From King’s Road Punk to the Runway Elite: A Fashion Revolution
Founded by Dame Vivienne Westwood in 1971, the brand’s roots run deep into the anarchic energy of 1970s London. The first boutique, co-run with Malcolm McLaren and provocatively named SEX, became ground zero for punk’s visual identity—bondage trousers, DIY slogans, safety pins as jewelry. Early designs weren’t just clothes; they were cultural detonations aimed at the British establishment.
By the 1980s, Westwood’s collections shifted to blend 18th-century tailoring with street-born defiance, redefining modern fashion with corsetry, bustles, and Harris Tweed in radical new forms. Under the creative stewardship of her husband and long-time collaborator Andreas Kronthaler, the brand continues to blend historical opulence with fearless political commentary, cementing a global cult following.