The iconic British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has died at the age of 81 peacefully and surrounded by her family in Clapham, London, her Fashion house said in a tweet on Thursday.
Westwood built a global empire in the Fashion industry and pushed its boundaries from 1970 until her death. She was also called the godmother of the punk.
Among many fashion designers, Westwood was one of the prominent. She was even made a Dame for fashion services in 2006.
Westwood began creating clothes for her in her teenage. She worked as a primary school teacher before setting up a clothing shop in Chelsea with Malcolm McLaren in the 1970s. Their clothing shop was named ‘Let it Rock,’ and then they renamed it ‘SEX,’ managing a punk rock band. Westwood is an inspiration to many fashion designers. She is one of the few designers who created many gender-neutral clothes.
In 1992, Vivienne married Andreas Kronthaler, an Austrian design student, who was 25 years younger than her. Both Vivienne and Kronthaler worked as co-designers. Her husband said in a statement released on her death announcement, “I will continue with Vivienne in my heart. We have been working until the end, and she has given me plenty of things to get on with.”
From Thursday night, tributes have started to pour in from around the world for the ever beloved, Vivienne Westwood.
American designer Marc Jacobs posted on his Instagram account, “You did it first. Always. Incredible style with brilliant and meaningful substance…
You never failed to surprise and shock. I am grateful for the moments I got to share with you and Andreas.”
Vivienne, her sons, and her granddaughter together founded a non-profit organization, named the Viviene Foundation. The company is planned to launch in next year.
It will “honor, protect and continue the legacy of Vivienne’s life, design, and activism,” per her spokespersons.
