Vivienne Westwood Biography and Death

 Dame Vivienne Westwood is a British fashion designer and businesswoman who is known for her avant-garde and unconventional fashion designs. She was born Vivienne Isabel Swire on April 8, 1941, in Glossop, Derbyshire, England.

Westwood began her career in the fashion industry in the 1960s, working as a primary school teacher and a primary school assistant. In the 1970s, she opened a boutique in London with her then-partner Malcolm McLaren, and the two became known for their punk-inspired fashion designs.

Westwood's designs have been worn by a variety of celebrities and have been featured in numerous fashion exhibitions. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including the Order of the British Empire and the French Legion of Honour. In addition to her fashion work, Westwood is also known for her activism on environmental and political issues.

Vivienne Westwood died Thursday at 81. He was an influential fashion maverick who played a key role in the punk movement.

Westwood's eponymous fashion house announced her death on social media platforms, saying she died peacefully. A cause was not disclosed.

"Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, up until the last moment, designing, working on her art, writing her book, and changing the world for the better," the statement said.