Vivienne Westwood showed her Fall 2010 Red Label collection in London a few days ago. Then, after making the audience salivate over her punk-pauper collection of cape-like sweater coats, matchy tartan-skirt suits (a la “Clueless”), slouchy stripped trousers and printed dresses, she urged people not to buy the clothes. Leave it to the iconoclastic Westwood to put a cause above the success of her business.
Lately, Westwood has taken to speaking out against consumerism. That’s right, the lifeblood of the fashion industry. It might seem like the legendary designer is shooting herself in the foot, but bravo to Westwood for addressing an important issue, regardless of the snickering that will likely go on among her fashion comrades. Fashion is an industry that thrives on reckless spending: buying clothes not out of need but in order to stay in season.
It’s a trap I fell into. But a hard look inward and this crappy economy have made me stop buying clothes in the frivolous way I used to. So I applaud Westwood for being vocal about the issue. Especially when she could easily toe the line of the fashion industry and continue to encourage people to spend money they don’t have.
But, her statements do beg the question, “Why does she continue designing clothes if she’s so adamantly against consumerism?” Who knows. But what is, and has always been, obvious is that Vivienne Westwood never does what is expected of her.
Photo via Shoeseria
To answer your rhetorical, maybe she loves to design clothing. Perhaps, like the proverbial starving artist who Has To Paint, Vivienne Westwood Has To Design. Or at least really likes to, regardless of pay.