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Photos by Jürgen Teller
Vivienne Westwood and Yoox.com have joined forces with the United Nations Agency, the International Trade Centre (ITC), in a new creative collaboration, which provides dignified long-term employment for some of the world’s most marginalized people while protecting the environment. This is a unique system of sharing talent, sharing skills and sharing responsibility for the environment.
For this season’s Autumn- Winter 2011/12 Ethical Fashion Africa collection created through the programme, Vivienne Westwood and the team were joined on their first venture to Africa by the World renowned photographer Juergen Teller. He has captured the project and the people to help support and promote the campaign. ‘One of the things that really touched me on this trip was how Juergen gets everything from direct experience and really cares about human beings and their relationships. And together we can bring magic to those human relationships.’ - Vivienne Westwood.
The whole campaign will hopefully help promote the project and allow it to continue with maintained success for the future. Juergen Teller commented ‘I came back completely energized and full of life. It was truly inspiring to meet Simone Cipriani and the whole ITC team. It made a lot of sense to go with Vivienne to Africa.’
Vivienne Westwood, in collaboration with the ITC, have created a long-term objective to use fashion as a vehicle out of poverty. From the slums of Nairobi to the most barren rural areas, some of the world’s most disadvantaged women, marginalized by illness or oppression and the daily trials of extreme poverty, are empowered by this program. The Ethical Fashion Programme has already helped over 7,000 women to improve their lives. Without the income provided through the Programme, local communities would otherwise be forced to deplete the natural resources around them by cutting down trees to make charcoal to sell. The resulting deforestation is an international catastrophe.
‘What I do, making bags, can make a difference. This project gives people control over their lives- charity doesn’t give control, it does the opposite, it makes them dependant. These people have more control over their lives and can therefore choose not to exploit the environment because they have an alternative way of making money.’
‘Our project enables some of the world’s poorest people to enter fashion’s value chain as producers, while also allowing designers, who want to source ethically, to do so knowing their collaborators in the slums of Nairobi or impoverished rural areas are being paid a fair wage following the Code of Conduct stipulated by the Fair Labour Association.’ - Simone Cipriani, head of the ITC.
Global e-tailer, yoox.com joins with Vivienne Westwood to ensure the programme produces products which are truly ethical and made from recycled materials under conditions of fair labour, reaching customers around the world. Yoox.com is a welcome partner in making fashion fair and available to all.
It’s quite incredible to think that we might be able to save the world through fashion.’ - Vivienne Westwood.
NOT CHARITY, JUST WORK.
Vivienne Westwood Ethical Africa bags are available from www.viviennewestwood.com and www.yoox.com
Source: Vivienne WestwoodGreat bags for a good cause. I`m getting one! Are you?
The Palace of Versailles and the Musée Galliera present an exhibition dedicated to the influence of the 18th Century on modern fashion. From haute couture to ready-to-wear, fifty looks all reflecting 18th Century dress are exhibited, each created by a great designer from the 20th century. The collection was drawn from the archives of couture houses and from the Galliera’s own private collections.
French culture of the 18th century was embodied by Madame de Pompadour and influenced all the European Courts of the time. Madame Du Barry and even more so Marie-Antoinette were also paragons of this frivolity that has continued to fascinate and influence cinema, literature and fashion throughout the ages.
During the nineties renowned designer Vivienne Westwood, known for her provocative designs and punk creations, produced a stunning collection inspired by the eighteenth century. Boucher paintings printed onto corsets and ample pannier dresses decorated with mischievous cherubs were all part of her Autumn-Winter 1990/1991 collection, Portrait. Through Vivienne Westwood, the Age of Enlightenment became a huge influence on fashion at the time. A fervent advocate of the art of tailoring, the British designer continued using ribbons instead of safety pins and masterfully assembled her subversive historical models. Vivienne Westwood had set the trend for the future, with Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel and Christian Lacroix all following suit.
The following pieces are exhibited;
Left: Balenciaga - Ready-to-wear dress, Spring/Summer 2006. Flesh-coloured satin organza, embroidered medallion, undergarments in ecru lace.
Right: Yves Saint Laurent - Haute couture, Autumn/Winter 1995/1996. Black velvet evening dress.
Christian Dior - Left : Haute couture, Autumn/Winter 2004/2005. Red moire and velours dress decorated with blue and white embroidery.
Right : Haute couture, Autumn/Winter 2007/2008. Pink shot silk taffeta dress, veiled with candy pink tulle. “Doutzen Kroes” dress inspired by Fragonard.
Jean Paul Gaultier - Left : Collection: “Les Marquis touaregs” Haute couture, Spring/Summer 1998. Leather jacket with faded organza leaves. Leather trousers.
Right : Collection; “Les Marquis touaregs” Haute couture, Spring/Summer 1998. Hooped jacket with lamé, tulle, frills, ruches, bows.
Thierry Mugler - Left : Haute couture, Autumn/Winter 1997/1998. Black loop stitch wool military greatcoat trimmed with fake Mongolian monkey fur over pink and black shot tulle “Constellation” dress.
Droite : Ready-to-wear, Autumn/Winter 1992/1993. “Infante” ball dress. Black barathea and pleated tulle.
Vivienne Westwood - Left : Ready-to-wear evening dress, Autumn/Winter 1995/96. Pink and pale blue duchesse satin. Model inspired by the portrait of Madame de Pompadour by Boucher. Collection: “Vive la Cocotte”.
Right : Ready-to-wear evening dress, Spring/Summer 1996. Duchesse satin with black, blue, pink and yellow print, trimmed with lace, silk tulle apron. Collection “Les Femmes”.
Yohji Yamamoto - Left : Ready-to-wear, Spring/Summer 2011. Waistcoat, shirt, breeches.
Right : Ready-to-wear, Spring/Summer 2011. Black and blue outfit: shirt, jacket, breeches.
The exhibition can be seen from July 8th to October 9th 2011 at Grand Trianon, Versailles, France.Sources: Vivienne Westwood Press & Chateau Versailles
March 30th 2011 – Vivienne Westwood launches its arrival in the United States with an exclusive party held at the newly opened Melrose Avenue store.
The shop offers Vivienne Westwood’s full range of products under one roof, including Westwood’s Gold Label, Red Label, Anglomania, MAN Collection as well as jewellery and accessories. Spanning three floors, the boutique’s sophisticated décor remains consistent with the aesthetic of Vivienne Westwood’s international locations. Inspired by quintessential Parisian hotels, including Hotel George V and the Ritz, the building is eco-friendly and features architectural elements of wood, brass and European stone.
Vivienne Westwood with husband Andreas Kronthaler
"We are thrilled to finally open our new shop in Los Angeles. We have fond memories of our time there and especially love the influence of Old Hollywood. Vivienne's designs speak to this timeless sentiment; we look forward to opening our doors to our existing clients and introducing the brand to a new customer base," said Andreas Kronthaler, Creative Director of Vivienne Westwood.
"It's going to be very convenient for people who want to look drop-dead glamorous, and LA is full of people who want to dress up," said Vivienne Westwood.
Dita von Teese in Archive Gold label with boyfriend Count Louis-Marie de Castelbajac
Marilyn Manson
Kristen Davies in Vivienne Westwood Gold Label Couture
Picture source: Vivienne Westwood Press
