Richard Quinn’s SS26 show was a spectacular event. What more do you need? An opera theme was in full swing. There were 8-meter-high towers of pink hydrangeas. An orchestra and a choir performed. A diva was required, of course. Naomi Campbell did the honours. She stalked the white-carpeted runway. She wore a slim black velvet dress. A huge white satin collar completed the look. A big black bow and a white camellia added to her drama.
Richard Quinn SS26
Richard Quinn’s Show Had It All—Including an Icon.
La Campbell’s look was an overture. It introduced 52 corseted dresses. Net petticoats were everywhere. So were miles of duchesse satin. Kilos of crystals were also used. The magnitude of it was breathtaking. It even surpassed the numbers from Quinn’s last few shows. The collection ran through many tones. Black and white, pastels and carnation red were all there. The show built to a crescendo. It ended with at least six white bridal dresses. This dress inflation is a reflection of his success. It shows the size of his captured business. He is a master of the wedding business.
A Symphony of Volume and Grandeur
The Dress Inflation
The designer had an inspiration in spring 2020. He ended his show with a tableau of brides. It’s taken to the extreme. He has a large atelier. The atelier works constantly. It is at the Quinn headquarters in South London. A service that flies tailors to private clients. They attend to them in their homes. This direct-to-consumer model is very smart. It cuts the risks of relying on wholesale. Connecting with Quinn is easy. Just use the WhatsApp number on his website.
From Showmanship to Smart Business
The Direct-to-Consumer Model
The Quinn show is about volume. Volume in the crinolines. Volume in the show’s length. Variety, though, not so much. Quinn’s silhouettes are from the 1950s golden age. Then they are embellished. He designs embroidery in the studio. Artisans in India create it. His signature wafting chiffon florals are a formula now. They are a product of his own in-house works. This is admirable.
A Formula for Success
Golden Age Silhouettes
Quinn has succeeded through dedication. He delivers what customers want. He’s an entrepreneur. He figured out how to grow a business. This happened despite Brexit and Covid. “Less is more” is not his vocabulary. His work proves something. Not all super-wealthy tastes veer to quiet luxury.
Some of his attention to detail was marred. There were last-minute glitches. A dangling tulle, a visible strap. Still, the show’s operatic scale is important. It brings business and employment to Britain. Richard Quinn is a proud product of South London. Just like Naomi Campbell herself.
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Photos: Richard Quinn
