Who Is Richard Quinn? The British Designer With the Queen’s Stamp of Approval

Few designers arrive with a royal endorsement. Richard Quinn did. In February 2018 Queen Elizabeth II took a front-row seat at his London Fashion Week show, her first time at a commercial runway, and presented him with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. Seven years on, his printed gowns and full tulle skirts have become a language of their own. Here is who he is, and why his eveningwear is worth knowing.

From Central Saint Martins to a Peckham print house

Born in 1990, Richard Quinn graduated from the Central Saint Martins MA and launched his own label in 2016. He set up in Peckham, South London, where he still designs and produces, and where he runs a print studio that other emerging designers can use. That print house is the heart of the brand. Quinn is a printmaker first, and the bold roses, camellias, and painterly florals that cover his gowns start there.

The British Fashion Council backed him early through its NEWGEN scheme, the same talent programme that helped launch Alexander McQueen and Christopher Kane. His work sits in the permanent collection at institutions that follow British fashion, and he has been named to the BoF 500.

The Queen’s stamp of approval

The 2018 award was a genuine turning point. The prize goes each year to an emerging British designer who shows exceptional talent alongside a commitment to the community and to sustainability, and Quinn was chosen first. Having the late Queen in the room, then in the front row, put a young Peckham designer on the same stage as the established houses overnight.

What Richard Quinn is known for

Three things, mostly. Bold all-over florals, printed onto silk and chiffon in his own studio. Dramatic full-skirted volume, built from layer on layer of tulle. And the statement bow, hand-worked and oversized, that anchors so many of his necklines and waists. Put together, they read as theatrical, romantic, and unmistakably his.

His gowns have found a natural home on the red carpet. Amal Clooney wore a Richard Quinn look with a metallic corset and a dramatic floral overskirt to the 2018 Met Gala. Winnie Harlow chose one of his couture gowns for the amfAR gala at Cannes, and names including Rina Sawayama and Billy Porter have worn him to the Fashion Awards in London.

Richard Quinn at Coveti

Coveti carries a focused edit of his eveningwear: printed chiffon gowns, sculptural tulle ball skirts, sequinned columns, and cocktail dresses cut for an entrance. A few places to start:

• The Elsa Navy Silk Chiffon Gown, a study in his softer, draped side.
• The Pleated Tulle Ball Gown in Caramel, all fairytale volume and cascading satin bows.
• The Midnight Violet Rose Midi Dress, his signature floral in full flourish.

Browse the full Richard Quinn collection at Coveti, then read how to style a Richard Quinn gown and, if you are comparing houses, brands like Richard Quinn. For the current season, see our Richard Quinn SS26 edit.

Frequently asked questions

Is Richard Quinn a luxury brand?

Yes. Richard Quinn is a British couture label, produced in England, with gowns that carry hand-worked prints and couture construction. Coveti prices its eveningwear from around 3,750 US dollars.

Where is Richard Quinn made?

In England. Quinn designs and produces at his own studio in Peckham, South London.

Who has worn Richard Quinn?

Red-carpet wearers include Amal Clooney at the 2018 Met Gala and Winnie Harlow at the amfAR gala in Cannes, alongside Rina Sawayama and Billy Porter at the Fashion Awards.

What award did Richard Quinn win?

He was the first recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, presented by the late Queen at his London show in 2018.