Between 1971 and 1980, Vivienne Westwood revolutionized the fashion world with her radical ideas. Born in the birthplace of punk, it was almost fate that she would become the queen of it. This all began when she was introduced to Malcolm McLaren, the promoter and manager of the New York Dolls and the Sex Pistols.
Westwood and McLaren began to design garments for members of the band, this landed them at the forefront of the punk scene and it wasn’t long after that they became architects of the punk fashion phenomenon of the 1970s.
In 1974, the two opened SEX, a boutique and a meeting place for early members of the London punk scene. They used their garments to shock, irritate and provoke a reaction but also to inspire change within the United Kingdom. The store's products confronted social and sexual taboos that were at the root of the punk movement.
Fast forward to today and Vivienne Westwood is as punk as ever. Thirty years since her split from partner and collaborator Malcolm McLaren, she has managed to forge a rebel aesthetic of her own. She continues to challenge societal norms and push for revolution.
