The legendary British fashion icon and activist passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 81
Vivienne Westwood, British fashion icon and pioneer of the punk style movement, passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 81. News about her demise was confirmed through posts shared on her namesake brand’s social media platforms. According to the release, the noted designer spent her last moments “peacefully and surrounded by her family, in Clapham, South London.”
“Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, up until the last moment, designing, working on her art, writing her book, and changing the world for the better,” the brand said. “She led an amazing life. Her innovation and impact over the last 60 years has been immense and will continue into the future.”
The world of fashion according to Vivienne
First a primary school teacher, Vivienne started her career in fashion designing Teddy Boy clothes for her then partner Malcolm McLaren. In 1971, they opened a boutique at Kings Road, Chelsea in London dubbed “Let it Rock.” As her designs leaned more on the rebellious side of fashion—biker clothing, bondage-inspired fashions, and provocative slogan shirts—their store was also baptized with different names like “Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die,” “Sex,” and “Seditionaries.” Their works garnered the world’s attention after punk band Sex Pistols were seen wearing their designs.
Through the years, Vivienne made her way from Kings Road to international runways. She was loved for her gender-neutral designs. Her first collection together with Malcolm was titled the “Pirates,” an autumn-winter line released in 1981. Looking at “plundering history and the Third World,” the collection featured “romantic looks in gold, orange, and yellow” playing with baggy trousers and asymmetrical pieces.
Vivienne continued to take the fashion world by storm, producing iconic collection after another. In 1982, produced the “Savage” collection, a line paying homage to the works of visual artists Matisse and Picasso. She explored underwear as outwear with her “Buffalo Girls (Nostalgia of Mud)” collection. Her 1983-1984 autumn-winter collection, “Witches,” took inspiration from the works of artist Keith Haring, marking the end of Vivienne and Malcolm’s collaboration. And in 1985, the designer introduced her “Mini-Crini” collection, an ode to the Queen’s childhood years.
In 1992, Vivienne started releasing her wedding gown creations. One of her wedding dress designs was forever embedded in the minds of fashionistas everywhere thanks to its appearance in the first “Sex and the City” film.
A decorated designer
Throughout her career, Vivienne gained numerous awards. She was named Fashion Designer of the Year for two years in a row in 1990 and 1991 by the British Fashion Council. In 1992, she was honored with an O.B.E at Buckingham Palace from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll. Vivienne bagged the UK Fashion Export Award for Design in 2003. Her second visit to Buckingham Palace in 2006 was a momentous one as she accepted her Damehood. In 2007, she received an Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design award at the British Fashion Awards. And in 2010, she took home a Prince Philip Designers Prize.
Her life as an activist
Vivienne was not just an influential design visionary, she was also a staunch activist. She used her influence in fashion to shed light on some of the pressing concerns of the world, such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, climate change, and civil rights groups.
In 2010, she and her team launched the Climate Revolution website. “I formed Climate Revolution: to save the environment through work with charities and NGOs. Our target is to speak with one voice. As an activist, I have created many graphics promoting political and environmental issues, which I reimagined in the design of a pack of playing cards. Lo and behold! In the cards lies the answer—a complete strategy to save the world: Buy less, stop subsidies to industrial fishing, educate children, and so on,” Vivienne said. “We even have a manifesto, detailing our need to move away from capitalism toward what I call ‘No Man’s Land’— a vision for the world based on the principle that no one should be allowed to own land.”
A collaboration between her and luxury label Burberry was launched in 2018 to support UK-based non-profit Cool Earth in raising funds to protect the endangered rainforests, combat global warming, protect ecosystems, and provide employment for local people.
She also led various collaborations with other environmental not-for-profit organizations. One of the most recent partnerships was with Canopy for 2020 World Earth Day, which campaigned to protect forests through fabric choices.
“Vivienne considered herself a Taoist. She wrote, ‘Tao spiritual system. There was never more need for the Tao today. Tao gives you a feeling that you belong to the cosmos and gives purpose to your life; it gives you such a sense of identity and strength to know you’re living the life you can live and therefore ought to be living: make full use of your character and full use of your life on earth.’”
Rest in peace, Vivienne.