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63-438: Courvoisier has also been described as the most untypical of the big four. It controls every step of its production process but does no distilling of its own, changes the process for different vintages and regional variations in eaux-de-vie , and has never owned vines. In 2019, it exported approximately 1.4 million nine-litre cases of its cognacs. The brand has been owned by several companies in recent years from Allied Domecq in

126-450: A Westwood Buffalo hat that was originally in Westwood's 1982–83 collection to the 2014 56th Annual Grammy Awards . The hat was so popular that it inspired its own Twitter account. Williams was first seen wearing a similar Westwood Buffalo hat in 2009. Dua Lipa wore custom Westwood on the red carpet of the 2021 Brit Awards . In Final Fantasy XV , Lunafreya Nox Fleuret's wedding dress

189-572: A Westwood red satin strapless dress at the London premiere of her film Public Enemies in 2009. In 2013, she wore a Westwood Couture pink and ivory striped dress at the Chopard lunch in Cannes . In 2011, Princess Eugenie wore three Westwood designs for the pre-wedding dinner, the wedding ceremony and the after-wedding party at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton . Pharrell Williams wore

252-477: A combination of nine core global brands, plus a selection of local market leaders. Vivienne Westwood Dame Vivienne Isabel Westwood ( née   Swire ; 8 April 1941 – 29 December 2022) was an English fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream. In 2022, Sky Arts ranked her the 4th most influential artist in Britain of

315-416: A factor of 10, to £5 million from £527,683 the previous year. The next year, the company announced: "Over the last year margins have been under pressure due to the nature of wider retail conditions." Shortly after, Westwood announced she would cease further expansion of her business as a way of tackling environmental and sustainability issues. In March 2015, the company announced that it would open

378-430: A fair distribution of wealth is the place to start, from there we can build a green economy which will secure our future." In November 2019, along with other public figures, Westwood signed a letter supporting Corbyn that described him as "a beacon of hope in the struggle against emergent far-right nationalism, xenophobia and racism in much of the democratic world" and endorsed him in the 2019 UK general election . In

441-430: A grey and burgundy three-piece suit with details on the lapels and pockets. Westwood and Branson were both passionate about using sustainable materials throughout their designs to reduce the impact on the environment and so used recycled polyester . In March 2012, Vivienne Westwood Group reached agreement to end a long-standing UK franchise relationship with Manchester -based Hervia, which operated seven stores for

504-607: A medium for radical change; with the dissolution of the Sex Pistols, Westwood's inspiration for her eponymous line shifted instead to the 18th century. She was particularly influenced by Pirates and the Incroyables and merveilleuses a radical movement amongst nobles who had survived the French Revolution which referenced the guillotine to which many had lost family members. Westwood's designs were independent and represented

567-501: A short period of closure in the 1980s) to this day. McLaren and Westwood were keen entrepreneurs, and their designs sold in their boutique – named Let It Rock , Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die , Sex , and subsequently Seditionares – helped to define and market the punk look at the exact moment that it exploded in popularity on the streets of London. Westwood's designs during the Punk Era and thereafter were informed by historicism;

630-551: A son, Benjamin. Westwood's marriage to Derek ended after she met Malcolm McLaren . Westwood and McLaren moved to Thurleigh Court in Balham , where their son Joseph Corré was born in 1967. Westwood continued to teach until 1971 and also created clothes which McLaren designed. McLaren became manager of the punk band the Sex Pistols , and subsequently the two garnered attention as the band wore Westwood's and McLaren's designs. Westwood

693-474: A statement of her own values. She collaborated on occasion with Gary Ness, who assisted Westwood with inspirations and titles for her collections. McLaren and Westwood's first fashion collection to be shown to the media and potential international buyers was Pirate , combining 18th and 19th century dress, British history and textiles with African prints. This was the first time in which Westwood explored her inspiration of historic sources in current day couture,

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756-1040: A three-story outpost in midtown Manhattan in New York City. This was followed by a new 3,200-square-foot (300 m ) shop in a building also housing the company's offices and showrooms in Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, opening in early 2016. As of December 2015, Vivienne Westwood Ltd operated 12 retail stores in the UK, including an outlet store in Bicester Village . There were 63 Westwood shops worldwide including nine in China, nine in Hong Kong, 18 in South Korea, six in Taiwan, two in Thailand, and two in

819-567: A working-class girl like me could possibly make a living in the art world". After taking a job in a factory and studying at a teacher-training college, she became a primary-school teacher. During this period, she created her own jewellery, which she sold at a stall on Portobello Road . In 1962, she met Derek Westwood, an apprentice at the Hoover factory, in Harrow. They married on 21 July 1962; Westwood made her own wedding dress. In 1963, she gave birth to

882-776: Is aged in barrels handmade from 200-year-old oak sourced from the Tronçais forest in France. Courvoisier headquarters are still stationed in Jarnac, about ten minutes from the Cognac region. Courvoisier is run from the original Château Felix Courvoisier and Jules Gallois moved to in 1828. Today, the Courvoisier Château has a boutique and museum, offering private tastings and exclusive tours. The museum features several items linked to Napoleon I. In December 2023, Campari Group made an agreement to acquire

945-519: Is important to me that my business affairs are in line with my personal values. I am subject to UK tax on all of my income". Later in 2015, she said that she had restructured her corporate tax arrangements to try to align them with the Green Party's policy. In 2013, sustainable luxury fashion publication Eluxe Magazine accused Westwood of using the green movement as a marketing tool because some of Westwood's fashion and accessories lines are made in

1008-651: Is often credited as being instrumental in reviving its use as a fashion fabric, thereby boosting the local industry. In the collection, she had also adopted the use of the Orb logo, an orb resembling the Sovereign's Orb with a satellite ring around it like the one around Saturn. This sparked heavy controversy as it was very similar to Orb Mark of the Harris Tweed Authority (at the time named The Harris Tweed Association ). Following her death, The Harris Tweed Authority released

1071-695: The Napoleonic Wars . Legend has it that Napoleon I later took several barrels of cognac with him to St Helena , a treat much appreciated by the English officers on the ship, who named it "the Cognac of Napoleon". In 1869, Napoleon's heir Napoleon III personally requested Courvoisier and bestowed the honourable title of "Official Supplier to the Imperial Court" which is still displayed at the Courvoisier museum in Jarnac. In 1828, Felix Courvoisier and Jules Gallois,

1134-538: The People's Republic of China . These were found to include PVC , polyester , rayon and viscose , all derived from harmful chemicals. Eluxe wrote that, despite Westwood's statements that consumers should 'buy less', her company produces nine collections a year compared to the average designer's two. Eluxe accused Westwood of using unpaid interns in her fashion house and making them work over 40 hours per week and wrote that some interns complained about their treatment by

1197-510: The Pirate runway had featured both rap and an array of ethnic music. Subsequently, their partnership, which was underlined by the fact that both their names appeared on all labelling, produced collections in Paris and London with the thematic titles Savages (shown late 1981), Buffalo/Nostalgia Of Mud (shown spring 1982), Punkature (shown late 1982), Witches (shown early 1983) and Worlds End 1984 (later renamed Hypnos , shown late 1983). After

1260-457: The "Mixability" promotion. In 2009 Courvoisier created an "Architectural Punchbowl" in conjunction with Bompas & Parr . It was intended as immersive brand experience, featuring cocktails served from a structure filled with 4,000 litres of a punch containing Courvoisier. The event was a homage to Admiral Edward Russell, who in 1694 created a large punchbowl that had to be served by a boy rowing across it. In 1988, famed Art Deco designer Erté

1323-590: The 'We are the Reality Party' candidate opposing UKIP leader Nigel Farage in the Kent constituency of Thanet South . Askew polled 126 votes in the election. In June 2017, Westwood endorsed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for the 2017 general election . She said, "I'm excited about the Labour Party manifesto because it's all about the fair distribution of wealth." She added "Jeremy clearly wants to go green and creating

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1386-455: The 1990's, Beam Global (later Suntory Global Spirits ) thereafter, and most recently Campari Group since May 2024. in 1835, Emmanuel Courvoisier started a wine and spirit company in the Parisian suburb of Bercy with Louis Gallois, then the mayor of Bercy. Originally, the pair would act as traders for the best cognacs of the region. Eventually they decided that the only way they could guarantee

1449-449: The Green Party because I believe it is in the best interests of our country and our economy". It was reported that she had donated £300,000 to fund the party's election campaign. In February 2015, Westwood was announced as the special guest on the Greens' We Are The Revolution campaigning tour of English universities in such cities as Liverpool, Norwich, Brighton and Sheffield. On the eve of

1512-605: The United States. In August 2011, Westwood's company Vivienne Westwood Ltd agreed to pay £350,000 in tax plus interest of £144,112, due in 2009, to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for underestimating the value of her brand. Her UK business had sold the rights to her trademarks to Luxembourg -based Latimo, which she controlled, for £840,000 in 2002. After examining the deal, HMRC argued that the brand had been undervalued. The £2 million valuation triggered additional taxes. Accounts for Vivienne Westwood Ltd showed that since 2011,

1575-488: The V&;A describing Westwood as "a meticulous researcher". Westwood began challenging gender norms and promoting experimentation in her designs, which at the outset were created in collaboration with McLaren. Initially, Westwood created garments referencing the dress of the 1950s Teddy Boys, which were worn by McLaren. Upon opening Let It Rock in 1971, the first incarnation of Westwood and McLaren's boutique, early creations for

1638-568: The Westwood gown. The wedding dress has also been described as one of the movie's most iconic features, leading Westwood to approach the producers about being involved in making a sequel. A version of the dress was subsequently made available for purchase on Net-a-porter , and sold out in a matter of hours. It was available as a knee-length version. In April 1989, Westwood appeared on the cover of Tatler dressed as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher . The suit that Westwood wore had been ordered for Thatcher but not yet delivered. The cover, which bore

1701-525: The artists Jean-Antione Watteau , Anthony van Dyck , and François Boucher have been used as inspiration for several pieces of Westwood's garments including scarves, corsets, and leggings. For Autumn-Winter 1987/88, Westwood presented the ' Harris Tweed' collection which launched her long-standing relationship with the Scottish cloth, Harris tweed , and the Harris Tweed Authority . The collection

1764-522: The caption "This woman was once a punk", was included in The Guardian list of the best ever UK magazine covers. In September 2005, Westwood joined forces with the British civil rights group Liberty and launched exclusive limited design T-shirts and baby wear bearing the slogan I AM NOT A TERRORIST, please don't arrest me . She said she was supporting the campaign and defending habeas corpus . "When I

1827-462: The company had continued to pay £2 million a year to offshore company Latimo for the right to use Westwood's name on her own fashion label. Latimo, which Westwood controlled as the majority shareholder in her companies, was set up in 2002. Such arrangements, while legal, were against the Green Party policy to eliminate use of tax havens such as Luxembourg. In March 2015, Westwood said, "It

1890-500: The company that owned the brand. On 1 May 2024, it was announced that this transaction had been completed. Courvoisier launched the Joséphine bottle in 1951, named after Napoleon's first wife. The shape of the bottle, with a thin neck and wide base, has become synonymous with Courvoisier, and speculation still exists whether the shape is meant to mimic Josephine's love of corsets or an inverted replica of early brandy glasses. Courvoisier

1953-410: The crinoline, representing a "mythology of restriction and encumbrance in woman's dress", and the miniskirt, representing an "equally dubious mythology of liberation". Westwood continued her research in fashion history by studying garments found in museum collections, which are evident through her incorporations of neck ruffs, corsets, bustles, breeches, and paniers in her various collections. Works from

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2016-407: The dangers of climate change . She also appeared in a PETA ad campaign to promote World Water Day and vegetarianism, drawing attention to the meat industry's water consumption. In 2014, Westwood bought a controlling interest in the equity crowdfunding platform Trillion Fund , which was dissolved in 2019. In January 2015, Westwood stated her support of the Green Party : "I am investing in

2079-513: The fashion chain. The deal brought to a conclusion a legal dispute, which included Hervia issuing High Court proceedings for alleged breach of contract , after Westwood sought to end the franchise deal before the agreed term. The subsequent transition of some of the Hervia stores to Westwood, along with cost-savings, was credited for a jump in Vivienne Westwood Ltd's pre-tax profits by nearly

2142-438: The fashion house. In 1993, Westwood designed many of the colorful suits and outfits  Duran Duran  wore during their tour for The Wedding Album, as well as those that appeared in the three videos for that album: "Ordinary World", "Come Undone" and "Too Much Information". Dita Von Teese wore a purple Westwood gown for her formal wedding ceremony when she married Marilyn Manson in 2005. Marion Cotillard wore

2205-505: The following statement: In the late 1980’s Vivienne Westwood commenced use of a logo which, we consider, acknowledged her connections with and affection for our cherished cloth. Whilst that may not have been well received by everyone in the Harris Tweed® industry, subsequently both brands have very successfully collaborated to their mutual benefit. We hope and expect that collaboration will continue for many years to come. In 2007, Westwood

2268-538: The future. We are what we know." In July 2011, Westwood's collections were presented at The Brandery fashion show in Barcelona . Westwood worked closely with Richard Branson to design uniforms for the Virgin Atlantic crew. The uniform for the female crew consisted of a red suit, which accentuated the women's curves and hips, and had strategically placed darts around the bust area. The men's uniform consisted of

2331-635: The garments. Sex became a meeting point at the centre of the punk scene, and transformed into Seditionaries in 1976. Clothing retailed at Seditionaries (Seditionaries: Clothes for Heroes) retained the familiar references of Sex, including historicism, the challenging of gender norms, and fetish. However, Seditionaries pieces were made from different cloths and fibres. The development of Westwood signatures - bondage trousers covered with straps to restrict, ‘unravelling’ loose-knit jumpers made of mohair, and long-sleeved tops fashioned from soft muslins, which featured graphic screen printed designs and fastenings to

2394-467: The last 50 years. Westwood came to public notice when she made clothes for the boutique that she and Malcolm McLaren ran on King's Road , which became known as Sex . Their ability to synchronise clothing and music shaped the 1970s UK punk scene, which included McLaren's band, the Sex Pistols . She viewed punk as a way of "seeing if one could put a spoke in the system". Westwood opened four shops in London and eventually expanded throughout Britain and

2457-584: The outbreak of the Second World War . At the time of Vivienne's birth, her father was employed as a storekeeper in an aircraft factory; he had previously worked as a greengrocer. In 1958, her family moved to Harrow , Greater London. Westwood took a jewellery and silversmith course at the University of Westminster , then known as the Harrow Art School, but left after one term, saying: "I didn't know how

2520-418: The outside, showing the construction of the piece; these attitudes are reflected in the music we make. It's OK to not be perfect, to show the workings of your life and your mind in your songs and your clothes." Westwood was disenchanted with the direction that adoptees had taken punk in, many of them uninterested in punk's political values, viewing the style of the movement as a marketing opportunity instead of

2583-690: The overlapping spirits brands to U.S.-based competitor Fortune Brands and British-based multinational Diageo . On 12 December 2005, Pernod Ricard announced that it had agreed to sell the restaurant businesses ( Dunkin' Brands ) to a consortium of three US private equity firms (Thomas H. Lee Partners, the Carlyle Group and Bain Capital LLP ) for $ 2.43 billion. The closing of the sale occurred on 1 March 2006. Many malt distilleries were operated by Allied Domecq and former company Allied Lyons. Some are still open under new owners: Allied Domecq's operated

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2646-524: The partnership with McLaren was dissolved, Westwood showed one more collection under the Worlds End label: Clint Eastwood (late 1984–early 1985). She dubbed the period 1981–85 "New Romantic" (during which time she created the famous look of the band Adam and the Ants ) and 1988–91 as "The Pagan Years" during which "Vivienne's heroes changed from punks and ragamuffins to Tatler girls wearing clothes that parodied

2709-502: The rocker aesthetic of the 1960s, the boutique still sold Teddy Boy inspired garments under the Let It Rock label. The new politically leaning design inspirations for Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die were conveyed through Westwood's sleeveless T-shirts, bearing various statements such as ‘PERV’ and ‘ROCK’, created using a combination of safety pins, chicken bones, and glitter glue. Two years later, in 1974, Westwood and McLaren's boutique

2772-455: The shop incorporated such influences reminiscent of the youth subculture fashions of the 1950s . Inspired by the rebellious nature of the 1950s youth, Let It Rock referenced the clothing, music, and décor of the immediate postwar era. In 1972, Let It Rock was refashioned into Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die , in homage to the death of James Dean. Though design references for garments retailed under Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die focussed on

2835-472: The sleeves to give the effect of a straight-jacket – during this period quickly became archetypal punk staples. Westwood also inspired the style of punk icons, such as Viv Albertine , who wrote in her memoir, "Vivienne and Malcolm use clothes to shock, irritate and provoke a reaction but also to inspire change. Mohair jumpers, knitted on big needles, so loosely that you can see all the way through them, T-shirts slashed and written on by hand, seams and labels on

2898-522: The sons of Emmanuel and Louis, wanted to improve the quality of cognac, moving the company to the heart of the Cognac region in the town of Jarnac. After Felix's passing in 1866, his nephews, the Curlier brothers, took over the management of the business. By 1909, the business was sold to the Simon family from England, but still maintained its production and headquarters in the Jarnac region. Located ten minutes from

2961-408: The tour, Westwood was excluded from appearing by the youth wing of the Green Party due to her avoidance of UK corporate tax, which contravened party policy on usage of off-shore tax havens. She later condemned this as "a wasted opportunity" for the Greens. "I wasn't pure enough for them", she wrote in her online diary. Subsequently, Westwood switched her support to campaigning on behalf of Nigel Askew,

3024-609: The town of Cognac, the main Courvoisier business operations still operate from the Château on the banks of the Charente river which was established in the 1870s. Courvoisier sources eaux-de-vie from the following crus to create its blends: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies and Fin Bois. The harvest season begins in October, followed up by distillation from November to March. Courvoisier cognac

3087-451: The upper class". From 1985 to 1987, Westwood took inspiration from the ballet Petrushka to design the mini-crini, an abbreviated version of the Victorian crinoline . Its mini-length , bouffant silhouette inspired the puffball skirts widely presented by more established designers such as Christian Lacroix . The mini-crini was described in 1989 as a combination of two conflicting ideals -

3150-520: The very finest cognac was relocate to the region and become producers themselves. The 200-year-old crafting process has not changed since Courvoisier's establishment in Bercy. Emperor of the French Napoleon Bonaparte visited Bercy in 1811 as documented in a historic painting by Etienne Bouhot, and later was credited with saying he wanted his artillery companies to have a ration of cognac during

3213-515: The world, selling a varied range of merchandise, some of which promoted her political causes such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament , climate change and civil rights groups. Westwood was born in Hollingworth , Cheshire, on 8 April 1941. She grew up in nearby Tintwistle , and was the daughter of Gordon Swire and Dora Swire (née Ball), who had married two years previously, two weeks after

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3276-512: The world. Allied Domecq Allied Domecq PLC was an multinational company , headquartered in Bristol , United Kingdom , that operated spirits , wine , and quick service restaurant businesses. It was once a FTSE 100 Index constituent and the world’s second-largest spirits group but has been acquired by Pernod Ricard . Allied Domecq was the result of a 1994 merger between Allied Lyons and Pedro Domecq S.A. Allied Lyons itself

3339-670: The £50 T-shirts raised funds for the organisation. Westwood stated on television in 2007 that she had transferred her long-standing support for the Labour Party to the Conservatives , due to concerns about civil liberties and human rights. On Easter Sunday 2008, she campaigned in person at the biggest Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament demonstration in ten years, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment , Aldermaston , Berkshire. The next year, she cut off her hair to highlight

3402-552: Was a schoolgirl, my history teacher, Mr. Scott, began to take classes in civic affairs. The first thing he explained to us was the fundamental rule of law embodied in habeas corpus . He spoke with pride of civilisation and democracy. The hatred of arbitrary arrest by the lettres de cachet of the French monarchy caused the storming of the Bastille . We can only take democracy for granted if we insist on our liberty", she said. The sale of

3465-576: Was approached by the Chair of King's College London , Patricia Rawlings , to design an academic gown for the college after it had successfully petitioned the Privy Council for the right to award degrees. In 2008, the Westwood-designed academic dresses for King's College were unveiled. On the gowns, Westwood commented: "Through my reworking of the traditional robe I tried to link the past, the present and

3528-562: Was commissioned to create limited edition Courvoisier bottles containing Grande Champagne cognac dating back to the year of his birth, 1892. The seven unique designs represented various stages of the cognac distillation process interpreted by Erté's unique designs. Courvoisier's next fashion partnership was in 2005 with English designer Vivienne Westwood . Sold exclusively at Harvey Nichols , The Courvoisier XO dressed by Vivienne Westwood only released 150 limited edition bottles. The oldest bottle of Courvoisier, with liquid dating back to 1789,

3591-508: Was designed by Westwood. Westwood's designs were featured in the 2008 film adaptation of the television series Sex and the City . In the film, Carrie Bradshaw becomes engaged to long-term lover Mr. Big . Being a writer at Vogue , she is invited by her editor to model wedding dresses, including a design made by Westwood. The dress is subsequently sent to Carrie as a gift, with a handwritten note from Westwood herself, and Carrie decides to use

3654-424: Was instantly identifiable through its aesthetic and sound. Westwood's boutique, originally managed with McLaren, was a meeting place for early members of the London punk scene. The boutique regularly changed names and interior design through the 1970s to fit with collections and design inspirations. It remains in its original location at 430 Kings Road, Chelsea, London (under the name Worlds End since 1980, following

3717-404: Was one of the architects of the punk fashion phenomenon of the 1970s, saying "I was messianic about punk, seeing if one could put a spoke in the system in some way". Westwood's emergence as a designer who made garments that reflected the economic, social, and political contexts of 1970s Britain coincided with a disillusioned youth, who developed a unique style of dress and musical expression which

3780-555: Was re-modelled, and reopened as Sex . Pieces sold in Sex were intentionally abrasive and challenging, with designs grounded in fetish and sado-masochism, seeking to provoke a comfortable middle class and inspire young punks into political action by challenging the status quo. Garments retailed at Sex included skirts and dresses made from rubber as well as t-shirts with pornographic material printed on them. The clothes often had large intentional rips in them and sizeable zippers incorporated into

3843-447: Was the first cognac brand to appear on TV with an advertisement on UK television broadcast to nine million viewers. In 2009, Courvoisier was the first alcohol brand to release a 3D advertisement, titled "Cognac With Another Dimension", on TV and in cinemas, ahead of the viewing of the biggest-grossing film of all time, Avatar . A special iPod app was created to teach consumers how to use Courvoisier as an ingredient in cocktails as part of

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3906-424: Was the result of a 1978 merger between Allied Breweries and the food and catering group J. Lyons and Co . In 1999 the 3,500 strong pub division was sold to Burton-based Punch Taverns for £3bn after a bidding war with Whitbread . In early 2005, a takeover bid for the company was launched by French-based rival Pernod Ricard S.A. Pernod Ricard successfully completed acquisition on 26 July 2005 and sold off

3969-565: Was unveiled at Harrod's for the Alchimie L'Atelier event. Discovered in Dutch collector Bay van der Bunt's vault, the bottle went on sale for €90,000. Courvoisier was granted the 'Prestige de la France' in 1984 for providing quality products in France and remains the only cognac house to have received the award. Liquor ratings aggregator Proof66 lists the Courvoisier 21 among the Top 20 rated brandies/cognacs in

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