Born Vivienne Isabel Swire, Vivienne Westwood was born in Glossop, Derbyshire, England, in 1941. She began her career in the fashion industry in the early 1970s, when she opened a boutique called "Let It Rock" on London's King's Road with her then-partner, Malcolm McLaren. The boutique later transformed into "Sex," where Westwood and McLaren introduced their provocative and rebellious designs that became synonymous with the punk movement. In 1981, Westwood launched her own label, Vivienne Westwood, which quickly gained acclaim for its innovative and avant-garde designs. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Westwood's brand continued to grow, earning her a reputation as one of the most influential designers of her generation. She is credited with popularizing punk and new wave fashion and for introducing elements of historical costume and traditional British tailoring into her collections.