Fashion designer/retailer
Vivienne Westwood is a British fashion designer and businesswoman, as well as a political activist for civil liberties and human rights. She is largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream. Owned by Luxembourg-based holding company Latimo SA.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jan 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Vivienne Westwood Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
Ethical Fashion Initiative partner
This company is collaborating with the Ethical Fashion Initiative, a United Nations initiative which connects the fashion business with artisans in Africa and Haiti. It provides work for marginalized women who have a strong desire to change their lives. The project provides employment, fair wages and training.
Tax avoidance
In 2015 Dame Vivienne Westwood stood accused of being a hypocrite and a tax avoider, after the publication of company accounts found that Dame Westwood's main UK business arm was paying 2 million pounds a year to an offshore company in Luxembourg for the right to use her name on her fashion label. This arrangement means that the company has avoided paying the UK Treasury approximately 500,000 pounds a year, a move which has been described as tax experts as none other than 'tax avoidance'.
Source: TaxWatch UK
(2015)
Fur free since 2007
Vivienne Westwood eliminated fur from her collections in 2007.
Source: PETA
(2007)
Use of non-mulesed wool
Brands owned by this company are listed in Human Society International Australia's Better Wool Guide as using 100% non-mulesed wool from a robust certification scheme, or has a time-bound commitment to do so. Mulesing is the controversial practice of removing strips of the skin of a lamb's rear and is often done without pain relief. In Australia, the only country where mulesing still occurs, an estimated 10 million merino lambs are subjected to mulesing each year - equivalent to 19 lambs per minute.
Source: HSI Australia
(2024)
Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website
(2020)
Company Details
Type:
Private Company
Contact Details
Products / Brands
Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood
Womens Fashion
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Fragrances