Vivienne Westwood is one of the last independent global fashion brands in the world. We exist to do more than just produce clothes and accessories.
We use our collections, collaborations and catwalk shows as a platform to promote awareness and campaign for a better world. We use our voice to fight climate change, and to mobilise people around its impact on Mother Earth, Gaia, who sustains us all.
We know there is a contradiction between our activism and the industry we are part of. Fashion creates products which are too often disposable, and which – through their creation, distribution and eventual disposal – can have a disproportionately negative impact on our planet, its wildlife and people.
We know this and we know we must do better. We have been adapting the way we make our clothes and accessories over the last few years to reflect the growing urgency to change how the industry operates but, in this time of Climate Crisis, we must go further.
We continually challenge ourselves to make all our products with greater care for people and the environment and to lower our impact as much as possible. We push for a fashion industry that we can be proud to be part of. We are committed to strong, holistic action in the interests of farmers, artisans, supply chain workers, brand employees, our customers, our communities and all life on earth.
BUY LESS, CHOOSE WELL, MAKE IT LAST
We are proud of the changes we have made so far. We understand there is so much more to do.
MATERIALS
We look beyond the aesthetic qualities of the materials we use. We are working to know where they come from at every stage of their lifecycle and consider both social and environmental impacts as we get a deeper understanding of our supply chain. All of our suppliers are required to complete our sustainability standards and traceability tool. Today, over 90% of materials in our Ready-to-Wear collections are made from alternatives to conventional materials that offer a solution to some of fashion’s social and environmental challenges.Where possible, we trial material innovations, and we are continually researching to deliver the most thorough standard of sustainability across every product we make, in every category.
EMISSIONS & WASTE
Fashion makes a significant contribution to the growing climate crisis. The exact tonnage of carbon emissions the industry emits remains contested, though it is estimated at somewhere between 2 - 8% of total global emissions. What we do know is that clothing consumption is set to grow to 102 million tonnes by 2030 and carbon emissions will rise rapidly to reflect that. With an assumption that the industry makes up 4% of global emissions, fashion’s current growth trajectory misses the Paris Agreement commitment to limit global warming to below 2 degrees by 2030, by 50%. The industry needs to rapidly reduce emissions.
CRAFT & HERITAGE
Working towards a way of creating fashion that is better for people and the environment is not only about looking forward to technological advancements and new ideas. It is also about looking back to a traditional, smaller scale means of garment manufacture that has always had a much lower impact than the hyper-globalised, mass production and consumption model of today. At Vivienne Westwood, we have long championed craftsmanship and heritage. Traditional British textiles and Savile Row tailoring traditions have informed and influenced our collections since the 1980s. We have always partnered with local industries and artisans in the UK, as well as Europe, India and Africa.
PACKAGING
All our retail packaging is plastic free and made from award-winning Remake paper. This Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper is uncoated, and composed of 40% recycled pulp, 30% virgin FSC certified pulp and 25% leather by-product (the remaining 5% is materials which bind the product together) and made in a factory which uses 100% green energy.
ACTIVISM
We have always used our collections and catwalk shows as a platform to campaign for a better world. Vivienne herself continues to speak out tirelessly about the effects of climate change and over-consumption, while mobilising international attention around ecological crusading. She is passionate about art, culture and education and advocates engaging with the world through their pursuit.
