Because nobody made the garments that she had in mind, Mary Quant, 85, was early on clear: "We knew we had to do it ourselves, otherwise nothing would happen." So at night she sewed some of the goods in her room for her fashion boutique on London's King's Road: hot pants, dungarees, mini dresses with Peter Pan collar and of course miniskirts, all in bright colors. Also on offer are colorful patterned tights, raincoats made of PVC and as a dress portable cardigans. Fashion for the "Swinging Sixties".

"It sparked a revolution in design, lifestyle and fashion," said Tristram Hunt, director of London's Victoria and Albert Museum, at the opening of the Mary Quant exhibition this weekend. Actually, the daughter of a teacher's family should also become a pedagogue, but instead used as a fashion designer, the youth movement of the sixties and shown how fashion can drive social change.

Quite new was the miniskirt back then no longer, and did not invent him Quant, but she named him - after her favorite car - and made a symbol of the sexual revolution and the liberation of women. Quants designs celebrated the youth and life. Her fashion was the alternative to the stuffy post-war society.

The cloth she got in the luxury department store Harrods, but what she tailor made, caused in fine circles for indignation - at least with the parents. The children of the Schickeria made a pilgrimage in Quants "Bazaar" in the hip district of Chelsea. Even the display was different from most other stores of the time. Between the mannequins she placed stuffed birds, goldfish in a glass or a dead lobster on a leash. The sight of these quantum creations also caused many a shake of the head.

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Mary Quant: More than just a mini skirt

Through a series of reconstructed shop windows, visitors to the London exhibition can now take a look back at Swinging London. Several single player additionally convey an impression of that time. The centerpiece is exhibits from Quant's personal archive, to which the curators had unlimited access. 120 garments, accessories, cosmetics, sketches and photos can be seen, many of which are shown for the first time according to V & A.

In addition, the exhibition organizers had previously asked the population for loans under the hashtag #WeWantQuant. Around 1000 former customers complied and submitted photos, clothes, shoes and memories in Cromwell Road. More than a quarter of the exhibited pieces come from this action.

Crowdfunding also added some interesting perspectives to the exhibition. Because the things may have been hip, they were not useful in any case. "My raincoat was not always practical in the storm, but it was a statement," wrote a lender. And in the display case with the bright PVC boots of the brand Quant Afoot, which are only zippered, it reads: "They looked funny, but were uncomfortable and sweaty."

Fashion for the crowd

The success of the brand did not detract. It helped that Quant was also ahead of its time in its business practices. She created her own daisy logo and had it produced in collaboration with other labels. From 1963 Quant also sold mass fashion under the label Ginger Group. And so that anyone who wanted to really enjoy her designs, she even published her patterns. The most popular sold 70,000 times.

In 1966, Mary Quant was named Queen by the Queen for her services to the British fashion industry. She received the award in a simple beige jersey mini dress with a pleated skirt, gloves and beige beret. "Comic elevator for the palace," criticized the "Daily Mail" at that time. Nowadays it is exhibited in the museum.