About Vivienne Westwood
Country of Birth
United Kingdom
Industry
Fashion
Top achievements
Vivienne Westwood is an unconventional and outspoken fashion designer known for shaping the early punk rock movement’s look. Westwood independently built her fashion empire comprising several boutiques and annual fashion collections. She also produces bridal wear, shoes, hosiery, cosmetics, perfumes and accessories.
Early life and education
Westwood was born in April 1941 in Cheshire, United Kingdom, as Vivienne Isabel Swire. From humble beginnings, her father worked as a cobbler, storekeeper and grocer; her mother worked at a cotton mill.
When she was 17, Westwood’s family moved to Middlesex, where she began working at a factory while also studying to be a teacher. She began working at a local primary school, married Derek Westwood soon after, and had her first child, Ben.
After meeting Malcolm McLaren, Westwood entered into a relationship with him, and her marriage dissolved. McLaren was an art student and would later become the manager of the Sex Pistols, an iconic punk band. The couple had a son, Joseph.
Career
Through McLaren, Westwood embraced a more creative life and began making jewelry. When McLaren started managing the Sex Pistols, he designed their clothing, and Westwood made it. The couple managed the boutique clothing and accessory store, SEX, a meeting point for members of the early London punk scene.
Over time, the store evolved and changed names. It had a string of now well-known punks as patrons and staff members, including Chrissie Hynde, Siouxie Sioux, Steven Severin, John Lydon, Adam Ant and more.
The boutique and Westwood’s influence on the punk scene was the start of her career in fashion. She launched her label in the early 1980s showing collections inspired by upper-class parodies, ballet and the mythology of restriction in female clothing.
Political Involvement
As a long-time supporter of Julian Assange, Westwood called for his release from custody and visited him several times during his political asylum in London. She used her appearances at London Fashion Week in 2012 to show her support by presenting “I am Julian Assange” t-shirts. In protest of his extradition, Westwood wore a yellow pantsuit as she suspended herself in a birdcage.
In 1989, Westwood dressed as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the cover of Tatler. Thatcher ordered the suit Westwood wore, but it was not yet delivered. The caption on the cover was, “This woman was once a punk.” It was listed as one of the best-ever UK magazine covers by The Guardian.
Vivienne Westwood remained politically involved until her passing on December 29, 2022.
Achievements
In 2004, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London opened a retrospective exhibition devoted to Westwood’s creations. It was titled “Vivienne Westwood: 34 Years in Fashion” and was the largest exhibition ever dedicated to a British fashion designer.
In 1992, Westwood was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. In 2006, she was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE.)
Additional facts
- Actress Marion Cotillard wore a strapless red satin dress by Westwood at the London premiere of Public Enemies in 2009. She wore a striped pink and ivory dress by Westwood at the Chopard Lunch in Cannes in 2009.
- Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, the main heroine of the Final Fantasy game series, wore a wedding dress designed by Westwood in Final Fantasy XV.
- Westwood worked closely with business magnate Richard Branson when she designed the uniforms for the Virgin Atlantic crew.
- Westwood passed away at the age of 81, on December 29, 2022.
