Westwood died Thursday at the age of 81, her family said. The British fashion designer was known for her androgynous cuts and provocative slogans. She has also made a name for herself on the fashion scene since the 1970s with her anti-establishment attitude.
Dame Vivienne – as she is entitled – died “peacefully and surrounded by her family in Clapham, south London”, the statement said. London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) described Westwood as “a truly revolutionary and rebellious force in fashion”.
Her Austrian husband Andreas Kronthaler, to whom she was married for around 30 years, said goodbye with personal words: “We worked to the end and she gave me many things that I can continue with. Thank you darling.”
“rest in punk”
Numerous greats from fashion, music and film also commemorated the designer. Westwood’s genius and her unique voice are irreplaceable and will be missed, supermodel Claudia Schiffer wrote in an Instagram story. Artist Yoko Ono wrote on the short message service Twitter: “What a woman – so young at heart, motivated, beautiful and elegant.” In a tweet, pop star Boy George called Westwood the “undisputed queen of British fashion”.
Designer and ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham paid her condolences to Westwood’s family in an Instagram Story, calling the late artist a “legendary designer and activist.” Actress Jamie Lee Curtis called Westwood a “true icon” on Instagram and wrote, “rest in punk.”
“Sex and the City” actress Kim Catrall took to Instagram to describe Westwood as a “true genius who never lost his Nordic edge.” She also recalled the designer’s “generosity and good nature,” who once created three dresses for the actress in three days.
Politicians pay tribute to Westwood
“Vivienne Westwood was a creative icon who helped cement Britain’s place at the forefront of modern fashion,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote on Twitter Thursday night.
British culture minister Michelle Donelan spoke of a “sad day”: Westwood was an outstanding figure in British fashion. “Her punk style rewrote the rule book in the 1970s and was widely admired for staying true to her own values throughout her life,” Donelan tweeted.
Commitment to climate protection
Westwood is considered a pioneer of punk in the fashion industry. She ran a boutique on London’s King’s Road with Malcolm McLaren, manager of the punk band Sex Pistols. She then built a global fashion brand that now has stores in the UK, France, Italy, America and Asia.
Crazy outfits were her trademark. Westwood also brought climate change to the runway. She is survived by two sons – photographer Ben Westwood and Joseph Corre, founder of lingerie company Agent Provocateur.
“She led an amazing life”
A statement on Westwood’s official Instagram account said: “Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, designing, working on her art, writing her book and changing the world for the better until the last moment. She led an amazing life. Her innovation and influence over the past 60 years has been immense and will continue into the future.” Westwood considered herself a Taoist.
Even when she was old, she took part in demonstrations, campaigned for environmental protection and called for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. “The world needs people like Vivienne to change something for the better,” the Instagram message said.
