Words by Cheyanne Bryan
The late British fashion designer, Dame Vivienne Westwood, was known for her rebellious spirit and bringing punk to the luxury fashion market. Now two years after her passing, her personal collection will be auctioned off and the proceeds will be donated to multiple charities that championed some of the issues she was passionate about.
Starting in June, the whole collection will be available to view for free as an exhibition at the world-famous auction house Christie’s in London from 14–24th June.
The auction will be split into two parts; part one that will take place online between the 14th and 28th June, and part two as an in-person auction on the 25th June.
In a quote provided by Christie’s, Adrian Hume Sayer, Director Private & Iconic Collections, Christie’s, Head of Sale stated: “Vivienne Westwood’s sense of activism, art and style is embedded in each and every piece that she created. The pre-sale exhibition and auctions at Christie’s will celebrate her extraordinary vision with a selection of looks that mark significant moments not only in her career, but also in her personal life. This will be a unique opportunity for audiences to encounter both the public, the private world of the great Dame Vivienne Westwood and to raise funds for the causes in which she so ardently believed.”
The collection will feature specially curated and selected looks that are iconic to the fashion designer’s lineage and famous style. Clothing is not all what would be on sale, but also jewellery and accessories will be available to buy. With 200 lots spanning over four decades, each representing a significant moment in Vivienne's life and career. It has been confirmed that the earliest look in the collection dates back to Autumn/Winter 1983/84.
Her reimagined playing cards have been gifted specifically to Greenpeace and will be up for auction too.
Since the beginning of her career, Vivienne had been vocal in a broad range of activist issues, especially when it comes to sustainability in the fashion industry. She used her unique position in fashion as leverage to push toward positive and ethical practices towards consumption.
Beyond her environmental efforts, Westwood is deeply engaged in political activism, speaking out on matters such as human rights, social justice, and political transparency. Through her fashion designs, public declarations, and partnerships with various organisations, Westwood remains a formidable force for activism and societal transformation. Her core essence is defined by her unwavering commitment to challenging conventional norms, while striving for fairness and she has inspired many generations to advocate and use their voices.
In 2019, she founded her own nonprofit organisation, The Vivienne Foundation. With plans to make the world a better place, the organisation was founded on 4 major pillars: “Halt Climate Change, Stop War, Defend Human Rights and Protest Capitalism.” This served as the basis in which 4 charities were chosen to be beneficiaries of the auction.
The charities that will benefit from the funds raised will be Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Médecins Sans Frontières and The Vivienne Foundation.
All images of the collection in this article are supplied by CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2024
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Traid. This is a charity retailer that collects and sorts second-hand clothes for resale at their London charity shops. They aim to give fashion a new lease of life. Learn more here.
Charities Trust. This nonprofit is a processing partner for business and public sector charitable giving. They help with fundraising and other services. Find out more here.
Remake. This is a global advocacy organisation working towards strong working conditions and climate justice in the clothing industry. Support them here.
