POI #1 Vivienne Westwood World's End

The Sex Pistols- God Save the Queen

The first point of interest on the walking tour will be World's End, a high end boutique at 430 King's Road featuring the designs of Vivienne Westwood. The location and history of this boutique is more important in this case than what it currently is. World's End used to be known as "SEX" a clothing brand designed by Westwood and produced by Malcolm McLaren, the former promoter and manager of the Sex Pistols and New York Dolls. McLaren and Westwood worked together to merchandise "SEX" between 1973 and 1974. The location underwent various rebranding from 1974 until 1980 when it reopened as World's End and has been ever since.

Images

Hours of Operation

Every day From:

10am

To:

6pm

What is World's End?

The shop is located in the district of World’s End, in the London neighborhood, Chelsea. This district is considered to be a hub for counter culture and fashion. This reputation began with the bohemian styles of the 1960’s and then was propelled as a centre for the punk movement with the opening of “SEX” in the 1970’s. This shop is a historical location in the British fashion industry, as well as in the punk rock movement of the 1970’s. Westwood’s designs were daring and went against socially acceptable fashion norms. Westwood drew inspiration from sex shops and presented intimate wear as street style. Her use of safety pins, leather, dog collars, and more are what defined the “punk” look that became popular for British youth.

Vivienne Westwood World's End

Vivienne Westwood's Legacy

Westwood was awarded the title of “Dame” for her contributions to British fashion. She has stated that her goal is to use clothing as a resistance to consumerism and portray a political message. This was relevant during the punk movement, as the “edgy” fashion looks she created for The Sex Pistols represented the message of going against society and contributed to creating a counterculture of youth who were dissatisfied with life in London during the 1970’s. She is currently most concerned with climate change, and this is evident in her designs today

Significance to the Punk Movement

“SEX” is an example of the punk rock culture impacting the fashion industry, as well as being a brand that epitomizes the fashion side of punk culture.The brand SEX was more than just a fashion statement. The significance of SEX was the atmosphere that this changing street style had on London. London is known as one of the major cities in the explosion of punk music because the people were receptive to not only the music, but the attitude and the fashion of punk culture. The notion that the punk movement presented was that youth could challenge society, be angry, and display this. The atmosphere of London was affected and “SEX” contributed to this. The rebranding of “SEX” to “World’s End” is also significant because this is symbolic of the end of punk counterculture in London. Despite the popularity of The Sex Pistols and The Clash and a few other punk bands, overall the punk movement was short lived and this period of counterculture in London was defined by only a few years in the 1970’s. “World’s End” is still an interesting point of interest on this tour, despite the fact that it is no longer the same shop it was during the punk movement. It is still beneficial to visit the location in which this major point of punk fashion emerged, see how the shop has changed, and experience the atmosphere of a district known for its counterculture.

Bibliography

Craik, Jennifer, and Sharon Peoples. "Exhibition Review: Vivienne Westwood: 34 Years in Fashion." Fashion Theory: The Journal Of Dress, Body & Culture 10, no. 3 (September 2006): 387-399. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 14, 2017).

"Giving a Platform to Fashion." Illustrated London News, July 4, 2000, 70. The Illustrated London News Historical Archive, 1842-2003 (accessed November 14, 2017). http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/5Z6XHX.

Gonzalez de Leon, Maria. "Vivienne Westwood, Rebel and the Unwitting Mother of Punk." Faena Aleph. March 25, 2015. http://www.faena.com/aleph/articles/vivienne-westwood-rebel-and-the-unwitting-mother-of-punk/

Phillipov, Michelle. "Haunted by the Spirit of '77: Punk Studies and the Persistence of Politics." Continuum: Journal Of Media & Cultural Studies 20, no. 3 (September 2006): 383-393. Communication & Mass Media Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 14, 2017).

Rotman, Asaf. "How Vivienne Westwood's Punk Revolution Changed Fashion Forever." Grailed. January 11, 2017. https://www.grailed.com/drycleanonly/vivienne-westwood-sex-punk-fashion

Vilela, Joana. "Vivienne Westwood Punk Fashion Queen." Earth Focus One Planet-One Community, Spring 2007, 21. Academic OneFile (accessed November 14, 2017). http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=st46245&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA166186830&asid=1aff2d808dd1687e6f722f67acc59818.

Westwood, Vivienne. "About." World's End Shop. Accessed November 14, 2017. http://worldsendshop.co.uk/about/

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