We’re back from Milan
We’ve just returned from our MAN Autumn-Winter 2012-2013 show in Milan.
Our collection is in support of David Attenborough’s documentary series ‘The Frozen Planet’, which will go to America but unfortunately without the final episode where he explains that we humans are responsible for the ice melt. So we took the polar explorers as our heroes and we love polar bears. Barack Obama never mentions the words climate change.
If our leaders would admit the fact of climate change and conduct their politics from that perspective then we might have a chance – we have 10 years at the most to stop it.
How impossible it is for us to imagine ourselves victims of disaster. We suffer for the poor people who were thrown into the sea from their cruise ship off the coast of Tuscany, some losing their lives. Imagine a world of accelerating natural disasters, one after the other so that nobody can help anyone else.
Public opinion is the only thing that will save us.
GreenUp! Europe Campaign
I was approached by the United Nation Environmental Programme to design a t-shirt for their GreenUp! campaign – when you start doing things you find people come to you. They’re starting with a terrific idea which is to plant corridors of trees to link Europe’s forests. This new initiative is about triggering new habits for a greener Europe and for greener economies. I have created a design for UNEP in support of the project. It’s a really practical idea and it raises public awareness – it’s great for the environment, great for people, great for animals.
My design has been printed on a t-shirt provided by sustainable manufacturers, ANVIL. The ‘Tree-shirts’ will be sold exclusively through YOOX.com on a worldwide level and in our Milan shop during menswear fashion week with all proceeds to be donated to the GreenUp! fund, helping to re-plant trees in Europe’s worst affected regions.
For more information on the project please visit www.unep.org
Backstage at Vivienne Westwood’s Milan show
Dear Vivienne,
First of all I would like to congratulate you, Andreas and the team on a brilliant collection, love it as usual!
Secondly, I have a question. You regularly mention about how everybody should try with fashion to Do It Yourself and I can imagine that for a woman it is quite simple to, as you say, take the tablecloth or the curtains and make a stylish frock. But I must confess I find it difficult as a guy to do the same, and I’ll be honest I don’t particularly fancy wearing a dress anyway 🙂 So if you have any tips on how I can make my wardrobe a bit more interesting than just some nice shirts and trousers I would be incredibly grateful!
Hope to hear from you soon,
James.
P.S I got hold of the book you recommended and I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying it! Haven’t finished it as yet, but I can completely see it’s relevance and have already been recommending it to my friends!
Comment by James Emmett on 17/01/2012 at 3:27 pm
Frozen Planet is indeed a remarkable series, and I’m pleased to share that all seven episodes will indeed air in the United States on Discovery Channel beginning this March, including the final episode: http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/frozen-planet/about-the-show.html
Comment by Katherine Nelson on 17/01/2012 at 8:17 pm
Dear Vivienne,
I checked photos of the show in Milan on Facebook, and all work was strong and beautiful! I like “GreenUp! Europe Campaign” logo mark so much.
I always respect your style of create things.
I’m graphic designer in Japan and I will exhibit my artworks at Sustainable Art Project in Germany from next month to May. My message for the show is “GREEN= SAVE OUR PLANET,” and I made 5 posters.
One of my poster, I draw your face as Lady Green because you are the person who keep sending the strong message to save the planet to the world. If you could permit me to use your image for my green poster and exhibit it in Germany, please please let me know.
You can check the image of poster from here.
http://www.aya-blog.com/2012/01/dear-vivienne.html
Hope you like it…♥
Thank you so much
Aya
Comment by Aya on 18/01/2012 at 2:52 am
Vivienne,
The second i saw the mens show with the icicles and snow on their hair and beards i thought; “YES, … this is going to provoke questions, … and questions that we have answers to those who don’t know what it is all about” – a great way to conveying the message to the greater public, and the fashion industry in general!
I know the main message on AR isn’t about fashion, but I do love those half and half trousers very much!
Also, I am intrigued as well as James into mens fashion and how to “Do it yourself'” a little more, as i find it hard to make use of anything in the house without looking slightly feminine which i’d rather try and stay away from and keep a masculine ‘Do it yourself’ look !
Sam
Comment by Sam on 19/01/2012 at 8:09 pm
Hey Vivienne and Cynthia, its George again! I just wanted to say that I am doing as much as I can as far as Cool Earth goes. I have been in touch with them and they have sent me some posters and stuff to put up at school and they are emailing me some information that I can give to my friends. I am now buying a tree for all my friends for their Birthdays too, the Christmas ones were such a success! It will all help a bit, but I really wish I could do more, its frustrating being only 14!! My Mum has just bought me a Greenup T shirt, so I am excited about that arriving. They look amazing in the pictures from Milan. I also loved all the clothes, infact, I loved the whole feel of the show, I watched the video on facebook, it was awesome, the iced hair and beards were really brilliant! I just hope that it will make people sit up and listen a bit more. Thank you and have a lovely weekend!
Love George x
Comment by George Jibson on 20/01/2012 at 9:37 pm
With James’ point about DIY fashion for men… How much can you really do with mens fashion? How much can we push the boundaries? Most guys are worried about appearing effeminate, myself included. Vivienne, how can a guy appear different, and avant-garde in clothes that said guys makes himself–without being perceived as effeminate? More than just– tops and trousers? Something ground breaking and original.
Comment by Patrick Hawkes on 21/01/2012 at 2:42 am
Hi Katherine
Thank you for the information about the US broadcast of Frozen Planet!
Cynthia
Comment by Cynthia on 21/01/2012 at 7:56 am