Vivienne Westwood
Born: April 8, 1941, Derbyshire

 

Vivienne Westwood (born Swire) was born in Derbyshire, England in 1941. Her father was a shoemaker and her mother a cotton weaver. When she was 16, her family moved to London and Vivienne attended the Harrow School of Art. After spending just one term there, she left to become a primary school teacher. She met her first husband Derek Westwood in 1962 got married to him. They had a son Ben. In 1965, she met Malcolm McLaren who became her partner in fashion as well as life. Vivienne Westwood is known as the most eccentric and influential of Britain's fashion designers. Every season, she puts out on the runway the most amazing and spectacular clothes. Her Logo is a royal ORB with a cross on top, bejewelled and impressive as befits the Queen of British fashion.

Born: Vivienne Isabel Swire on April 8, 1941, in Glossopdale, Derbyshire

First break: In 1965 she meets then 18-year-old Malcolm McClaren, with whom she will later open her first shop, Let It Rock.

Company founded: 1971

Based: London

Men’s diffusion lines: Man (1996), Anglomania (unisex)

Select awards: British Fashion Council British Designer of the Year (1990, 1991), Order of the British Empire (1992), UK Fashion Export Award for Design (2003)

Signature quote: “Fashion is about sex.”

Worn by: The Sex Pistols, Jerry Seinfeld, Elton John