Bionic Eye

| DESIGNER STORY |
26
From designing for the Sex Pistols in the early seventies to receiving
the Order of the British Empire in 2006, Dame Vivienne Westwood’s
career continues to be on the cutting edge of daring.
Vivienne Westwood has been a
force to reckon with, and an
inspiration to young fashion
talent all over the world for more than 30
years now. Known as a designer’s
designer, this former school teacher was
always ahead of her time and continues
to lead the way as one of the most
influential designers of our times. From
her punk beginnings through new
romantic and pirates to the introduction
of corsets and crinolines in modern
ready-to-wear, Vivienne Westwood is
often perceived as a shocking mistress of
subversive fashion. The influence of her
creativity on other brands has always
been the subject of much debate and in
April 2004 the Victoria & Albert Museum
in London hosted an exhibition of 34
years of extravagant, influential and
beautiful creations. The retrospective is
now set to travel the world with its first
stop in Australia.
The breadth of Westwood’s creativity
can be seen in her collaborations with
major craftspeople in other fields. She
1.
has partnered with Lancaster to produce
three successful fragrances, launched an
exclusive and coveted tea service with
the British Classic Coalport, and produced
a special 200th birthday collection of
limited edition knits with John Smedly.
Westwood is not only synonymous
with visionary designs but also a successful
company with a global distribution network
in locations as diverse as Moscow and
Taipei, and headquarters in both London
and the recently opened Milan. This fashion
icon heads a multi-million dollar empire
which includes four separate clothing
collections: Gold Label, which is conceptual,
fashion forward and always innovative;
Man, a classic yet avant-garde collection
for men; Red Label, a sexy and glamorous
line with broad appeal for women; and
Anglomania, a youthful, cutting edge line
which brings the typical Westwood passion
to new generations.
Each season Vivienne Westwood
complements these lines with a full range
of accessories, including bags, shoes,
ties, belts and eyewear.
VISION | may_june | 2008 | The Opticians Association of Canada |
By Paddy Kamen
Irreverent