Tributes have poured in from far and wide to legendary Tintwistle-born fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, following her death at the age of 81.
Her fashion house said in a statement on Twitter that she passed away peacefully on Thursday (29 December) and was surrounded by her family in Clapham, south London.
Westwood made her name with her controversial punk and new wave styles in the 1970s and went on to dress some of the biggest names in fashion. She established a global fashion brand which has stores in the UK, France, Italy, America and Asia today.
But she was also known as a determined social justice and environmental campaigner, standing up for issues such as pollution and climate change, as well as supporting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
She is survived by Andreas Kronthaler, her second husband, and her two sons, the fashion photographer Ben Westwood, her son with Derek Westwood, and her son with McLaren, Joe Corré, who co-founded the lingerie company Agent Provocateur.
29th December 2022.
— Vivienne Westwood (@FollowWestwood) December 29, 2022
Vivienne Westwood died today, peacefully and surrounded by her family, in Clapham, South London.
The world needs people like Vivienne to make a change for the better. pic.twitter.com/YQwVixYUrV
Where she grew up
The iconic and pioneering fashion designer was born Vivienne Isabel Swire in 1941. She lived her earliest years at Millbrook, between Hollingworth and Tintwistle.
She later moved to the sub-post office at Manchester Road in Tintwistle, where her parents were post masters.
After she attended the local village school, she won a scholarship to Glossop Grammar School, where she excelled at art.
Vivienne also began to show her keen sense of fashion when she turned up to a school dance in a Suzy Wong style dress she had made herself. At the age of 17, her family moved from the area down to Harrow, near London.
A mural in her memory
Earlier this year, local artist Deggy created a new piece of street art in his unique style - using spray paint - to celebrate Vivienne Westwood.
You can see it for yourself in all its splendour on Chapel Street in Glossop, close to the junction with High Street West.
"I think something like this has always needed to happen in Glossop," Deggy said when he was working on the masterpiece.
"I learnt there was talk of a museum in Glossop featuring items from Westwood's collection that would have been amazing for the town, but the idea was rejected. This inspired me to create a piece that would honour Vivienne Westwood in the form of a large canvas painting that featured in the Winter Art Trail last year, which was produced and hosted by Glossop Creates.
“The piece received a fantastic local response which motivated me to challenge myself with my biggest project to date - a 13-foot mural in the town centre."
Read and hear about Deggy's inspiration behind the artwork in our story here.
'Tintwistle's most famous daughter'
Tributes have poured in from far and wide, with many local people reflecting on her life and legacy.
Glossop Creates, which brings together local independent creative businesses and individuals, said: "Glossop has lost another icon. We are saddened to hear the news about Vivienne Westwood today. She came from our small northern town and changed popular culture forever."
High Peak MP Robert Largan said: "Sad to hear of the death of Vivienne Westwood, Tintwistle’s most famous daughter, who never forgot her roots. High Peak has produced some amazingly creative and talented people with none more so than Dame Vivienne Westwood."
High Peak Mayor, Councillor Ollie Cross, commented: "Gill [Mayoress] and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of local icon Vivienne Westwood. Born in Tintwistle in 1941, Vivienne was a trailblazer and visionary who stood up for what she believed in. Vivienne will be greatly missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with Vivienne's family and friends at this moment in time. May she rest in peace."
Rob Baker, borough councillor for Tintwistle where Vivienne was born, commented: "Very sad news. A remarkable life that touched so many people. She will be greatly missed."
Local group Free Frack Glossop said: "For most people, she will be remembered as a pioneering fashion designer who was present at the birth of punk. To us though she is Glossopdale's most famous daughter, and a powerful advocate for many good causes, who joined us for the fight against fracking. She will be missed. Rest in peace."
Her life and legacy
Dame Vivienne worked as a primary school teacher, before setting up clothing shop Let It Rock on King's Road in Chelsea with her then partner Malcolm McLaren in the early 1970s.
The business was later renamed Sex and McLaren began managing a punk rock band made up of shop regulars - the Sex Pistols. They shot to fame in 1976 wearing Westwood and McLaren's designs.
In 1981, Westwood held her first proper fashion show remembered as the Pirate Collection, and she continued to use British and French history to inspire her.
She married Andreas Kronthaler, a former student of hers and 25 years her junior, in 1992. He became creative director of her company and increasingly was responsible for design work in later years.
By the 2000s, Westwood was designing wedding dresses for the likes of model Dita Von Teese, who dressed in her purple gown to marry singer Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie who wore Westwood designs for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine.
Her designs also featured in the 2008 film version of Sex And The City.
She was made a dame for services to fashion in 2006.
'The undisputed Queen of British fashion'
The godmother of punk, empress of global fashion and Dame of the British Empire, Vivienne Westwood was an influential presence for decades - as well as an outspoken campaigner and provocateur.
Since the sad news of her death was announced, it's clear how she touched so many people.
Singer Boy George tweeted that Dame Vivienne was "great and inspiring" and called her "the undisputed Queen of British fashion".
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan MP said Dame Vivienne "will remain a towering figure in British fashion".
A sad day, Vivienne Westwood was and will remain a towering figure in British fashion. Her punk style rewrote the rule book in the 1970s, and was widely admired for how she stayed true to her own values throughout her life. https://t.co/NKJXRoFsIi
— Michelle Donelan MP (@michelledonelan) December 29, 2022
American fashion designer Marc Jacobs paid a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, in which he said he will "continue to learn from your words, and, all of your extraordinary creations."
German fashion designer Wolfgang Joop, a friend of Dame Vivienne, described her as "a true fashion icon, human rights pioneer and a beautiful soul, driven with purpose for love, freedom and the conservation of our precious planet."
American pop artist Belinda Carlisle said she was "truly an extraordinary woman".
Seriously?? 💔 What a horribly sad loss... truly an extraordinary woman! #VivienneWestwood pic.twitter.com/cBUZS3s8nN
— Belinda Carlisle 💙 (@belindacarlisle) December 30, 2022
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