大象传媒

This month marks the anniversary of the death of a designer who changed British fashion, Vivienne Westwood. Kirsty Wark reflects on Vivienne Westwood鈥檚 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鈥檚 Road in London. She went on to become one of the fashion world鈥檚 most admired and controversial figures and her designs and motifs still endure today. Westwood鈥檚 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鈥檚 Hour, The Jonathan Ross Show, Jo Whiley鈥檚 show and Radio 3鈥檚 Private Passions. As well as contributions from her biographer, Ian Kelly, there鈥檚 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鈥檚 designs, fashion designer Christopher Kane, who admired her punk spirit and don鈥檛-care attitude and V&A curator Professor Claire Wilcox who describes how Westwood鈥檚 designs reflected her cultural influences from pop art, politics, and 18th-century portraits.

Producer: Belinda Naylor
Sound Engineer: Gayl Gordon