Dame Vivienne Westwood has died aged 81, an official statement from her fashion house has confirmed.
The famed fashion designer died “peacefully” while she was and surrounded by her family in Clapham, London.
The statement read: “Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, up until the last moment, designing, working on her art, writing her book, and changing the world for the better.
“She led an amazing life. Her innovation and impact over the last 60 years has been immense and will continue into the future.
The statement detailed how Westwood considered herself a Taoist, adding several lines she wrote about it: “There was never more need for the Tao today. Tao gives you a feeling that you belong to the cosmos and gives purpose to your life; it gives you such a sense of identity and strength to know you’re living the life you can live and therefore ought to be living: make full use of your character and full use of your life on earth.”
It finished: “The world needs people like Vivienne to make a change for the better.”
Westwood is survived by her husband, Andreas Kronthaler who is also her creative partner.
“I will continue with Vivienne in my heart,” he said in a statement.
“We have been working until the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with.”
The designer first rose to prominence in the 1970s, immediately standing out with her eccentric, androgynous designs. She was at the forefront of Britain’s punk movement throughout subsequent decades, with slogan tee-shirts becoming synonymous with her label.
In recent years, Westwood’s advocacy for climate change spilled into her designs, with the creative introducing a new era for the genre she was famous for steering: eco-punk.
Needless to say the imprint and legacy she leaves on the fashion industry will remain for years to come. Vale.
