The Vivienne Westwood Eco-Conscious Gentleman is more at home meandering through traffic on his single speed or fixed gear bike than in the passenger seat of an S-Class.

The ‘Urban Commuter’ collection is both practical and beautifully captivating, and it is the first of her collections to address the problem of climate change. Who better to deliver it than the Dame of public travel, who can regularly be seen hopping onto the tube or her own bicycle?

We saw high-vis detailing inside of reversible pockets and seams and also incorporated into exaggerated dog-tooth check. Many cyclist features were noted in the designs, such as sun visors built into the hoods of brightly coloured wind breakers and trousers tucked into socks so not to catch their large scale tartan suiting in the suggested bike chain.

The models’ ‘up yours’ attitude was shown down the catwalk (much like Westwood’s own) presenting a story running from smart tailoring, with aspects of metallic lurex knitwear, through to the nylon weather-proof pieces. Then we moved into the more unconventional pieces such as bright, over sized tartans and evening styles in fine wool fabrics mixed with leopard knits featuring large turtle necks.

Could this be to suggest the order of wear throughout the day? From the workplace, to the commute home and finally on to the evening’s antics? Whichever order you were to choose, the underlying message about climate change is one that Westwood challenges you to examine harder, to re-think your everyday acts.

by Charly Suggett