Born Vivienne Isabel Swire in Glossop, England, on April 8, 1941, Westwood gained notoriety in the 1970s as a proprietor of SEX, a London boutique she ran with the late Malcolm McLaren, who managed the legendary punk band the Sex Pistols. Her designs included bondage-inspired pieces and slogan T-shirts.
Westwood went on to become one of the biggest names in fashion, with shows all over the globe. She was an environmental and sustainability activist and was one of the first designers to use organic and recycled materials in her collections. Last year, a pearl necklace Westwood designed in 1987 became a TikTok phenomenon, worn by the likes of Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, and Janelle Monae.
