by Fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood has died at the age of 81.
She made a name for herself in the fashion scene in the 1970s with her androgynous designs, slogan t-shirts and irreverent attitude towards the establishment.
Dame Vivienne died on Friday “peacefully and surrounded by her family in Clapham, south London,” her representatives said.
In a statement, her husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler said: “I will continue Vivienne in my heart.
Lady Vivienne Westwood
“We worked to the end and she gave me loads of things to do. Thank you darling.”
She was known as a staunch activist and brought causes she cared about, such as climate change, to the runway.
The designer was named Dame for Services to Fashion in 2006.
TV presenter Jonathan Ross was among those paying tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood after her death at the age of 81.
He tweeted: “MAK a great Vivienne Westwood. Unique. Brilliant. Uncompromising. Thanks Vix.”
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan paid tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood, tweeting: “A sad day, Vivienne Westwood was and will remain a prominent figure in British fashion.
“Her punk style changed the rules of the 70s and was widely admired for how she stayed true to her values throughout her life.”
Dame Vivienne, who was born in Cheshire in 1941, is largely credited with bringing punk and new wave fashion to the mainstream with her eccentric creations.
Her designs have been regularly worn by celebrities, including Dita Von Teese, who wore a purple Westwood wedding dress to marry Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie, who wore three Westwood designs for various elements of William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.
Dame Vivienne’s designs also featured in the 2008 film adaptation of Sex and the City starring Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw.
In addition to her work as a designer, Dame Vivienne has been a vocal supporter of a number of social and political initiatives, including a campaign to free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is fighting to avoid being sent to the United States to face charges under the Espionage Act.
In July 2020, Dame Vivienne issued a warning against Assange being “stapled” wearing a canary yellow outfit inside a giant birdcage.
Dame Vivienne led a colorful group of protesters chanting “Free Julian Assange” outside the Old Bailey in central London.
Suspended in a cage, she said: “Don’t extradite Assange – it’s stapling.”
