We’ve all heard of the French revolution and the American Revolution—but have you heard about the fashion revolution? Well, the fashion world’s Hamilton is none other than Vivienne Westwood. This revolution began in 2000s as Westwood began to speak out more. After her brand skyrocketed in the late 1970s, she began to use her brand also as a platform to speak about social and political issues. Her bold, head-turning designs didn’t just alter the course of fashion history—they sparked a movement that opened doors for creatives in fashion to express their views through their work.
When I think of Vivienne Westwood, I think of being unapologetically yourself. She never backed down or adjusted to those around her—she stayed true to herself, her brand, and her fans. The frizzy hair, graffiti art, and the straightforward messages are all just small parts of the punk designer’s empire. All of these qualities scream protest in the fashion world as well as in politics.
Image Citation: Scott, Jo Metson. Vivienne Westwood. Vogue, Contour by Getty Images, https://media.vogue.co.uk/photos/606d852cbc16a8cc37e3ce47/2:3/w_2560%2Cc_limit/Vivienne-Westwood-vogue-credit-Jo-Metson-Scott-Contour-by-Getty-Images.jpg. Accessed 19 June 2025.
Most designer brands revolve around elegance, symmetry, and playing it safe to please customers, but Vivienne Westwood said no to that narrative. Looking at brands like Chanel and YSL, we see minimalistic features and not a lot of colors, as many brands focus on neutrals (black, white, beige, brown, etc). But, this also sets Vivienne Westwood apart because in contrast to other brands, Vivienne Westwood survives on color and vibrance.
The most famous example of one of Vivienne Westwood’s catwalk protests is definitely the Climate Revolution (a non-profit campaigning movement Westwood herself launched) at the London Paralympics 2012. Westwood was a strong advocate for climate change and especially overconsumption.
Image Citation: “Climate Revolution.” Vivienne Westwood, http://www.viviennewestwood.com/sustainability/activism/climate-revolution/. Accessed 19 June 2025.
Overconsumption, especially in the fashion world, is still a huge problem today. Many fashion-obsessed customers just buy, buy, buy from designer brands for status, not truly for their style. As Westwood said, “Buy less, choose well, make it last.” Following this quote by buying less and choosing wisely, you can help this cause. Choosing pieces you absolutely love and wear repeatedly not only helps reduce overconsumption, it helps to grow your style and raises the rarity and exclusivity of your sense of style.
To help ecologically, Westwood used her high-status brand for good. The brand’s packaging is plastic-free, uses recycled materials, and is recyclable. This helps to reduce the large amounts of packaging waste. Next up, we can see that most of the Vivienne Westwood offices and boutiques run on renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions. Lastly, let’s look at the brand’s materials. For jewelry, scrap metal and recycled brass is consistently used throughout collections. Their pearls are sourced from Lumea, one of the rare fisheries in the world that care about environmental management. For leather, some pieces are made of apple or bamboo skins to trial new alternatives. Most of the brand’s collections use alternatives for fabrics, leather, wool, metals, etc.
Vivienne Westwood wasn’t just a fashion designer—she was the woman who went against social norms and disrupted the world in the best way possible. She was a strong leader and example for everyone from activists to fashion students, showing the world that you can be both, and that you can raise your voice without shame. Her legacy and impact goes far beyond corsets and chunky heels—it lives on through her societal, political, and ecological impact. In a world that lacks true style, Westwood empowered others to be the best and truest versions of themselves and built a brand that exemplifies that. Vivienne Westwood is the ultimate, rebelling icon, and the British queen of fashion.
Image Citation: Wright, Roisin. “Dame Vivienne Westwood’s Most Iconic Moments – From Meeting the Queen to Activist Marches.” iNews, 30 Dec. 2022, https://inews.co.uk/culture/dame-vivienne-westwood-most-iconic-moments-meeting-queen-activist-marches-2056823. Accessed 19 June 2025.
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