Long live the Quinn!  Richard Quinn was already a breakout graduate from his Central Saint Martins MA class with his extreme subversions of floral prints but when Her Majesty the Queen made a surprise appearance at his London Fashion Week show in 2018 to present him with the inaugural QEII Award for British Design, that’s when all eyes fell on this young, grounded designer.

Quinn has since risen and risen, with surreal moments like the likes of Celine Dion and Cardi B donning a head-to-toe RQ look, as well as putting on spectacular shows that involve both his family and community, like the SS20 show that had a troupe of girls from the local primary school emerging in marabou ensembles standing next to a Cecil Beaton-esque mise-en-scene, with the help of his brother who works in construction. From Quinn’s South Peckham studio and open-access print studio, he spoke to fashion journalist and content creator Susie Lau, just as a second lockdown had begun in London, about navigating an albeit quieter year for everyone and how we will emerge and react to these strange times.  Dress up, up and up is the takeaway!

“Those key turning point, red carpet moments aren’t happening right now.  But once this is all gone, it will be more saturated than ever.  Everyone will be just like ‘Let’s go for it!’.  It will be like the 1920s again.  Any occasion will be special.”

Keeping things special is precisely why Quinn opted not to show his SS21 collection in September and instead postponed it until February. Being brave enough to pause and wait for a better moment is why Quinn’s shows are such hot tickets. Welcome to the House of Quinn!