Vivienne Westwood is dead. The fashion designer, known for her androgynous cuts and provocative slogans, has died at the age of 81, her agents confirmed to Britain's PA news agency. The Brit has also made a name for herself on the fashion scene since the 1970s with her irreverent attitude towards the establishment. Dame Vivienne died "peacefully and surrounded by her family in Clapham, south London," it said.

Her husband Andreas Kronthaler emphasized in a statement: "We worked to the end and she gave me a lot of things to continue with. Thank you darling."

Westwood is considered a pioneer of punk in the fashion industry. She ran a boutique on London's King's Road with Malcolm McLaren, manager of the punk band Sex Pistols. She then built a global fashion brand that now has stores in the UK, France, Italy, America and Asia. Crazy outfits were her trademark for a long time. Westwood was also known as an environmental activist and brought climate change to the catwalk. She is survived by two sons, photographer Ben Westwood and Joseph Corré, founder of lingerie company Agent Provocateur.