Description
This ribbed knit beanie originates from Vivienne Westwood’s post-punk consolidation era, spanning the late 1990s to early 2000s, when the brand transitioned from confrontational runway provocation into intellectualized daily wear. Following decades of overt political shock tactics in the 1970s–80s, Westwood’s late archive period focused on embedding ideology quietly into functional garments. Accessories such as knit beanies became vehicles for symbolism rather than spectacle. The Orb emblem—introduced in the early 1980s—remains the ideological anchor of this piece. Its presence here is subtle, intentional, and deeply British: a fusion of monarchical authority (the orb) and orbital rings referencing futurism and rebellion. This beanie exemplifies how Westwood encoded dissent into objects meant for everyday use. ⸻ HISTORY & RELATED INFLUENCE During the late 1990s, Vivienne Westwood menswear was heavily embraced by Japanese fashion intellectuals, underground stylists, and cultural critics who valued conceptual continuity over graphic excess. Knit accessories like this beanie were frequently styled with tailoring, military surplus, and utilitarian outerwear—reflecting the era’s anti-logo yet ideology-heavy aesthetic. This period directly influenced: • Early Comme des Garçons Homme minimalism • Undercover’s quiet political symbolism • The rise of archival fashion collecting culture in Japan Unlike later mass-market Orb accessories, early knit pieces were produced in smaller runs, often using traditional materials and conservative palettes. As a result, surviving examples have transitioned from wearable accessories into archival study objects, particularly within Japanese private collections and museum-adjacent fashion libraries. ⸻ DETAILS • Brand: Vivienne Westwood • Category: Mens Knit Beanie / Headwear • Era: Late 1990s – Early 2000s • Material: Ribbed wool knit • Color: Natural beige melange • Feature: Embroidered Orb insignia ⸻ SIZE & MEASUREMENTS (measured flat) • Tagged Size: Medium • Fit: Standard mens fit with natural stretch ⸻ CONDITION Archive-grade vintage condition. Wool structure remains dense with no thinning. Orb embroidery intact and sharply defined. Minor age character consistent with authentic archival use. ⸻ SHIPPING Worldwide paid shipping. Shipping reflects insured international delivery with archive-grade packing for a designer collectible. ⸻ Why buy from WAROENGKARTINI45_? WAROENGKARTINI45_ operates as an institutional-grade archive seller, specializing in garments with cultural, ideological, and historical relevance. Each piece is curated as a long-term collectible, not trend inventory. ⸻ AUTHENTICITY NOTE Original vintage Vivienne Westwood item. Not a reproduction. Not a modern reissue. ⸻ • Vivienne Westwood archive collectors • Japanese fashion historians • Avant-garde menswear collectors • Museum and private archive buyers
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