Vivienne Westwood  

Vivienne Westwood, the punk rebel of fashion

Known and recognized for her sharp and bold creations, Vivienne Westwood is now the image of a non-conformist fashion icon. Born in England in 1941, she is the eldest of a family of three children and grew up in the village of Tintwistle. Having studied at the Harrow School of Art, she chose to become a teacher. Loving the night-life, she married a nightclub manager, before divorcing and becoming the partner of Malcolm McLaren, the manager of the band New York Dolls and the Sex Pistols. Immersed in this nonconformist universe, Vivienne Westwood created bold collections and opened her first store in 1971. She quickly became known for her punk rock style creations and provocative eccentricity.In the 80s, John Fairchild classed her among the six most influential designers of the time in the "Women's Wear Daily". A fierce animal rights protector she announced in 2000 that she would no longer be using real fur in her collections.