Coming in December 2018 will be the first collaboration between iconic British designer Vivienne Westwood and the fashion giant Burberry on a collection of re-imagined iconic styles, in celebration of British style and heritage. The limited-edition collection will be in support of Cool Earth, of which Westwood is a patron. It also marks the first collaboration for Burberry under Riccardo Tisci.
“Vivienne Westwood was one of the first designers who made me dream to become a designer myself and when I first started at Burberry, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to approach her to do something. She is a rebel, a punk and unrivalled in her unique representation of British style, which has inspired so many of us. I am so incredibly proud of what we will be creating together.” – Riccardo Tisci, Chief Creative Officer, Burberry.
Vivienne Westwood began designing in 1971 along with her then partner Malcolm McLaren in London. By the end of the seventies, Vivienne Westwood was already considered a symbol of the British avant-garde. Their shop at 430 Kings Road, London, showcased their evolving ideas and designs with a corresponding change in décor and names. In 1976, Westwood and McLaren defined the street culture of Punk. Then in the early 80s Westwood turned to traditional Savile Row tailoring techniques, using British fabrics and 17th and 18th-century art for inspiration. This period gave us the now iconic ‘Mini-Crini.’ In 1989, Vivienne met Andreas Kronthaler, who would later become her husband and long-time design partner, as well as Creative Director of the brand.
In 2004, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, hosted a Vivienne Westwood retrospective exhibition which was the most extensive exhibition ever devoted to a living British fashion designer. In 2006, she was appointed Dame of the British Empire, and in 2007, she was awarded the ‘Outstanding Achievement in Fashion’ at the British Fashion Awards in London.
Vivienne Westwood is one of the last independent global fashion companies in the world. At times thought-provoking, this brand is about more than producing clothes and accessories. Westwood continues to capture the imagination and raise awareness of environmental and human rights issues.
