PETA statement re passing of Dame Vivienne Westwood

For Immediate Release:
December 29, 2022

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Please see the following statement from PETA President Ingrid Newkirk regarding the passing of fashion icon Vivienne Westwood:

An icon, a rebel, and a self-described “eco-warrior,” Dame Vivienne Westwood spent decades as a designer daring the rest of the fashion world to start a revolution for animals and the planet. She was an early adopter of PETA’s fur-free ethos, choosing to donate her brand’s remaining rabbit fur bags to a wildlife sanctuary, and shed exotic skins from her collections years ago. She also took part in a viral PETA campaign, asking everyone to go vegetarian to save water and lives. The world has lost a true original and animals a true friend, but we’re sure her legacy of creativity over cruelty will inspire designers for years to come.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview that fosters violence against other animals. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.