Richard Quinn is a South London fashion designer that graduated in 2016 from Central Saint Martins. He has since made an impact on the industry.
Quinn’s designs fuse punk and couture elements, fearlessly playing with prints, colors, and silhouettes—it’s a style that’s uniquely his own and has even caught the attention of royalty. The turning point of Quinn’s career arrived at his 2018 LFW show when a surprise guest—Queen Elizabeth II herself—graced the front row. The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was presented to Quinn, an award given annually for an emerging designer that shows talent, originality, and value for the community, while also demonstrating strong sustainable policies. Royal Salute, a Scotch Whisky, was created in Speyside in Scotland in 1953 as a tribute for the Queen’s coronation. It has remained rooted in history and heritage ever since.
Quinn collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger and Moncler as well as dressed celebrities to the Met Gala. Closer to his roots however, Quinn’s Peckham Studios serves as an DIY nurturing ground, providing workshops and screen-printing. Quinn and Royal Salute are collaborating again after a first successful collaboration. The two companies will collaborate on three floral-themed bottles, as well as a six-piece capsule of clothing. Royal Salute has released a limited edition 21-year-old Richard Quinn Edition II, a collectible that features unique colors and Quinn’s personality. Quinn’s contribution to the product design is not limited to that. Sandy Hyslop was the Master Blender of Royal Salute. Quinn worked closely with Sandy to incorporate his personal touch into the blend. This helped to cement his involvement in the project. Quinn was in his South London Studio to find out more.
Quinn, in casual attire, a cap, sneakers and a jumper, greets us and gets straight to the point, discussing the original show that sowed the seeds for the partnership. “We strive to be as transparent and honest about our work. [our shows] It’s a little escapist. Our clothes would be extra. You’d see big floral prints or big silhouettes. Quinn describes how there is always an element of creating drama in the way we display our work. Royal Salute attended the show and, taken in by Quinn’s vision, approached him afterward. The company approached us after the show to find out how they could combine both worlds. It was a way to merge fantasy, history, and fashion into one piece.
Quinn recognized, when he began designing the Royal Salute collection, that Royal Salute fans share a love for collectibles and unique items. “Everyone I’ve met that’s really into the Royal Salute brand, they’re similar to the people that buy our clothes. They like collecting unique things.”
The goal of this collection was to produce three unique bottles that are collectors’ items in their own right. “We really wanted to give the person who buys it an experience,” he continues. “The overall vision for the collection was to make it fun, engaging, and collectible. Every bottle is unique, with a variety of colors. Each one has its own personality, but also works well as part of a set, giving the collection a distinct flavor.
The collaboration goes beyond aesthetics and into the world of taste. Royal Salute has a minimum blend age of 21. This is a great way to get the best flavor. Quinn was actively involved in crafting the drink’s unique blend, revealing, “I’ve always drank whisky when I was out, but more as a mixer to something. The collaboration I did with Quinn has opened my eyes about drinking whisky. Then he continued, “You become more educated about different flavors and tastes.” We wanted it to be different. This one has a different nose with notes of banana and mango. It also has hints of vanilla and cinnamon. On the palate we wanted to taste that rich strawberry jam with pear and peach. It has a complex, smooth and smokey finish at the end.
The collab’s floral theme ties the capsule collection to the bottles of whisky. Quinn elaborates about the relationship between silhouette and prints: “I find it fascinating how the shape and style of a piece of clothing can influence the tone of the printed image. The biggest challenge was wrapping the print around the bottles. But once we’d had a few tries, it wasn’t really a challenge—it was actually quite fun.”
Richard Quinn has created a new blend of style and tradition with Royal Salute. It is a unique taste. This is a celebration of the creative and unexpected, which lingers after each sip.
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