Vivienne Westwood, doyenne of punk rock British fashion, passes away aged 81

Celebrated fashion designer Vivienne Westwood passed away peacefully at her home in South London, The Guardian reported late Thursday. The 81-year-old Dame was behind some of Britain’s more salient countercultural movements, becoming synonymous with the late-70s punk rock scene in London and later playing an outsize role in the early-career development of her muse, Naomi Campbell. Known as much for her outspoken activism on issues such as nuclear proliferation, civil rights, the environment, and other social justice issues as she was for her clothing line and collaboration with Malcolm McLaren, Westwood’s influence in the broader world of design is hard to overstate. Related on Archinect: Issey Miyake, the feted 'architect' of high fashion, has passed away in Tokyo aged 84Zaha Hadid was among the torrent of prominent figures within the UK to have worked with Westwood on collaborations for shoes, flagship boutiques, clothing lines, and even home designs on her way to becoming the “U...

Vivienne Westwood, doyenne of punk rock British fashion, passes away aged 81

Celebrated fashion designer Vivienne Westwood passed away peacefully at her home in South London, The Guardian reported late Thursday.

The 81-year-old Dame was behind some of Britain’s more salient countercultural movements, becoming synonymous with the late-70s punk rock scene in London and later playing an outsize role in the early-career development of her muse, Naomi Campbell.

Known as much for her outspoken activism on issues such as nuclear proliferation, civil rights, the environment, and other social justice issues as she was for her clothing line and collaboration with Malcolm McLaren, Westwood’s influence in the broader world of design is hard to overstate.

Related on Archinect: Issey Miyake, the feted 'architect' of high fashion, has passed away in Tokyo aged 84

Zaha Hadid was among the torrent of prominent figures within the UK to have worked with Westwood on collaborations for shoes, flagship boutiques, clothing lines, and even home designs on her way to becoming the “U...