Not currently on display at the V&A

Smartee

Pair of Long Socks
1966-1968 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Mary Quant’s first boutique, Bazaar, opened in London's King's Road in 1955, launching a successful fashion career. Her youthful easy-to-wear clothing became so popular that in 1963, she launched a lower-priced ready-to-wear range called 'Ginger Group'. She also entered into licensing agreements with manufacturers to produce hosiery, underwear, cosmetics and accessories bearing her name. Almost anyone, whatever their income, could spare the money to buy a pair of 'Mary Quant' stockings or a lipstick. This enabled girls who could not otherwise afford her clothing to feel in touch with fashion, and made Mary Quant a household name and a commercial success.

Her contribution to British life was marked by a retrospective exhibition at the London Museum in 1973. The exhibition included many of Quant's most revolutionary garments, some remade as facsimiles if original ones could not be found.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Stocking
  • Stocking
TitleSmartee (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Acrylic and nylon blend
Brief description
Pair of over-the-knee 'Smartee' acrylic-nylon socks, designed by Mary Quant, made by Nylon Hosiery Co. Ltd, England, 1966-1968
Physical description
Pair of 'high-bulk' acrylic-nylon blend over-the-knee stockings in wide cranberry, peony and aubretia stripes. (red, pink and purple). With packaging.
Production typeReady to wear
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'MARY QUANT / OVER KNEE SOCKS / 'SMARTEE'' (On packaging)
  • 'CRANBERRY/PEONY/AUBRETIA / 80% Acrylic 20% Nylon / 1 Size' (Colour, fabric content and size information from packaging)
Credit line
Given by Nylon Hosiery Co. Ltd.
Subject depicted
Summary
Mary Quant’s first boutique, Bazaar, opened in London's King's Road in 1955, launching a successful fashion career. Her youthful easy-to-wear clothing became so popular that in 1963, she launched a lower-priced ready-to-wear range called 'Ginger Group'. She also entered into licensing agreements with manufacturers to produce hosiery, underwear, cosmetics and accessories bearing her name. Almost anyone, whatever their income, could spare the money to buy a pair of 'Mary Quant' stockings or a lipstick. This enabled girls who could not otherwise afford her clothing to feel in touch with fashion, and made Mary Quant a household name and a commercial success.

Her contribution to British life was marked by a retrospective exhibition at the London Museum in 1973. The exhibition included many of Quant's most revolutionary garments, some remade as facsimiles if original ones could not be found.
Collection
Accession number
T.101K&L-1983

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdAugust 17, 2007
Record URL
Download as: JSON