Vivienne Westwood & Woolmark - A Historic Partnership

Merino wool collaboration between Vivienne Westwood and The Woolmark Company, highlighting a Merino wool capsule of key knitwear pieces for menswear and womenswear and the womenswear Paris show for AW 2012.

Showcasing Merino's journey form the farm through the craftsmanship and heritage of the manufacturing mills to designer garment. Vivienne and Andreas speak about their passion for Merino wool and its performance attributes and benefits, and Vivienne's love of wool since the start of her designer career.

***

***

"My motto for fashion is Buy less, Choose well, Make it last and wool is something that should last you for even your lifetime" - Vivienne Westwood.

About the Collaboration:

In an historic partnership with The Woolmark Company, Vivienne Westwood celebrates the finest Australian Merino wool featured in knitted and woven garments as seen in the new Autumn/Winter 2012/13 collection.

The luxury 12 piece collection includes both menswear and womenswear, and presents a unique selection of garments showcasing the true versatility of the Merino fibre.

Stuart McCullough, CEO of Australian Wool Innovation, owner of The Woolmark Company said, "We are very pleased to have one of the world's most influential and important designers of our time, Vivienne Westwood, showcasing Merino wool at its finest. Merino wool is a beautiful natural fibre; Vivienne Westwood highlights its modernity and relevance in high end fashion."

About Vivienne Westwood

With a design record spanning over forty years, Vivienne Westwood is one of the last truly independent fashion companies within the international arena. Beginning with punk rock in 1970's London, Vivienne Westwood was at the forefront of innovative design, pushing the boundaries of contemporary society and her ability to translate these ideas into clothing.

Two time winner of British Designer of the Year, Vivienne Westwood's collections are shown on the catwalk in London, Paris and Milan each season. In recent years, Vivienne's designs have been used as a medium to discuss politics and culture and more specifically the urgent need to act against climate change. A brand that is about more than just clothing and accessories, Vivienne Westwood's designs always capture the imagination, raising awareness and generating positive action.

The Vivienne Westwood brand today produces four clothing labels, leather goods, jewellery and a range of other accessories, fragrances and homewares, with Vivienne herself considered to be one of the most inspirational and avant-garde British designers of her time.

With a rich history of creating fashion and generating influence, Vivienne Westwood is renowned for using different forms of wool and noble fibres in her collections and has always been an avid support for the use of wool in fashion.

"Wool is one of the world's great natural fibres, famous for its versatility and comfort - warm in winter, cool in summer, it is incredibly versatile," Westwood explained.

"When I began as a fashion designer, well over thirty years ago, I succeeded in re-introducing into fashion the idea of fine knitwear, the English twinset. Everybody loves this fine knitwear. It's so light, so comfortable. You can add more than one layer and it looks great.

"In these days when we are threatened by encroaching climate change, which may be unstoppable unless we do something about it quickly, wool is a very sustainable fabric. I do believe that because it is such a luxury fabric that its status will increase. People will not want man-made fibres anymore and luxury will be seen in the great traditional, natural, fibres.

"If wool is the king, silk is the queen, cotton the aunt and linen the uncle!"