Vivienne Westwood

Dame Vivienne Westwood is largely responsible for integrating subculture fashion into mainstream fashion, also helped shaped the Punk scene. She began by making clothes for Malcolm McLaren's boutique on Kings Road in their first shop “SEX” Her ex husband Malcolm was the manager for the Sex Pistols, and was inspired by the band’s shock value.

She is linked to many political causes and fights for social injustice, mainly climate change, fast fashion and civil rights. In April 1989 she appeared on Tatlier dressed as Margaret Thatcher with the caption “This Woman was Once a Punk” In 2014 she cut all of her hair of for climate change and appeared on a ad for PETA to promote World Water Day and vegetarianism. She also endorsed Jeremy Corbyn’s election in 2019. She had created a manifesto called Active Resistance to Propaganda which she read at a number of venues including the London Transport Museum in 2009 which was also performed as a play.

Twice the designer had received British Designer of the year and received a OBE from Queen Elizabeth II, in 2018 she released a documentary about her called “Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist. At 79 she is still seen as a British Icon.

Vivienne Westwood voiced that people should use their limited resources to buy fashion less and instead choose well. She also believes that fast fashion has stripped individuality. The designer is a eco-activist. She said that her jeans will now be only made from recycled denim to make them more eco-friendly.

THE DESIGNER STAGED a protest during london fashion week 2019 using the catwalk as a political stage. Models, activists and actors including rose mcgowan, performing speeches criticising the dangers of climate change, brexit and capitalism. (independent)