How will you actively resist?

Vivienne Westwood has long been known for her stance on 'no art. no progress,' and in an exciting and innovative collaboration with Lee Jeans, we are all being encouraged to actively engage with 'Active Resistance' for 100 days following on from the curtain closing on London Fashion week, September 2010.

So, what's it all about?

34 - 24 - 34: The Vital Statistics of 
A Victoria's Secret Model

The concept of 'Active Resistance' as coined by Westwood herself, may initially conjure up images of her punk rock 'SEX' days for many but it is to a greater extent about the subliminal notion "that you get out of life what you put in" and that "real experience of the world involves thinking." 
Westwood is actually imploring us all to dig a little deeper, discover who we truly are and find our own individual means of making the world a better environment.

As a visionary without imposed restraint or limit, Westwood is undoubtedly a fine artist and a leading progressive not only with fellow fashion comrades, but in a political cohort equally.  Vivienne Westwood has managed to keep herself a permanent fixture on the fashion map as a 'fantastic' designer because of her unrivalled ability to draw on 'fantasy' and the 'fanciful.' Her 'Prince Charming'  Gold Label Collection for Autumn/ Winter 2010-11 provide the more tangible/ materialistic dimension to this concept of fantasy, in which her signature 'cartoon' like shapes feature extensively.

Her 'Buy Less Choose Well' slogan aligns far more with the subversive tones associated with Westwood's open detestation for what she refers to as the 'drug of consumerism.' However, her advocating that everyone should be creative in regurgitating old items, whilst she produces Haute Couture, cat walk items that are of 'The Now' and ergo not classic, timeless items, is surely a tad hypocritical? At the very least she seems to be positively talking herself out of business!  


Investment in the future of the planet is a central component for the self-education we are being urged to begin the life-long journey on by VW. However, there is cause to question how buying into a Westwood tee or pair of trousers facilitates such a journey. 


Her stance, whilst seemingly fashionably and ecologically 'on trend', may cause active rebellion for those with greener fingers due to it's paradoxical logic, but they ought to be made aware that Westwood has been promoting the dangers of global warming and the impact of deforestation long before it became fashion's biggest accessory. She readily admits that there is a potential  'conflict of interest' between fashion and the desire to limit mass consumerism, a loose justification for which she argues that her clothes are there for purchasing by those who can afford them, they just ought not to buy too many. Are you convinced or do you find this contrived? This is where your journey begins...


From 28th September, the 100 days will begin to stand up and speak out. Join in - taking a photo, writing a slogan or drawing an image and submit online. Each day a new image will be displayed, with the final 100 then becoming part of a moving exhibition for the project itself.
I shall be resisting actively...how about you?

How will you actively resist?

Interview with Vivienne Westwood on Climate Change