Vivienne Westwood began her career as a designer in London in 1971, defining the punk street culture of the time and developing her collections inspired by traditional Saville Row tailoring and 17th and 18th century art. Rather than simply treating fashion as a consumer good, she also uses it to raise awareness of environmental and human rights issues. With a history spanning more than 50 years, Vivienne Westwood is widely recognized in the world today as a global brand, a globally influential designer and an activist.