British designer Vivienne Westwood passes away at 81

London: Luxury fashion designer Vivienne Westwood passed away at the age of 81. The news was confirmed on Twitter by her fashion house.

Her husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler wrote that she passed away "peacefully and surrounded" by family in South London. He added: "I will continue with Vivienne in my heart."

One of her popular quotes was also shared with the announcement. It read: "There was never more need for the Tao today. Tao gives you a feeling that you belong to the cosmos and gives purpose to your life; it gives you such a sense of identity and strength to know you’re living the life you can live and therefore ought to be living: make full use of your character and full use of your life on earth."

Many celebrities took to social media to mourn the death of the legendary designer. Sex and the City actress Kim Cattrall said Vivienne was a "true genius who never lost her northern grit." Operation Petticoat actress Jamie Lee Curtis said the iconic designer "influenced so many and gave them permission to be themselves and beyond themselves."

Westwood is known for shaping the punk culture in the UK and rose to fame in the '70s. Westwood was also known for her political activism and for using her platform to talk about climate change, consumerism, and wave inequality.

Her early works also included slogan t-shirts and androgynous designs. Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex and the City movie wore her wedding dress. British Princess Eugenie chose three of her designs for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.