Mary Quant appeals for original miniskirts

Designer hunts for missing clothes for exhibition after admitting she didn’t keep copies of iconic outfits

Dame Mary Quant has appealed to middle-aged women to bring their miniskirts out from the back of their wardrobes for a new, “landmark” exhibition at the V&A. The pioneering designer never kept a complete archive of her collections, and is pinning her hopes on women who were young in the Fifties and Sixties having pieces stashed away. Dame Mary said she did not realise her designs would define the fashion of a generation of women, or imagine that she would need them for a future exhibition.

DAME MARY QUANT has appealed to middle-aged women to send in the miniskirts of their youth to help put together a “landmark” V&A exhibition.

The pioneering designer never kept a complete archive of her collections, and is pinning her hopes on women who were young in the Fifties and Sixties having pieces stashed away in their wardrobes.

The 200-piece exhibition will be drawn from the V&A’S extensive fashion holdings – which includes the largest collection of Mary Quant garments in the world – as well as the designer’s personal archive and international loans.

Dame Mary said she did not realise as she created her designs that they would define the fashion of a generation of women, or imagine that she would need to hold back an archive for a future exhibition.

She explained: “It was a wonderfully exciting time and despite the frenetic, hard work we had enormous fun. We didn’t necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy relishing all the opportunities and embracing the results before rushing on to the next challenge.

“Friends have been extremely generous in loaning, and in many cases, donating garments and accessories to the V&A which they have lovingly cherished for many years, so it will be fascinating to see what else will emerge.”

Curators have asked women to help uncover lost designs from hot pants, miniskirts and trousers to swimwear, accessories, tights and make-up.

The most coveted missing items from the exhibition include one-off pieces from Quant’s Bazaar boutiques, as well as experimental PVC designs and swimwear. Those who could not afford to buy her clothes could still be included, as the museum wants examples of home dressmakers who used the designer’s patterns.

The exhibition is to open in April next year and will focus on 1955-75, when Quant revolutionised the high street with subversive and playful designs for a younger generation.

Jenny Lister, the exhibition’s curator, said she was looking for the stories behind the clothes, which were worn by fashionable women of all incomes and backgrounds.

She told The Daily Telegraph: “We’ve had a lovely collection of clothes from a lady who lived in Malaysia in the early Sixties with her husband and bought things through mail order from the shop in King’s Road and shocked everyone in Malaysia where she lived with the striking new designs.

“We have also had a dress that someone bought by saving up from her holiday job, and talked to ladies who have worked for Mary Quant and have a dress which was worn to an interview at the shop on King’s Road.”

The story of Dame Mary is particularly relevant to young women, Ms Lister said, explaining: “People would really connect with that story today – she really opened that field for people to start a career in fashion. She spoke to students at the Royal College of Art and showed you could make a successful business out of fashion.”

Quant helped the British export campaign and became one of the faces of swinging London.

‘We didn’t necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy’