British fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood, who played key role in the punk movement died on Thursday at 81. She died “peacefully and surrounded” by her family her fashion house said on Thursday, December 29. Westwood’s eponymous fashion house announced her demise on social media platforms but did not disclose a cause of death.
Sharing a picture of Westwood, the fashion house wrote, “29th December 2022. Vivienne Westwood died today, peacefully and surrounded by her family, in Clapham, South London. 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 post further reads, “Vivienne considered herself a Taoist. She wrote, “Tao spiritual system. 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.” The world needs people like Vivienne to make a change for the better.”
Westwood’s fashion career began in the 1970s when her radical approach to urban street style with edgy, punk-inspired designs took the world by storm. She enjoyed a long career highlighted by a string of glorious fashion shows and museum exhibitions.
In an autobiography written with Ian Kelly titled Destroy, she wrote, “The only reason I am in fashion is to destroy the word ‘conformity’. Nothing is interesting to me unless it’s got that element.” She received numerous accolades for her contributions to the fashion industry throughout her career, including being made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth in 2006.
(Source: Instagram)
