A punk, radical, game-changer designer and activist, Vivienne Westwood has left quite the impression and legacy on the fashion industry over her decades-long career.
Many around the world adore Vivienne Westwood’s clothing and her undeniable influence on punk style. Having set sail for her final destination on December 29th, 2022, we want to give a glimpse of the life and legacy of this designer while showcasing the ways she includes crochet in her designs.
About Fashion Designer Vivienne Westwood
Born in England in 1941, Westwood started out as an elementary school teacher before becoming a fashion designer. It was in 1970 that she opened a clothing boutique that went through numerous name changes before settling on Worlds End.
It became a haven for the anti-hippie subculture of the era. She worked in the boutique, creating her own style of punk clothing mostly by upcycling existing items.
As her work continued she began to get influence from a variety of sources ranging from local sex workers to historical costumes and eventually, in 1981, she presented her first London fashion collection called Pirate.
In 1992 she got attention for her costume designs and then in 1998 she launched a fragrance and opened her first US flagship store in New York the following year.
Westwood has collaborated with Wolford and Nine West, had retrospectives of her work, won awards, and had her designs worn by royalty and celebrities (including Gwen Stefani in the music video for the song Spiderwebs).
Vivienne Westwood and Fiber Arts
Although Vivienne Westwood does not use extensive crochet in her designs, we certainly see some beautifully knit and crocheted pieces as well as other types of fiber arts crafts.
Take a peak at these six Vivienne Westwood designs that all bring yarn and needles into use.
This beautifully androgynous waistcoat uses multiple types of yarn and fibers along with different crochet stitches.
(Look 2)
This open stitch design is either knit or crochet and resembles a fish-net look that gives classic Westwood vibes.
This mismatched sweater looks both knit and crocheted with different types of yarn to create a chaotic, cozy look.
This stunning piece of art is made with crochet, yet looks like knitting. The detail work is remarkable and speaks to Vivienne's influence from historical costumes.
Susie Cave Crochet dress from Vivienne Westwood’s Fall/ Winter 1993
Worn by model and designer Susie Cave, this gorgeous peek-a-boo lacy dress is giving sexy elegance.
This stunning knit sweater is just one piece from Westwoods "On Liberty" Collection from AW 94-95 and has the corset shape that Westwood returns to again and again.
Fabulous