Interview: Richard Quinn on his latest collab with Royal Salute
When a fashion designer talks about whisky.
Royal Salute has once again collaborated with the legendary British fashion designer Richard Quinn for its Fashion Collection, releasing a limited edition that expertly marries cutting-edge style with top-notch Scotch whisky. This unique Royal Salute flagon is a daring display of Quinn’s love of clashing patterns, with three attractive motifs adorning it. One is a white background with a vibrant floral pattern in purple, yellow, and green (exclusive to Global Travel Retail); another is a verdant backdrop with a white daisy (not available in Malaysia); and a third is a black backdrop with white polka dots, which is reminiscent of Quinn’s style, and features striking orange roses.
Here, L’Officiel speaks with Quinn about the special partnership:
What unforeseen challenges did you face while collaborating, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was narrowing down our ideas to create a bold and cohesive collection of only three bottle designs. Through an ongoing in-depth dialogue with Royal Salute, we were able to make collaborative decisions to create a collection that reflects both brands equally.
What was it about Royal Salute that drew you to want to collaborate with the brand? Are you a whisky drinker yourself?
I feel a real affinity with Royal Salute’s balance of tradition and modernity. Despite having been created back in 1953, the brand is always looking forwards, striving to create something new and unexpected. It only helps that I am a whisky lover myself!
Can you share a behind-the-scenes story from the collaboration that illustrates the synergy between yours and Royal Salute’s creative visions?
The experimental blending session at Strathisla Distillery was where everything clicked – working with Sandy Hyslop, Royal Salute’s Master Blender, to create the blend, I realised that our creative processes are really well aligned.
What was the inspiration behind this second collaboration?
The collection is inspired by the fusion of heritage and modernity that is so central to both the Royal Salute and Richard Quinn brands.
How did the collaboration push you to explore new design techniques or mediums?
We wanted each design to look really thoughtful and considered, which meant paying close attention not only to the bottle itself but also to both the exterior and interior of the box. Working with different textures and finishes allowed us to adapt the designs to flow across all parts of the packaging.
Were there any surprising "aha" moments that occurred while working with Royal Salute?
During the blending session at Strathisla, I was blown away by the level of detail and craftsmanship that goes into Royal Salute whisky; this is something we also take very seriously in our own work, and it was great to see it paralleled in such a way.
Can you describe the emotions and thoughts that were running through your mind when you first saw the finished collaborative pieces?
The design team and I all felt a real sense of fulfilment when we saw how our initial thoughts had come to life. The three bottles are really bold and unique, which is exactly what we were hoping for.
How has the collaboration impacted your personal growth as a designer and artist?
Working with new mediums and materials is always inspiring – it’s especially interesting to work on collaborations outside the fashion world, as new and unexpected techniques can crop up and sometimes even filter back into our own collections. This was the third launch with Royal Salute since the beginning of our partnership, and this time we wanted to take it a step further, by getting involved in the creation of the whisky. It’s something I had never done before, and it was such a great experience, going to Speyside in Scotland to meet with Sandy Hyslop, Master Blender for Royal Salute, trying different combinations and bouncing ideas off each other, until we settled on one that we were both happy with, that represented both brands completely.
Did the initial collaboration lead to any unexpected creative breakthroughs that influenced your future work?
Our first collaboration foregrounded the idea of beauty with an edge, something that I have always been fascinated by. Exploring this concept from a different perspective undoubtedly informed the way in which I would continue to twist ideas of beauty in my later collections.
What lessons or insights did you gain from working closely with a brand from a different creative discipline?
The process of designing a collection of complementary bottles is, in some ways, quite similar to designing a cohesive collection for the runway. However, we had to be really concise here and narrow down the options to only three prints, which required a lot of discipline on our part.
How did the collaborative process challenge or expand your understanding of fashion as a means of artistic expression?
When we think of fashion, we automatically think of clothes. However, it’s really interesting to see our prints displayed in a new way, opening up the world of fashion to a wider audience.
Can you share one specific aspect or detail of the collaboration that you are particularly proud of, and why?
I am really happy with the way the three designs complement each other when they sit side-by-side; the bottles look their best when they’re together, making them really great collectible pieces.
Available at select luxury retailers nationwide and on the Pernod Ricard Official Lazada Store.
For more information, visit www.royalsalute.com.
