Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary will focus on the work of Dame Mary Quant who popularised the mini skirt, colourful tights and tailored trousers.

Quant personified the energy and fun of swinging '60s and encouraged young women away from the traditional dress of their mothers and grandmothers.

The exhibition will come from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Curator Emma Busowsky Cox travelled to England when the exhibition was on display at the V&A.

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"It is a museum with unbelievable and unparalleled collection that captures major moments in arts and culture," she said. "We're lucky to have this partnership with them. It is a relationship we really treasure.

"I remember learning about Mary Quant when reading Dolly in '90s as teenager. This is a great designer of the '60s, so I couldn't wait to get over there and immerse myself in the exhibition.

"It's so positive and optimistic, colourful and a lot of fun. It's the perfect exhibition to begin 2021 with following the difficult year we have had."

Ms Busowsky Cox said the evolution of hemlines on skirts was due to Mary Quant.

"She was the person who popularised the mini skirt. So you see that evolution of the hemline from just on the knee to the mid-thigh length," Ms Busowsky Cox said.

"The thing that was so revolutionary was that idea of bringing fashion to everybody. Her idea of making every day designs for everyone, not just those who could afford it.

"The mini skirt changed fashion forever and is still a staple with us today as is the idea fashion can be enjoyed by everybody.

"She has got a very broad appeal. Mary Quant designs were exported all over world and broadly in Australia. I think Myer in Bendigo even sold her designs back in the day."

Bendigo Art Gallery director Jessica Bridgfoot said she was worried the coronavirus pandemic might effect being able bring the exhibition to Australia but that the bright showing would in some ways mirror the world Quant revolutionised.

"It's been happy coincidence, the synergies of Mary Quant and (current) global climate," she said.

"Mary Quant emerged on the scene in Britain in the 1950s while Britain was in a post-war gloom. She was a huge breath of fresh air and signaled this new generation and sense of optimism in the British public.

"Now here we are on the tail end of a pandemic and recession and we are fortunate to be in a position to go out with exhibition that is joyous, vibrant, about optimism and the possibilities that lay ahead.

"We think this show will be the tonic people need at the end of what's been a pretty tumultuous year."

Ms Bridgfoot said she hoped the exhibition would help the Greater Bendigo region in its economic recovery.

"An exhibition like this can generate between $8 million and $16 million of spending in the economy depending on the scale of visitation," she said.

"So it is a great thing for Bendigo and central Victoria. Since reopening, Melbourne visitors have fully embraced us and no doubt they will travel down the freeway and be jumping on train in March as well."