LONDON, Dec 31: A self-made English fashion designer and businesswoman, who
pioneered modern punk and new wave fashions, Vivienne Westwood died on Thursday
aged 81. She died "peacefully and surrounded by her family" in London, her fashion
house said in a statement.
The godmother of punk, Dame Vivienne Isabel Westwood led a rebellion in the
world of fashion. She was made a dame for her contributions to fashion in 2006.
She was also honoured with an OBE in 1992.
She dressed some of the biggest stars in fashion. Supermodel Naomi Campbell,
who had worked with Westwood, called her a "force of nature".
Singer Boy George called her "the undisputed Queen of British Fashion". Music
legend Sir Paul McCartney called her "a ballsy lady who rocked the fashion world."
Spice Girl Victoria Beckham said she was a "legendary designer and activist".
Vivienne Westwood launched a fierce campaign for the release of WikiLeaks founder
Julian Assange.
Vivienne Westwood had brief stints in art and jewellery but was not trained
in any discipline. However, she started tailoring her own dress in her teens.
She worked as a school teacher and married factory worker Derek Westwood but
separated soon after.
The outlandish punk icon started her first clothing shop named 'Let It Rock'
in association with band manager Malcolm McLaren in the early 1970s. Punk band
Sex Pistols of McLaren was the first to use their products. In 1981 she held
her first major catwalk fashion show called Pirate Collection. By early 2000s
she had metamorphed into a celebrity designer. Andreas Kronthaler was her husband
and partner in later years, who said he will carry on her mission.
What is Punk: Punk is a style or movement characterized by the adoption
of aggressively unconventional and often bizarre or shocking or outlandish clothing,
hairstyles, makeup, etc Vivienne Westwood pioneered the trend in fashion in
1970s. Punk or punk rock is also a rock music that is played in a fast, loud
and aggressive way violating conventional style and behaviour.
