Punk mother, eco-warrior, and illustrious creative Dame Vivienne Westwood sadly passed away in late December 2022. Following the news of her death, The Vivienne Westwood Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, is officially launching to protect and continue the designer’s legacy, life, creativity and activism.

Westwood founded the foundation herself back in 2019 in a bid to create a better world and to take tangible action toward four pillars of change: Halt Climate Change, Stop War, Defend Human Rights and Protest Capitalism. The group also wishes to partner with NGOs and individuals to raise awareness and start positive change toward those priorities.

On halting climate change, The Vivienne Westwood Foundation seeks to help fight lower emissions while protecting and restoring biodiversity and wildlife. The next priority, stopping war, exists to stand against hostilities and the arms trade along with supporting those affected by it. Protecting human rights and freedom of speech is also crucial, as well as working towards an equal and green economy, away from the totalitarian matrix.

Her quote, “STOP Climate Change. This is a fight for the very existence of the human race. And that of the planet. Become a freedom fighter,” demonstrates it was activism she breathed for. In 2012, Westwood inaugurated the “Climate Revolution” at the London Paralympics closing ceremony. She also held roles as a Trustee of the human rights organization Liberty, a patron of Reprieve and a supporter and campaigner for Amnesty International and War Child, the Environmental Justice Foundation, and Friends of the Earth.

Learn more about The Vivienne Westwood foundation over on the official website, and then maybe take a moment to learn more about the kinds of record sea temperature rises that make its work invaluable.