Vivienne Westwood

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Who started it?

Vivienne Westwood was born Vivienne Isabel Swire in Glossop, Derbyshire, on April 8, 1941. She moved to London at 17, and studied briefly at the former Harrow School of Art. She later attended a teacher training college, then married her first husband, Derek Westwood, in 1962. The marriage lasted only three years. She then met Malcom McLaren, who would become her partner in business and otherwise. In 1971, they opened a shop together on London's King's Road, called it Let It Rock, and stocked clothes they designed together. It quickly became a favourite for its subversive designs.

In 1972, the shop was renamed Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die, and sold clothing with zips and chains, T-shirts with slogans and Zoot suits. In 1974, it became Sex, stocking leather bondage trousers and T-shirts with zips, holes and pornographic images. Two years later, it became Seditionaries, selling punk clothes.