Christie brought the personal collection of revolutionary British fashion designer and activist Vivienne Westwood into the auction, raising funds for the charitable causes she championed during her lifetime.

Part I, the live auction, realized a total of £465,192 with proceeds from the sale benefitting The Vivienne Foundation, Amnesty International, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Greenpeace. The auction was 100% sold, attracting both institutional buyers and new participants to Christie’s, with 33% of registered bidders Millennials and 9% Gen Z. Vivienne Westwood: The Personal Collection Part II remains online and open for bidding until June 28.

Spanning four decades as one of the most influential designers of modern times, 95 lots were sold in Vivienne Westwood: The Personal Collection Part I, each of them representing a significant moment in Vivienne's life and career.

The big picture: Vivienne’s playing cards, a project by The Vivienne Foundation for Greenpeace, opened the auction. The limited-edition playing cards, produced in a deluxe edition of ten portfolios, the first of which was presented in a unique linen-covered hand-embroidered box, realized a total of £37,800, leading the sale. Worn to a gala event held in Vivienne Westwood’s honour at London’s V&A Museum in 1998, "Dressed to Scale" Collection, Autumn-Winter 1998/99, a corset gown of taupe silk taffeta achieved £32,760.

Among the items from the other collections protagonists of this first part of the auction, an ice blue satin scoop necked "Cinderella" dress, inspired by a ballet costume, taking part of the Gaia "The Only One" Collection, Spring-Summer 2011; a cotton dress with printed 'propaganda' modesty panel and apron with blue and white striped blouse of the "Propaganda" Collection, Autumn-Winter; a Harris Tweed three-piece suit from the "Always On Camera" Collection, Autumn-Winter 1992/93. The sale also included jewelry and accessories, highlighted by a three-row faux-pearl choker mounted with a gilt-metal paste-set oversized 'orb' pendant from the 'Anglomania' Collection, Autumn-Winter 1993/94.

“What a wonderful day to wake up to. Thank you Christie’s … close to half a million raised today for Greenpeace, The Vivienne Foundation, Amnesty International, and Médecins Sans Frontières. There are 3 days left, and we should do whatever we can to make the world a better place. Come and let’s all be part of it,” said Andreas Kronthaler, Vivienne’s husband and creative director of Vivienne Westwood.

“To sell both the personal wardrobe of the legendary Vivienne Westwood as well as to bring to fruition one of her final acts of activism by selling The Big Picture: Vivienne’s Playing Cards has been an extraordinary privilege," added Adrian Hume Sayer, director private & iconic collections, Christie’s, head of sale.

Photo: Juergen Teller