Dame Vivienne Westwood handed over the reins of her £70million enterprise empire on the eve of her loss of life, MailOnline can solely reveal in the present day.

The godmother of punk, who modified the style world for ever and handed away peacefully final evening, put her pal and fellow designer Jeff Banks, 79, answerable for her clothes firm simply earlier than Christmas.

Mr Banks is now a director of Vivienne Westwood Ltd, in accordance with a submitting to Firms Home on December 22. The worthwhile agency holds money and property of greater than £50million.

On the identical day, in a suggestion that she could have been gravely in poor health, her third husband Andreas Kronthaler, an Austrian designer 25 years her junior, was made a director and secretary of his spouse’s property enterprise, which is value £18million.

Her two sons, one an erotic photographer and the opposite the founding father of the Agent Provocateur lingerie model, haven’t any formal function of their mom’s enterprise however could inherit her £150million fortune.

Dame Vivienne Westwood and Andreas Kronthaler, her third husband, who was made director of her property enterprise simply earlier than she died, yesterday

Welsh designer Jeff Banks has been made director of Dame Vivienne’s trend enterprise, in modifications at her firms on the eve of her loss of life

Vivienne Westwood kissing her husband during Paris Fashion Week in 2016

Vivienne Westwood kissing her husband throughout Paris Vogue Week in 2016

Dame Vivienne was decided to retain management of her trend home, after Armani and different huge names have been purchased by private-equity corporations.

She mentioned beforehand: ‘I personal my very own firm, so I’ve by no means had businessmen telling me what to do or getting frightened if one thing doesn’t promote. 

‘I’ve at all times had my very own entry to the general public, as a result of I began off making my garments for a bit of store and so I’ve at all times had individuals shopping for them. I may at all times promote a number of, even when I couldn’t promote lots, and one way or the other my enterprise grew as a result of individuals occurred to love it’.

It isn’t recognized who will inherit her estimated £150million fortune. She is survived by Mr Kronthaler, who was her design companion. Her son, Ben, an erotic photographer, was born in 1963, the 12 months after her marriage to her first husband, Hoover manufacturing unit employee Derek Westwood.

Her youthful son Joseph Corre, a businessman who based the lingerie retalier Agent Provocateur, was born in 1967 out of her relationship with punk music mogul Malcolm McLaren.

The ‘undisputed Queen of British trend’ died peacefully surrounded by her household in Clapham, south London, her trend home revealed yesterday. 

Dame Vivienne was probably the most influential British trend designers of the twentieth century, cultivating the punk rock motion along with her unapologetically political designs.

As the one that dressed the Intercourse Pistols, Dame Vivienne was synonymous with Seventies punk rock, a insurgent spirit that caught along with her all through her profession together with going commando when receiving her OBE from the Queen.

Extremely her profession started when she was a main college trainer, making jewelry after which attire in her spare time after marrying Hoover engineer Derek Westwood. 

Her life modified when she met and married second husband Malcolm McLaren, with the couple discovering fame with their ‘Intercourse’ boutique on the King’s Street and dressing bands together with the New York Dolls after which the Pistols. 

And later in life her activism on local weather change, opposing fracking, in addition to her assist for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange dominated her work and have been all fodder for protest T-shirts or banners worn by fashions on the runway. 

Her third husband and inventive companion Mr Kronthaler mentioned final evening: ‘I’ll proceed with Vivienne in my coronary heart.  We have now been working till the tip and he or she has given me loads of issues to get on with. Thanks darling.’

The assertion from her representatives added: ‘Vivienne continued to do the issues she cherished, up till the final second, designing, engaged on her artwork, writing her ebook, and altering the world for the higher.

‘She led an incredible life.

‘Her innovation and affect during the last 60 years has been immense and can proceed into the longer term.’

It additionally mentioned that The Vivienne Basis, a not-for-profit firm based by Dame Vivienne, her sons and grand-daughter in late 2022, will launch subsequent 12 months to ‘honour, shield and proceed the legacy of Vivienne’s life, design and activism’. 

The pioneering designer made a reputation for herself on the style scene within the Seventies, along with her androgynous designs, slogan T-shirts and irreverent angle in direction of the institution. 

In July 2020, Dame Vivienne sounded a warning over an Assange ‘stitch-up’ whereas wearing canary yellow in a large hen cage.

Dame Vivienne led a vibrant band of protesters chanting ‘Free Julian Assange’ outdoors the Outdated Bailey in central London.

Suspended contained in the cage, she mentioned: ‘Do not extradite Assange – it is a stitch-up.’

Famed fashion designer Dame Vivienne (pictured) died peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Clapham

Vivienne Westwood in one of her most controversial designers of the punk era

Famed designer Dame Vivienne Westwood (pictured left and proper) died peacefully surrounded by household at her house in Clapham

Dame Vivienne receives her OBE from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. She is giving a twirl for the photographers, but beneath her tailored suit she does not wear knickers

Dame Vivienne receives her OBE from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. She is giving a twirl for the photographers, however beneath her tailor-made go well with she doesn’t put on knickers

Flowers and tributes outside the Clapham home of Dame Vivienne Westwood

Flowers and tributes outdoors the Clapham house of Dame Vivienne Westwood

The statement announcing her death is in the window of one of her central London stores

The assertion asserting her loss of life is within the window of certainly one of her central London shops

Flowers and a poignant note left outside her Worlds End Shop on the Kings Road

Flowers and a poignant word left outdoors her Worlds Finish Store on the Kings Street

Vivienne Westwood (R) and husband Andreas Kronthaler (L) attend the Stella McCartney Womenswear Spring/Summer 2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week in 2019

Vivienne Westwood (R) and husband Andreas Kronthaler (L) attend the Stella McCartney Womenswear Spring/Summer time 2020 present as a part of Paris Vogue Week in 2019

The designer’s most notorious reveal was whereas receiving an OBE at Buckingham Palace in 1992 when she turned for the cameras and her go well with skirt went flying, it turned evident she left her underwear at house.

She dressed up as then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher for {a magazine} cowl in 1989 and drove a white tank close to the nation house of a later British chief, David Cameron, to protest towards fracking.

‘The one purpose I’m in trend is to destroy the phrase ‘conformity’,’ Westwood mentioned in her 2014 biography. ‘Nothing is fascinating to me until it is acquired that factor’.

Along with the Intercourse Pistols’ supervisor, Malcolm McLaren, she defied the hippie developments of the time to promote rock’n’roll-inspired clothes.

They moved on to torn outfits adorned with chains in addition to latex and fetish items that they offered at their store in London’s King’s Street variously known as ‘Let It Rock’, ‘Intercourse’ and ‘Seditionaries’, amongst different names.

They used prints of swastikas, bare breasts and, maybe most well-known, a picture of the queen with a security pin via her lips. Favorite gadgets included sleeveless black T-shirts, studded, with zips, security pins or bleached rooster bones. 

‘There was no punk earlier than me and Malcolm,’ Westwood mentioned within the biography. ‘And the opposite factor it is best to learn about punk too: it was a complete blast.’

Celebrities have paid tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood, with the world described as ‘already a much less fascinating place’ following her loss of life on the age of 81.

The pioneering designer made a reputation for herself on the style scene within the Seventies, along with her androgynous designs, slogan t-shirts and irreverent angle in direction of the institution.

Vivienne Westwood became a star of the punk era, pictured in 1977

Vivienne Westwood turned a star of the punk period, pictured in 1977

Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood outside Bow Street Magistrate Court in 1977, after he was bailed for fighting. They would launch a revolution from their Clapham flat

Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood outdoors Bow Road Justice of the Peace Court docket in 1977, after he was bailed for combating

Jordan, and Simon Barker, aka Six, modelling bondage gear from the Seditionaries boutique on King's Road, London in 1977

Jordan, and Simon Barker, aka Six, modelling bondage gear from the Seditionaries boutique on King’s Street, London in 1977

Malcolm Mclaren and Vivienne Westwood in 1981, after their marriage ended

Malcolm Mclaren and Vivienne Westwood in 1981, after their marriage ended

 

Dame Vivienne Westwood with her two sons, erotic photographer Ben Westwood and  Agent Provocateur founder and designer Joseph Corre

Dame Vivienne Westwood along with her two sons, erotic photographer Ben Westwood and  Agent Provocateur founder and designer Joseph Corre

Dame Vivienne Westwood with Lady Thatcher in 2000

Dame Vivienne Westwood with Woman Thatcher in 2000

Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood attend Vivienne Westwood's Private View of her new retrospective show at the V&A Museum on March 30, 2004

Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood attend Vivienne Westwood’s Non-public View of her new retrospective present on the V&A Museum on March 30, 2004

Vivienne Westwood (C) and her 'Fash Mob' prior to the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show during London Fashion Week SS16 at Ambika P3 on September 20, 2015

Vivienne Westwood (C) and her ‘Fash Mob’ previous to the Vivienne Westwood Pink Label present throughout London Vogue Week SS16 at Ambika P3 on September 20, 2015

Fashion designer and activist Vivienne Westwood rides to David Cameron's Oxfordshire constituency home in a tank in 2015

Clothier and activist Vivienne Westwood rides to David Cameron’s Oxfordshire constituency house in a tank in 2015

Vivenne Westwood walks the runway at the Vivenne Westwood show during the London Fashion Week Men's June 2017 collections

Vivenne Westwood walks the runway on the Vivenne Westwood present throughout the London Vogue Week Males’s June 2017 collections

Westwood and Jerry Hall (right) pictured together at the Dorchester Club in London in 2000

Westwood and Jerry Corridor (proper) pictured collectively on the Dorchester Membership in London in 2000

Westwood pictured at the Paris Fashion Week with Tracey Emin in 2000

Westwood pictured on the Paris Vogue Week with Tracey Emin in 2000

Westwood walks the runway during the Vivienne Westwood show as part of the Paris Fashion Week in March 2014

Westwood walks the runway throughout the Vivienne Westwood present as a part of the Paris Vogue Week in March 2014

Westwood pictured in her SOHO boutique in New York in 1998

Westwood pictured in her SOHO boutique in New York in 1998

Dame Vivienne died on Thursday ‘peacefully, and surrounded by her household in Clapham, south London’, her representatives mentioned.

The Pretenders’ frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, who labored at Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s boutique in punk’s early days, despatched her like to her departed pal.

‘Vivienne is gone and the world is already a much less fascinating place. Love you Viv,’ Hynde tweeted.

Mannequin Bella Hadid described the designer as probably the most ‘epic human being that has walked this earth… my inspiration and idol in all issues’.

In an Instagram submit with pictures of the pair collectively, Hadid wrote: ‘Dearest Vivienne, Queen of punk, From the primary day I met you to the final day I noticed you, you made me smile, pay attention, study and love greater than the day earlier than.

‘I’ll without end be grateful to have been in your orbit, as a result of to me and most, in trend & in humanity, you, Vivienne, have been the solar.

‘To the best, most enjoyable, unimaginable , humble, inventive , badass, clever, f****** epic human being that has walked this earth… my inspiration and idol in all issues … relaxation in love and Relaxation In Peace… I’ll miss you.’

Dame Vivienne, who was born in Cheshire in 1941, is essentially accepted as being liable for bringing punk and new wave trend into the mainstream along with her eccentric creations.

Her designs have been commonly worn by high-profile people together with Dita Von Teese who wore a purple Westwood wedding ceremony robe to marry Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie who wore three Westwood designs for varied components of the marriage of William and Kate Middleton.

Westwood pictured attending the Vivenne Westwood SS18 show during the London Fashion Week in 2017

Westwood pictured attending the Vivenne Westwood SS18 present throughout the London Vogue Week in 2017

Westwood (C) and her 'Fash Mob' prior to the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show during London Fashion Week in 2015

Westwood (C) and her ‘Fash Mob’ previous to the Vivienne Westwood Pink Label present throughout London Vogue Week in 2015

Dame Vivienne’s designs additionally featured within the 2008 movie adaptation of Intercourse And The Metropolis, starring Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw.

Along with her work as a designer, Dame Vivienne was vocal in her assist of quite a few social and political initiatives together with campaigning for the discharge of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who’s combating to keep away from being despatched to the US to face fees beneath the Espionage Act.

Vivienne Westwood: The outspoken icon and insurgent who seamlessly blended trend with activism

By Dinah van Tulleken, Vogue Editor 

‘Capitalism is a criminal offense. It is the basis reason behind struggle, local weather change and corruption.’

Not what you anticipate to listen to from probably the most influential trend designers of all time, however that is precisely why the business cherished her.

Vivienne Westwood is likely one of the final impartial international trend firms and it is a reflection of her values that she by no means offered to one of many huge trend homes.

Her label has at all times been about activism as a lot as garments – in some senses her merchandise have merely been a vessel for her politics.

The ever-provocative grande dame of British trend started designing in 1971 along with her companion Malcolm McLaren at their store at 430 King’s Street. Her ability was to create the outrageous out of the normal. She raided historic developments to create a few of the most up to date appears to be like.

She believed garments ought to provoke a response. And so they did precisely that in 1992 when she went commando to obtain her OBE at Buckingham Palace.

‘I needed to point out off my outfit by twirling the skirt.

‘It didn’t happen to me that, because the photographers have been virtually on their knees, the end result can be extra glamorous than I anticipated,’ she breezily defined. 

Stella Assange, whose wedding ceremony costume to the Australian was created by Dame Vivienne, paid tribute to her as a ‘pillar of the anti-establishment’.

‘Vivienne was a Dame and a pillar of the anti-establishment. Daring, inventive, considerate and a great pal. The very best of Britain. She can be missed terribly by me and plenty of others,’ Assange posted on behalf of her husband.

American designer Marc Jacobs mentioned he was ‘heartbroken’ on the information of the loss of life, writing in a submit on Instagram: ‘You probably did it first. At all times. Unimaginable type with sensible and significant substance.

‘I proceed to study out of your phrases, and, all your extraordinary creations. I’ll at all times bear in mind the evening we bonded over our mutual love for Yves Saint Laurent.

‘You by no means didn’t shock and to shock. I’m grateful for the moments I acquired to share with you and Andreas.

‘Relaxation in Peace pricey Vivienne, though, one way or the other peace looks like the incorrect phrase.’

The self-styled queen of punk at all times injected controversy into the style business along with her risque creations.

The designer was largely liable for anti-establishment punk trend and have become recognized for her subversive and eccentric tackle conventional British type.

She and McLaren, one-time supervisor of punk band the Intercourse Pistols, opened the store the place Hynde labored known as Let It Rock – also referred to as Intercourse – within the early Seventies the place she started promoting her outrageous outfits.

The punk type included bondage gear, security pins, razor blades, bicycle or bathroom chains and spiked canine collars.

The type icon precipitated a stir in 1992 when she collected her OBE from the Queen minus her underwear and twirled spherical within the courtyard to disclose all.

In 2006 when she was made a Dame, she opted once more to not put on knickers and went to Buckingham Palace sporting a pair of silver horns.

Describing her outfit on the day – a black cap perched on the again of vibrant orange hair and a black costume with marketing campaign badges and the tiny horns on her head – she mentioned it confirmed her as an city guerrilla and a Che Guevara determine.

She defined: ‘I am imagined to be a bit like a Che Guevara – an city guerrilla, with my cap, this type of jungle web and a badge for my Energetic Resistance to Propaganda marketing campaign.’

A few of her best-known creations embrace the Mini Crini, bustle-skirts, bondage trousers and 12-inch platform sneakers, the sort which famously tripped up supermodel Naomi Campbell.

She developed the concept of underwear as outerwear, and Madonna’s legendary conical bra worn on her Blonde Ambition tour, designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, would most likely by no means have occurred if not for Westwood.

She additionally reworked the corset from a logo of feminine repression to certainly one of energy and sexual freedom.

After turning into a main college trainer, she stop her job to turn out to be a seamstress of punk trend and opened her store on Chelsea’s Kings Street along with her then companion McLaren.

The Intercourse Pistols wore the store’s garments to their first gig and Westwood’s first runway present was offered at Olympia in London in March 1981.

Singer Billy Idol, who first discovered fame on the London punk rock music scene, tweeted: ‘RIP it is going to take me a bit to take this in…’

Spice Lady and designer Victoria Beckham paid tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood on her Instagram tales.

Sharing an image of Dame Vivienne, she wrote: ‘I am so unhappy to study of the passing of legendary designer and activist Dame Vivienne Westwood. My ideas are along with her household at this extremely unhappy time VB.’

Intercourse And The Metropolis actress Kim Cattrall shared an anecdote about Westwood on Instagram, saying the designer was a ‘true genius who by no means misplaced her northern grit’.

Cattrall went to say: ‘Brief story – An LA stylist had despatched me 3 attire from varied designers for the London/Berlin/NY premiers of a movie.

‘The garments arrived at my London resort unclean, have been unflattering and in want of alteration.

‘I used to be crest fallen till a mutual pal took me instantly to see Vivienne Westwood atelier and Vivienne made me a brand new costume in 3 days and a couple of others beside for every of the upcoming openings.

‘I’ve by no means forgotten her generosity and kindness in making that occur and saving the day. RIP Vivienne. You’re a legend. Kx.’