Vivienne Westwood… An icon whose clothes were a vessel for her politics

‘Capitalism is a crime. It’s the root cause of war, climate change and corruption.’

Not what you expect to hear from one of the most influential fashion designers of all time, but that’s exactly why the industry loved her.

Vivienne Westwood is one of the last independent global fashion companies and it’s a reflection of her values that she never sold to one of the big fashion houses.

Her label has always been about activism as much as clothes – in some senses her products have simply been a vessel for her politics.

Vivienne Westwood is one of the last independent global fashion companies and it’s a reflection of her values that she never sold to one of the big fashion houses

Westwood believed clothes should provoke a reaction. They did exactly that in 1992 when she went commando to receive her OBE at Buckingham Palace (pictured)

Westwood’s skill was to create the outrageous out of the traditional. Pictured: Westwood during Paris fashion week in 2012

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The ever-provocative grande dame of British fashion began designing in 1971 with her partner Malcolm McLaren at their shop at 430 King’s Road. Her skill was to create the outrageous out of the traditional. She raided historical trends to create some of the most contemporary looks.

She believed clothes should provoke a reaction. And they did exactly that in 1992 when she went commando to receive her OBE at Buckingham Palace.

‘I wished to show off my outfit by twirling the skirt.

‘It did not occur to me that, as the photographers were practically on their knees, the result would be more glamorous than I expected,’ she breezily explained.