in
120 VOGUE INDIA JUNE http://www.vogue.in
Amal Clooney
at the Met
Gala in 2018The Queen sitting
in the front row,
next to^ US^ Vogue’s
Anna WintourGETTY IMAGES ; INDIGITAL MEDIA; SHUTTERSTOCK.COMRICHARD QUINN
When Queen Elizabeth is front row at your
show, you know that you’ve graduated to the big
leagues. For Richard Quinn, it’s a unique approach
to print, colour and volume that’s made him one of
the hottest young Brit designers
“Of course, I consider myself a maximalist,”
laughs Richard Quinn on the phone from his Lon-
don studio. The designer who has made himself
known for his printing techniques has also become
quite a talking point for his empowerment of the
design community—inviting students and design-
ers to use his printing facilities. We asked him to
tell us about his aesthetic.
On maximalism: “We’re known for print and
colour but my defi nition is big, contrasting vol-
umes, colourful prints, embroidery and full gar-
ments that make a statement on and off the body.
Historically, Christian Lacroix in the ’80s and
’90s was constantly pushing it to the edge.
Jean Paul Gaultier and Versace under
Gianni is what I think of when I think
of this movement.”
On defi ning his aesthetic: “Tai-
lored, exciting prints, bold textiles
and silhouettes—we are trying to cre-
ate an all-round kind of house. I’ve al-
ways been crafty and material-based.”
On his prints: “They are nostalgic,
referencing the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, and re-
defi ning their characteristics. I’m known
for clashing prints—and what sets us
apart is how we put them together and
the context. You can always go push the
envelope further. Last season, we
turned our prints into embroideries—
really cool elements where English tar-
tan was created with bugle-cut em-
broidery, and all-over suiting had
embroidery. That was a great evolution.”
On approaching a collection: “It actually all
runs together simultaneously. For spring/summer
2019, on our mood board were the gowns from the
’50s and ’60s, handcrafted couture elements and
embroideries that I love.”—Priyanka Khanna >S S ’ A W ’