Known for her impact on the fashion industry and role as an activist, Vivienne Westwood passed away on December 29, 2022 at the age of 81. She rose to fame as a pioneer of British fashion in the 1970s and became known for her unique designs and prominent role in the development of the punk movement. She first embarked on her journey in fashion when she met Malcolm Mclaren through whom she was introduced to a new world of creative freedom. In 1971, Mclaren started to fill a newly opened boutique in London with Westwood’s designs. This shop became an important center for fashion during the punk movement because it sold avant-garde clothing that was not typically worn by the majority of people at that time. Later on as the punk movement faded, Westwood started to stray away from this specific style as she found herself ahead of the trend curve in the fashion world. Her and Mclaren’s first collection, the 1981 Pirate Collection, showed a new side to her designs. This collection, which featured pirate hats and frilly shirts, has influenced other designers as well as Vivienne’s other collections whether they featured similar accessories, ruffled fabrics, or corset style tops. 

As Westwood built her brand, she used her designs as a way to speak about issues in the world she was passionate about. She was most focused on raising awareness for climate change and how we can help our environment and continuously spoke about the effects of climate change and over-consumption throughout her life. Some achievements include starting her own campaign movement called Climate Revolution and becoming the ambassador of Greenpeace, a non-profit organization that raises awareness on the climate crisis.

Vivienne Westwood was remembered in mid-February of this year at her memorial held at the Southwark Cathedral in London. Friends and family, dressed in Vivienne’s designs, gathered to remember her legacy and the impact she left behind on many. Some who attended include Marc Jacobs, Victoria Beckham, Kate and Lila Moss, Elle Fanning, and Helena Bonham Carter. Westwood’s husband and fashion designer, Andreas Kronthaler, sons Joseph Corré and Ben Westwood, and granddaughter Cora Corré told stories about their lives with Vivienne. Recently, Kronthalek honored Vivienne during Paris fashion week in an emotional show that paid tribute to her. Kronthalek pulled motifs from all of Westwood’s most iconic designs. The show included memories of her past including hair and makeup from the punk era, frilly detailing that drew back on her first collection, and iconic plaid sets and jackets. This show captured Westwood’s essence as a designer, illustrated her impact on fashion, and paid homage to her and her lasting legacy.