Te Papa in Wellington, New Zealand, will be showing the collection of the late British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood from December 14 to April 27, 2025, in an exhibition featuring around 550 pieces of jewelry.
On display for the first time will be many of Vivienne Westwood’s archival pieces, spanning some four decades of the work of the self-taught designer with no fashion training, who, even after her death in 2022, continues to be credited worldwide with pioneering modern punk and new wave fashion, with daring and rebellious pieces, often carrying socio-political messages.
The exhibition tells a story, through various rooms organized according to different decades of design, which takes the viewer on a journey that begins in the 1980s, from the origins of punk, to fantasy and the ecological philosophy of DIY (Do it yourself), sailing all the way to the present day.
Vivienne Westwood, who started selling jewelry on a stall in Portobello Market in the 1970s, has always had a connection to handicrafts, which later led her to incorporate costume jewelry as a prominent piece in her catwalk collections. The designer, recognized for her ability to objectify music through her pieces, has become an icon in the punk universe, establishing various relationships, such as with the Sex Pistols.
Throughout her career, she was responsible for opening four stores in London, which later expanded throughout Great Britain and the world, and many of her pieces stood out for their promotion of socio-political causes, such as the campaign for nuclear disarmament, climate change and human rights. In 2006, as a result of her dedication, she was awarded the honorary title Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire.
“Jewelry plays an essential role in defining the iconic ‘Vivienne Westwood look’ and this new exhibition explores the design codes and subversive spirit of the British design house through this prism,” says the British designer’s design team.
This exhibition is the result of an eclectic combination of jewelry and garments, presented in a unique way and surrounded by elements such as wall prints, sounds, images and videos, as a reminder of past collections that have marked the fashion industry, allowing an unparalleled perspective of the artist’s vision.
Courtney Johnston, executive director of Te Papa, says: “Westwood was an activist and one of the most influential designers of the 20th and 21st centuries. It’s an honor for the museum to premiere the exhibition.”
After the opening at Te Papa in New Zealand, tickets for which will be on sale from November 4, the exhibition will travel to Shanghai in China in the spring. Its European tour is still unknown, with no dates or venues announced.
