dave Davies of The Kinks (although what he contributes is not entirely clear…).
In one of those bittersweet coincidences, just after the initial release of the film, Mary Quant died in April this year at the remarkable age of 93.
For anyone who loves fashion and cultural history, or who is just a 60s tragic, then Quant is the film for you.
Quant opens May 18th
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