Beyond the Runway: Fashion, Activism & the Environment
- Duration: 2 Hours (approx.)
- Location: Soundings Theatre, Level 2, Te Papa
‘I just use fashion as an excuse to talk about politics. Because I'm a fashion designer, it gives me a voice, which is really good.’
– Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood was one of the fashion world’s great disrupters, and used her platform, including the catwalk, to campaign for human rights and the environment. A passionate climate change activist she become one of the first designers to understand the impact of excessive production on the environment and to call for change from government, industry and fashion lovers.
Join Olivia Jordan Cornelius, a writer and former press officer for Vivienne Westwood Ltd and PETA UK, Jacinta FitzGerald from Mindful Fashion NZ, Dr Bobby Luke Campbell (Ngāti Ruanui), fashion designer and academic and Gosia Piątek, founder of Kowtow, for a lively discussion on Vivienne Westwood, her global impact and the ongoing pursuit of a fashion industry where business, people, and nature all thrive.
Photo credit: SURGE animal rights campaign group protests against London Fashion Week 2017 for its pro-fur stance, despite growing opposition from major fashion labels. 2017. Photo by Penelope Barritt | Alamy stock Photo
