- Title: UK: Vivienne Westwood uses fashion installation to push climate campaign
- Date: 8th January 2013
- Summary: VARIOUS SCULPTURES AND MODELS WESTWOOD AND KRONTHALER POSING FOR PICTURES
- Embargoed: 23rd January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Business,Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVABMNOML90UTMLS68SISJP1O0LW
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- Story Text: Vivienne Westwood MAN Autumn-Winter 2013/14 collection previews at menswear fashion week in London.
Vivienne Westwood used her menswear fashion week event in London on Tuesday (January 8) to continue her environmental campaign.
The legendary fashion designer presented a preview of the Vivienne Westwood MAN Autumn-Winter 2013 / 14 collection alongside sculptures created from recycled waste.
The loading bay at retailer Harrods was transformed for the installation, which Westwood hopes will inspire people to join her 'Climate Revolution'.
"The message is that the economy, the rotten system of our, our rotten financial system is the cause of climate change and the proof of it is the financial crisis, you can't keep them separate you have got to treat climate change - the cause, to treat the finance," she told Reuters Television.
Westwood launched her campaign at the Paralympics closing ceremony in London last year, where she appeared on one of the sculptures with a banner reading 'Climate Revolution'.
Made from recycled metal the sculptures are the work of London-born artist Joe Rush. Both he and Westwood share an interest in the planet, so they decided to combine their talents.
It's not just the environment Westwood is passionate about. Wearing a T-shirt in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who is currently taking refuge from arrest close by to Harrods in the Ecuadorian embassy, she said:
"We have only been selling these for just over a month and we already have 3000 pounds to give him from selling these T-shirts, he's got a lot of support and we have got to get him out because he is a hero."
Westwood was joined at the event by her husband and Vivienne Westwood chief designer Andreas Kronthaler. He explained how the range aims promote their environmental concerns by encouraging people to do more cycling:
"The urban theme this year is the urban traveller. We are here in Harrods in the garage it was inspired by cycling, I mean Vivienne and I, we cycle a lot and it was to highlight, if you have a car or a bicycle just think about it. And try to use the bicycle if you can, because every little helps in our environmental problem,"Kronthaler said.
Inspired by today's urban commuter, the collection will be presented in full at Milan fashion week.
Meanwhile London Collections: Men is due to finish on Wednesday January 9. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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