Raincape thumbnail 1
Raincape thumbnail 2
Not on display

Raincape

c.1967
Artist/Maker
Alligator Rainwear Limited (retailer)
Mary Quant (designer)
Place of origin
England (made)

Raincape, designed by Mary Quant for Alligator Rainwear Ltd. Quant is one of Britain’s most well-known and influential designers. She collaborated with Alligator between 1965 and 1967. Raincapes were one of her key designs for this collaboration and are heavily featured in marketing material. This raincape is made from yellow gabardine with an exposed zipper at the front and Quant’s trademark black contrast topstitching at the hem.

Object details

Category
Womenswear
Object type
Raincape
Materials and techniques
Gabardine
Gabardine
Brief description
Raincape, yellow, designed by Mary Quant for Alligator, England, c.1965
Physical description
A raincape designed by Mary Quant for Alligator Rainwear, 1965 - 1967. The cape is made from yellow PVC and gabardine with a central zipper at the front and Mary Quant’s trademark black contrast topstitching at the hem.
Gallery label
(30/03/2020)
[Mary Quant exhibtion, 2019 - panel text]

1965–67
ALLIGATOR RAINWEAR

“Since when did raincoats go wild? Since Mary Quant designed for Alligator.”

Quant’s fascination with shiny, waterproof PVC is realised through her collaboration with Alligator Rainwear. Based in a mill in Stockport, near Manchester, for decades the company has produced traditional weatherproof coats in black, brown and beige to suit the British climate. By signing a licensing deal with Mary Quant, the brand takes on
a new lease of life.

Alligator’s manufacturing expertise resolves the issues associated with her 1963 ‘Wet Collection’, allowing Quant to develop a bright new range of waterproofs in primary colours with capes, zips and contrasting collars and cuffs which combine functionality with striking visual effects. She also pushes Alligator to try innovative synthetic materials like nylon to produce exciting new looks.
(30/03/2020)
[Mary Quant exhibition, 2019]

SWINGING CAPES
1967

Quant designed a range of these bold rain capes for Alligator Rainwear in a rainbow of the ‘season’s snappiest shades’. The paired-back and fun design in
‘showerproof cotton canvas’ featured slash pockets, a central zip front, metal studs and Quant’s signature colour-contrast top-stitching at the hem. The Alligator advertisements proclaimed, ‘Quant girls take shelter under this swinging cape.’

Yellow rain cape
Weatherproof cotton canvas
Labelled ‘Alligator by Mary Quant’
Made by Alligator Rainwear Ltd, Stockport
V&A: T.89-2018
Object history
Mary Quant produced her first collaboration with Alligator in 1965.
Summary
Raincape, designed by Mary Quant for Alligator Rainwear Ltd. Quant is one of Britain’s most well-known and influential designers. She collaborated with Alligator between 1965 and 1967. Raincapes were one of her key designs for this collaboration and are heavily featured in marketing material. This raincape is made from yellow gabardine with an exposed zipper at the front and Quant’s trademark black contrast topstitching at the hem.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.89-2018

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Record createdJuly 13, 2018
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1454720/raincape-mary-quant/
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