Vivienne

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Archive on 4: Vivienne

Vivienne Westwood File on 4

BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, Vivienne

Kirsty Wark looks back on the life and work of the Godmother of Punk, Vivienne Westwood and her ground breaking designs.

This month marks the anniversary of the death of a designer who changed British fashion, Vivienne Westwood. Kirsty Wark reflects on Vivienne Westwood’s life, ground breaking designs and legacy through the stories of some of her most famous and controversial pieces. From cheeky T-shirts, the design of a modern corset plus one very famous pair of shoes we learn how and why Westwood was such a pioneer.

Vivienne Westwood created the punk movement in the early 1970s alongside entrepreneur Malcolm McLaren in a shop called Let It Rock at the unfashionable end of the King’s Road in London. She went on to become one of the fashion world’s most admired and controversial figures and her designs and motifs still endure today. Westwood’s designs famously celebrated both the female and male body and she was unafraid of creating sexuality provocative clothing; she loved to shock.

Vivienne Westwood features prominently and we hear her speaking on Desert Island Discs, Woman’s Hour, The Jonathan Ross Show, Jo Whiley’s show and Radio 3’s Private Passions. As well as contributions from her biographer, Ian Kelly, there’s archive from Malcom McLaren and the Sex Pistols' Glen Matlock.   

We also explore her latter years as an eco warrior, a cause she was passionate about as she was urging consumers to 'Buy Less, Choose Well, Make It Last'.

The programme features interviews with those who were inspired by her including the artist Tracey Emin, who wore many of Westwood’s designs, fashion designer Christopher Kane, who admired her punk spirit and don’t-care attitude and V&A curator Professor Claire Wilcox who describes how Westwood’s designs reflected her cultural influences from pop art, politics, and 18th-century portraits.

Producer: Belinda Naylor
Sound Engineer: Gayl Gordon

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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