Vivienne Westwood world-premiere wows audiences

Celebrating the iconic jewellery of renowned British fashion house Vivienne Westwood, the exhibition features an impressive collection of over 550 pieces of jewellery and a range of iconic garments, spanning eight rooms.

It’s no surprise that the creative capital of Aotearoa welcomed the retrospective with open arms. Proving to be a major draw for both local and international audiences, over half of the 38,000 were out-of-town visitors to Wellington, contributing to the city’s reputation as a vibrant, cultural destination.

Visitors flocking from afar and in significant numbers generated substantial economic benefits for Te Whanganui-a-Tara, with local businesses seeing increased spending during the exhibition period.

Michael Wall, owner of local, high-end shoe store, Shoezies, is grateful for Te Papa bringing the exhibition to the capital and acknowledges the impact a show of this calibre can have.

“From a business perspective it’s been a tough 18 months, so, high-quality, long-running shows like these are a real boost in dollar terms, which in turn also boosts depleted spirits.”

“What started as a bleak summer, business-wise, soon improved – thanks to the exhibition, our end of town has been pretty lively, and as it turns out many of the (Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery) visitors liked our shoes!”

“The exhibition attracted a great mix of people from all over New Zealand, and there were plenty of international tourists through our door as well. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it saved Shoezies’ summer.”

Hot on the heels of the opening, local Wellington businesses wrapped around Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery, making it feel like a Wellington Westwood takeover.

Popular Wellington eatery and bar, Charley Noble, crafted an original cocktail recipe, The Westwood Sour, using orange bitters to colour the drink a bright orange – a nod to the British designer’s bold, signature hair colour.

Premier designer and vintage consignment shop Hunters & Collectors has been stocking vintage Vivienne Westwood for ten years, and to celebrate, created a special window display as an homage to Westwood’s spirit and enduring influence on the store.

Wellington Style icon and owner of Hunters & Collectors, Chrissy O, appreciates how special it was that New Zealanders were the first in the world to see this unique experience.

“It was an incredible honour to have the exhibition debut right here in Wellington – our little city buzzing with international fashion energy.”

“Seeing Westwood’s work displayed in our national museum was deeply moving – she has always been our idol, and our Westwood-inspired window display became a natural extension of the exhibition itself, a love letter to a designer who has shaped the way we see fashion.”

The success of Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery underscores Te Papa's commitment to bringing world-class exhibitions to New Zealand and enhancing the cultural experiences of its visitors.

Chrissy adds, “As a store that proudly carries an archive of Westwood pieces, we were thrilled to welcome out-of-town visitors drawn to the show, many of whom made the journey to stop at our space.”

“The exhibition not only celebrated Westwood’s legacy, but from a commercial perspective we made inspiring connections with those close to the brand.”

The exhibition’s rich programme of events will conclude with a bang on Thursday 24 April, with a spectacular closing party. From the subversive DIY energy of 1970s punk to the regal drama of Anglomania, the final celebration pays tribute to Westwood’s legacy, taking visitors on an immersive journey through the defining eras of her career.

Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery closes at Te Papa on 27 April.

Designed and curated by the house of Vivienne Westwood and produced by Nomad Exhibitions, the exhibition will soon commence its global tour across Asia, Europe and the USA.

Te Papa acknowledges the generosity and support of our destination partner, Wellington City Council, and major exhibition partners, Te Papa Foundation, Wellington Airport, Go Media, and Wellington NZ.

Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery by the numbers

• Over 38,000 visitors with over half from out of town and overseas
• Over 1,700 people attended events
• 8 sold-out events
• 665 students visited: almost every high school in Wellington engaged with the exhibition through Te Papa’s learning programme of specialised tours and workshops
• Over 90% of visitors from Wellington City and region agree that events like Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery make Wellington a more enjoyable place to live
• Over 90% of visitors from outside Wellington agree that events like Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery make Wellington a more appealing travel destination.
• The exhibition features 63 penises and 19 vulvas
• 188 pairs of earrings
• Over 1,900 Rebels’ Tea Parties (high tea)