Vivienne Westwood’s passing in 2023 left a gaping hole in fashion – it was hard to believe that such a formidable force was no longer with us. A fearless campaigner who raised awareness on issues including the climate crisis and rampant global capitalism, Westwood’s mantle was handed down to granddaughter Cora Corré in the wake of her death, with the model and activist taking the reins of non-profit organisation the Vivienne Westwood Foundation.
Now, Corré has announced the launch of a new project, which sees the foundation reimagine iconic motifs from the depths of the Westwood archive. Across four limited edition t-shirts, the British designer’s teddy bears and bare tits are brought back to life for a new generation, with their sales going directly to bolstering the initiative and supporting the many projects it works across.
The project is an emotional one for Corré, as it marked the last one Westwood would work on. “When she was still alive, she designed a final collection, and worked on this project as well,” says Corré. “It was such a beautiful thing to see her take joy in designing so many special things, and to work in it alongside one another as a family. Sadly, what we believed to be the first collection of many in her later life turned out to be her last.”
In this instance, the sales of the four t-shirts will benefit four charities and initiatives – Erasing 76 Crimes, the Environmental Justice Foundation, Peace Direct, and Streets Kitchen – which tackle issues spanning homelessness, LGBTQ+ rights, and support for those stuck in conflict zones. “The world has gone insane,” says Corré. “if Vivienne could see just a fraction of its current state, she’d be telling us to just get on with [putting her final collection out in the world].”
The collection is captured on new-gen super Colin Jones, Connor and Grian of Fontaines DC, and longtime Westwood muse Kate Moss by photographer Nick Knight. “We curated our cast to be persnally close to Vivienne or sympathetic to the causes we are supporting,” says Corré. “It’s super special to have Kate be a part of it. She’s an icon, and meant so much to Vivienne. It’s a bit of a full circle moment – many of the most legendary Westwood runway moments featured Kate.”
The t-shirts are available now for a limited time.