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Set in Harrods’ vast, concrete Crown Court loading bay, Vivienne Westwood’s AW13 MAN preview was an atmospheric, post-apocalyptic presentation full of jelly shoes and jelly sleeves, blouson trousers and Gaia philosophy. The Dame herself was there in her trademark ‘I’m Julian Assange’ t-shirt accompanied by her partner Andreas Kronthaler, both well-prepared to tell waiting camera crews all about the Climate Revolution.
We were allowed to preview ten looks from the upcoming collection on ten boys, scattered and spotlit around the room standing on hazard tape lined podiums, in front of steam-punk style pipe sculptures or perched atop a giant mechanical horse made from recycled Cadillacs and Chevrolets from artists Joe Rush and Alex Wreckage. Every model was ‘tached and war-striped, ready to ride full force ahead into the revolution, wearing striped tights, grungy dogtooth suits and belted trenches with upturned collars like a union of colonels, captains and pirates combining their strength to assist the cause. Emblazoned skulls, statement badges and protest posts declaring ‘What’s bad for the planet is bad for the economy,’ set the scene dramatically for the upcoming collection and have ensured it’s not going to be a show or a message to forget.
Text: Felicity Kinsella
Photography: Mitchell Sams
