Vivienne Westwood (1941 - 2022)

Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Isabel Westwood, née Swire, is a British fashion designer, considered the founder of the punk style in high fashion.

A self-taught designer, in 1965 Vivienne met McLaren, the future manager of the punk band Sex Pistols. Together they began a career in fashion, opening Let It Rock, a kiosk that sold second-hand vintage 1950s clothing along with McLaren's collection of rock 'n' roll records. Westwood began creating clothing designs based on his provocative ideas. From the London store the couple owned in the early 1970s came their T-shirts, ripped and decorated with epathetic slogans and graphics, and black pants with S&M-style belts. Their boutique became the center of youthful global fashion.

In 1981, Vivienne Westwood created her own clothing brand, Vivienne Westwood, and developed a passion for historical costume. From the mid-1980s, Vivienne Westwood created collections drawing inspiration from classical sources and paintings, as well as historic British clothing.

Westwood was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992 and a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2006.