And your beautiful love story with Andreas, which we read about in fairy tales, which I could witness for decades. We can only dream of such love. Your legacy is just beginning and will forever be set in stone as your contribution to our industry is immeasurable. They couldn’t give enough rewards for what you really deserved. I feel blessed to have been able to visit you recently and will always carry that memory in my heart.
My sincere condolences to Andreas, Joe and all the family and loved ones. Rest in the throne you so well deserve, queen.”
“I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Vivienne Westwood. Vivienne was a cult pioneer of fashion and its biggest punk. She broke all the rules of the establishment to create clothes that spoke of independence, rebellion and power. It gave generations of young people new codes for expression.
Vivienne has continually inspired me as one of the few leading women in our industry. She was never afraid, never took no for an answer, her vision was pure and unfiltered. Vivienne taught us all so much. They always will. Rest in power.”
“Heartbroken. You did it first. Constantly. Amazing style with brilliant and meaningful substance.
I continue to learn from your words and all your wonderful creations. I will always remember the night we bonded over our shared love of Yves Saint Laurent. You always managed to surprise and shock. I am grateful for the moments I had to share with you and Andreas.
Rest in peace dear Vivienne, although peace seems like the wrong word somehow. My deepest condolences to Andreas and your family.”
“Talk about a change maker, maverick and environmental activist! Vivienne Westwood was ahead of everyone! Artist, punk, working mother, but also a designer whose brand is as relevant today as ever. I feel so lucky to have known her a little during an important phase of my fashion career and to have documented that period so beautifully in my book Gavin Bond Being there.
Vivienne once faxed me a handwritten letter inviting me to be on one of her shows back in the early 90’s. She recently watched Da Vinci’s “Lady with an Ermine” and excitedly told me how much that picture reminded her of me. I’m pretty sure it was an ermine, not a lady! Thank you, Vivienne, for staying so true to your principles and values and most importantly, for leading the way with spirit and humor.”
“I can’t believe I’m writing this… Today we lost one of the rarest British fashion icons ever. Vivienne Westwood inspired my career as a designer with courage and silliness. She invented punk.
I remember sitting with her for hours at Juergen Teller’s birthday dinner as she delicately analyzed the corner of the tablecloth, folding it with Japanese origami-like precision… I realized she was creating a tiny pattern and designing an object without waste, with little challenge. She was a genius.
Vivienne invented historic moments in fashion design that woke us all up and shook the industry to its core. She led the way, never apologizing for exposing the world’s unjust injustices and asking uncomfortable questions.
Vivienne said it like she saw it. She wanted to make fashion better. Vivienne pushed every boundary and held her head so high. She was sassy, reckless, and had the most genuine fucking vibe I’ve ever met. I’ve never met anyone like her. I hope that more of them will become like her… Fight more like her, create more like her, celebrate more like her.
Thank you Dame Vivienne Westwood for all you have given us. You will live forever. God save Westwood…Punk rock will never die.”
“Somehow I imagined that Vivienne lived far away from her hundreds. She had so many more pressing matters to shed light on, so many more causes to support, so many more injustices to speak out about… and so many more magical outfits to create. This talented and brilliant lady was so unique and so punk in all the ways punk should be. She did it her way, all the way. I will always be grateful to have been in her inspiring company. Rest in glorious power.”
“Dearest Vivienne, Queen of Punk. From the first day I met you to the last day I saw you, you made me laugh, listened, taught and loved me more than the day before. I will forever be grateful to have been in your orbit, because to me and most of fashion – and humanity – you, Vivienne, were sunshine. To the best, funniest, amazing, humble, creative, badass, intelligent, freaking epic human being to walk this earth, my inspiration and idol in everything, rest in love and rest in peace…I will miss you. Sending love to dear Andreas and the whole family. She was loved by so many.”
“So sad to hear that Dame Vivienne Westwood has passed away, a complete legend. Her studio was the only place I ever practiced, over 20 years ago, it was an amazing time. I will always remember her.”
“Dame Vivienne Westwood: her legacy cannot be measured by the fact that she gave the world the endlessly copied “punk”. Let’s not forget — she was the first to leave it behind. She then heroically committed herself to advocating for civilized critical and radical thinking, constantly using her position in fashion to speak out about the urgency of environmental destruction. I want to say that she was also the most dazzling woman I’ve ever met in fashion – Tim Walker’s portrait captured that. But she didn’t care about that, which made her even more so. She was one of Britain’s greatest women, always ahead of her time. She was kind, normal and messianic, all uniquely blended into one visionary force that had not an ounce of grandeur about her incredible status as one of the world’s most influential designers.