British punk fashion icon Vivienne Westwood dies at 81

“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,” Vivienne Westwood’s company said in a statement released on social media.

Vivienne Westwood, a British fashion designer and businesswoman who played a key role in bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream, has died at the age of 81 on Thursday, December 29, 2022. Westwood’s eponymous fashion house announced on social media platforms that she died peacefully. Her cause of death was not disclosed.

Westwood began her fashion career in the 1970s when her radical point-of-view towards urban street style inspired the punk fashion movement. She went on to enjoy a long career highlighted by a large number of triumphant runway shows and museum exhibitions. She also inspired the style of punk icons, such as Viv Albertine.

Vivienne Westwood Ltd, headquartered in London, is Westwood’s company that designs and markets apparel products. It offers clothing, bags, shoes, and accessories to clients worldwide.

Her fashion designs were independent and represented a statement of her own values. Occasionally, Westwood partnered with Gary Ness, a Canadian editor and former painter, who assisted her with inspirations and titles for her collections.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)