Fashion idol Vivienne Westwood, the pioneering British designer who played a key role in the punk movement, has died in London aged 81.
Died Thursday in London at the age of 81, between members of her family and her loved ones, according to an official press release published by her company. Vivienne Westwood is a fashion icon who made a name for herself in the 70s with her controversial 70s New Wave style and went on to put her fashion touches on the biggest stars.
In April 1989, the late woman appeared on the cover of ' Tatler ' magazine, wearing a suit she said was intended for Margaret Thatcher.
Along with fashion, Vivian has been interested in many issues that she has showcased on the catwalk, such as climate change and eco-friendly living.
Throughout her career in the fashion world, Vivienne has made a name for herself with her controversial style, she has been dubbed the "Queen of Extremes", having led a new wave of designs in the 70s and pushed the boundaries of the fashion industry. His creations and his clothes were worn by very big stars around the world.
For her great contributions to the fashion world, Vivienne was awarded the Order of the British Empire by British Queen Elizabeth II in 1992.
In April 1989, she appeared on the cover of Tatler magazine, wearing a suit designed by fashion company Aquascutum, which she claimed was intended for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The career of Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Isabel Swire was born in Tintwistle, Cheshire in England on April 8, 1941, from a mother who worked in the textile industry in the local cotton mills and a father from a family of shoemakers, which is why she began to make clothes for herself as a teenager.
After a term at Harrow School of Art, she worked as a primary school teacher, subsequently Vivienne married factory worker named Derek Westwood in 1962 and had her first son, Benjamin.
But everything changed when she left her husband and met Malcolm MacLaren in 1965. According to Vivienne Westwood, Maclaren had the key to open several doors to very great opportunities, and from there, their creative partnership grew. begin.
At the age of 40, Westwood launched her first fashion collection with McLaren and caused a boom in the fashion world, the British designer studied old sewing techniques, then demolished some of them and inserted her ideas, an approach which was later emulated by other British designers such as John Galliano and Alexander McQueen .
In 1981, Westwood organized his first fashion show or collection bearing the name “The Pirate”, and continued to draw inspiration from British and French history for his creations. In 1989, John Fairchild, the highly regarded editor of Women's Wear Daily magazine, gave Westwood his blessing, calling her one of the six most influential designers of the 20th century, along with Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani, Christian Lacroix and Emmanuel Ungaro.
So the "Queen of Extremes" was the only woman, and the only British, on her list, as well as the only designer who didn't own a multi-million dollar brand, as she still lived in a former social flat in the south London and was "almost broke".
In 1992 Westwood married Austrian design student Andreas Kronthaler, who was 25 years her junior, and they worked as joint designers, before taking over the ready-to-wear line in 2016.
In the 2000s, Westwood designed wedding dresses for the likes of model Dita Von Teese, who wore her purple dress to her wedding to Manson, and Princess Eugenie, who wore one of Westwood's designs to Prince William's wedding to Prince William. Katherine.
One of her most memorable runway moments was her 9-inch platform shoe, which tripped model Naomi Campbell as she walked the runway.
Vivenne Westwood's Greatest Collaborations
Throughout her career, Vivienne Westwood has collaborated with several renowned brands. Such as Burberry , Asics , Vans , Eastpak , Melissa and many others.
With our brand Melissa, the collaboration has given rise to a collection of vegan shoes with heels and very stylish ballerinas that are still available for sale.
This collection perfectly represents the two brands very committed to protecting the planet and eco-responsibility.
Ecologist committed to the fight against global warming
Known for her passionate activism on climate issues and free speech, she has championed the planet, often prioritizing quality over quantity when it comes to fashion consumption. For its Autumn/Winter 2019/20 show at London Fashion Week, Westwood sent models, actors and activists down the catwalk with political placards, one of which read: "What's good for the planet is good for the economy".
She has also participated in environmental protests, in 2015 she memorably drove a tank to the home of then British Prime Minister David Cameron to protest fracking.
In June 2020, Westwood, dressed in yellow, hanged herself in a giant birdcage to protest the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to Britain's Central Criminal Court.
