Vivienne Westwood Promotes Climate Change

All Images Source via active resistance.co.uk

Dame Vivienne Westwood appeared on Jonathan Ross last Friday to make an impassioned plea about climate change. She modelled one of her own creations to demonstrating her DIY ethos using seven metres of dutchess satin to construct a dress without sewing,  it was held together with rope cord and a belt. The dress was accessorised  with a safety pin necklace and she layered it over boxer shorts.

Her message was don’t spend money just wear what you can find, adopt DIY practice and use table clothes and curtains to create new looks. Buy less but choose well, if it’s dirty don’t wash it and over time it will look better.

Dame Westwood has been an advocate of action against climate change and has written a Manifesto, which promotes an active resistance to propaganda.  Urging the younger generation to become freedom fighters for her plight and to engage in art and culture.

A website has been launched which hosts the manifesto,  photographs, past and present events, mini documentaries and VW's news blog and discussion forum.

Vivienne Westwood interviews Scientist James Lovelock in the current issue of Dazed and Confused. James Lovelock a scientist whose practice and research argues we are at a tipping point and direct action needs to be taken to prevent the horrific consequences of climate change…

co-designed dress with children of Nottingham

I watched Vivienne present her Manifesto at Dundee University last summer, where she was presented with an honorary degree. During a Q & A session she talked of a collaboration with school children (aged 7-8) from Nottingham who where were given a brief titled  “chaos point” which was communicated through narrative. They produced a collection of paintings inspired by the brief, which were then transferred as series of prints to Vivienne Westwood creations! I thought this was a lovely way to communicate climate change to a younger audience in an engaging, participative format. I think we all learn more by doing…

The website is an interesting resource and I enjoyed watching her interview with James Lovelock. In the documentary she urges people not to engage in passive experiences of consumer culture but instead dress up, walk tall and try to tackle the horrific opinions of the world… saying it can have a tremendous effect.