Vivienne Westwood’s AW23 campaign explores nostalgia, love and loss

THE LATEST Vivienne Westwood autumn-winter 2023 Campaign, directed by Andreas Kronthaler and Juergen Teller, acts as a love letter to her childhood, family, and practice. Casting many key figures from Westwood’s life such as her granddaughter Cora Corré, Sara Stockbridge – a muse for the designer and model Mark Vanderloo – the campaign pays homage to different intrinsic parts of Vivienne’s world.

Vivienne Westwood AW23 Campaign; photographed by Juergen Teller

The campaign explores a holistic overview of her life and focusses heavily on her upbringing and childhood nostalgia. The team began shooting in Hollingworth, where Vivienne was born, in order to further accentuate this retrospective feel.

The shoot explored various settings including the bowling club, football club, playground and more intimate garden settings to capture the atmosphere of Hollingworth.

Vivienne Westwood AW23 Campaign; photographed by Juergen Teller

The campaign provides a deeper insight into Vivienne’s home thanks to Gordon Swire, Vivienne’s brother, filming the entire shoot. Swire, having grown up alongside Vivienne, provided great context for ensuring the depiction of Hollingworth was as accurate as possible.

At the end of the day, the team stopped by Vivienne’s grave and took a few pictures to reminisce and mourn the renowned designer.

Vivienne Westwood AW23 Campaign; photographed by Juergen Teller

Commenting on the process, Kronthaler said: “To go up there and shoot the campaign has been very helpful in the process of coming to terms with the loss of not having her with us anymore.” The campaign serves as a beautiful example of how creative practice can help to further immortalise those that we care for and heal from such a loss.

by Sophie Richardson