News of the passing of Vivienne Westwood – the maverick designer and activist – has plunged the fashion world into mourning. Announced via a post on her namesake fashion house’s Instagram page, it was revealed that the ubiquitously revered Queen of Punk died peacefully, and surrounded by family in Clapham, South London. The passing of one of the industry’s last true greats – a woman that has played an indispensable role in shaping the course of fashion and pop-cultural history since her earliest fetish-inspired ‘SEX’ designs from the early 70s – has naturally prompted an outpouring of condolences and tributes from the global fashion community.
In her 2012 i-D cover story – shot by Juergen Teller, with whom she shared an enduring and visionary creative relationship – i-D founder Terry Jones describes Vivienne as “one of Britain’s most original and influential designers today” and a designer “as much loved by new fashion fans discovering her for the first time as those who have followed her career since the start.”
“She has always designed clothes for real women,” he continues. “Her contribution to the world of fashion has included towering platform shoes, crinolines, corsetry, safety pins, bondage straps, tweed, squiggles, tartan and bustles, to name a few. A unique sense of Britishness permeates everything she does.”
Questions regarding the continuation of the house she founded have been swiftly allayed in a release, in which Andreas Kronthaler – Vivienne’s husband and creative partner – states his intention to carry her name forward: “We have been working till the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with. Thank you darling.”
Furthermore, The Vivienne Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation founded by Vivienne and her family members in late 2022 will formally launch next year. Built upon four pillars – Climate Change, Stop War, Defend Human Rights and Protest Capitalism – the foundation will honour and carry forward Vivienne’s legacy as both a designer and activist. Physically gone as the Queen of Punk may be, never will she be forgotten.