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| (c) Reuters. |
She died "in peace surrounded by her family" in London, her fashion house said in a statement.
The 81-year-old Westwood made a name for himself with his controversial punk and new wave styles in the 1970s and has been dressed by some of fashion's most prominent stars ever since.
Fellow designer Marc Jacobs said he was "heartbroken" and she "never forgot the surprise and shock".
Paying tribute to her life and work, he wrote on Instagram:
"I continue to learn from your words and your extraordinary creations."
In response to the announcement, Westwood's husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler said: "We will keep Vivian in our hearts.
"We worked till the end and she did a lot for me."
Westwood became famous for androgynous designs, slogan tees, and irreverent attitudes toward the establishment.
She's also known as a loyal activist, bringing causes she cares about, like climate change, to the catwalk.
The designer was honored for his contribution to fashion in 2006.
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| Vivienne Westwood in her studio in 1982 /Getty Images. |
Born in Derbyshire, Westwood worked as an elementary school teacher before co-founding Let It Rock on Chelsea's Kings Road clothing store in the early 1970s with then-partner Malcolm McLaren.
The business was later renamed Sex, and McLaren began managing the Sex Pistols, a punk rock band made up of store regulars. They rose to fame in 1976 wearing Westwood and McLaren designs.
Fashion designer and Spice Girl Victoria Beckham said she was "extremely saddened to hear of the passing of legendary designer and activist Vivienne Westwood."
Singer Boy George, who first met Westwood in the early 1980s, called her "great and inspiring" and "undoubtedly... the undisputed queen of British fashion".
Actress Kim Cattrall shared a story about Westwood's "generosity and kindness" on Instagram, describing her as "a true genius who never loses her northern grit." The movie after someone else's design was inappropriate.
Supermodel Claudia Schiffer wrote that Westwood's "unique voice is priceless and will be missed", while singer Billy Idol, who rose to fame on the London punk music scene, wrote, "RIP, it will take time to accept this..." he tweeted.
The Victoria and Albert Museum houses some of her work and described Westwood as "a truly revolutionary and rebellious force in fashion."
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| The designer was made a Dame for services to fashion in 2006 /PA Media. |
Culture Secretary Michelle Donnellan tweeted: "On a sad day, Vivienne Westwood remains a heavyweight in British fashion.
"Her punk style rewrote the rulebook in the 1970s and was widely admired for staying true to her values throughout her life."
In 1981, Westwood held her first proper fashion show, remembered as The Pirate Collection, and she continued to use British and French history as inspiration.
In 1992, he married Kronthaler, a student 25 years younger than him. He became the creative director of her company and later took over the design duties.
By the 2000s, Westwood had model Dita Von Teese in a purple gown to marry singer Marilyn Manson and a Westwood-designed dress for Prince William and Catherine's wedding. I had to design a wedding dress for Princess Jenny.
Her designs were also featured in the 2008 film adaptation of Sex and the City.
Memorable runway moments include her 9-inch platform shoes tripping famous model Naomi Campbell.
Beyond climate change, Westwood has become a vocal supporter of the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is fighting extradition to the United States to face charges under the Espionage Act. In July 2020, she wore a canary yellow costume in a giant birdcage to warn about Assange's "stitches."