The Vivienne Foundation officially launches this week to honour, protect and continue the legacy of Vivienne’s life and activism.
As a not for profit company founded by Vivienne in 2019, it exists to create a better world and implement Vivienne’s plans. Built upon Four pillars of Change: to Halt Climate Change, Stop War, Defend Human Rights and Protest Capitalism, the Foundation’s goal is to work with NGO’s and individuals
to raise awareness and create tangible change.
“Charities and NGOs can save lives; however, we cannot achieve systemic change without government cooperation. The only way we can save ourselves is with government help and our strategy must be put into law” - Vivienne Westwood
Since the start of her career in the 1970s, Vivienne was renowned not only for her fashion design, but also her activism. Vivienne always utilised her platform of prestige to make the world a better place.
The Foundation is built upon Vivienne’s four pillar approach to save the world – halt climate change, stop war, defend human rights and protest capitalism. To raise awareness and fundraise for NGO’s aligned with its mission to create a better society and halt climate change.
Vivienne was a true originator, from the creation of punk clothing to the reinvention of historical dress and haute couture. She used her position as a designer and public figure as a platform for her activism and ideas. Her relentless campaigning on climate change over the last twenty years has been a catalyst for change; her slogan ‘Buy Less, Choose Well, Make it last’ is now a worldwide mantra for the fashion industry.
From the beginning of her work in fashion, Vivienne demonstrated an unwavering belief in creating true originality. Always avant-garde and at the forefront of cultural ideas. By combining artisan skills, graphic artwork and her choice of raw materials alongside an interest in historical dress, ethnic design and sartorial style, Vivienne successfully broadened the definition of how society thinks about fashion.
From her first catwalk show in 1981, Vivienne invited her global audience to learn about history and culture through her clothes. A born teacher, reader and intellectual. In her early career, before becoming a fashion designer, she began by teaching children at Brixton Primary school, South London. In later years, she became the Haute Couture professor at the Universities of Vienna and Berlin. She had an insatiable appetite for artistic ideas, which she was happiest demonstrating through her own creations.
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