Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom

If you thought the anti-establishment fire inside Vivienne Westwood might be petering out now that she's 80-years-old, then think again.

Yesterday, the British fashion legend joined Julian Assange's fiancée and other supporters at a protest picnic that marked the jailed Wikileaks founder's 50th birthday. Standing opposite London parliament, Westwood — a long-time advocate for Assange's release — took the novel approach of smearing cake on her face to draw attention to the situation (it worked, right?), before declaring how the "world is sick." Watch the video courtesy of High Fashion Talk below.

This is the third birthday Assange has spent inside London's maximum-security prison Belmarsh. He is currently fighting extradition to the US where he faces charges under the Espionage Act, which brings a possible life sentence at a supermax prison. In January, an official request for extradition was denied by a London court on citation of his mental health. That decision was appealed by the US, and a justice department official confirmed to The Guardian that President Biden intends to have Assange stand trial on counts of espionage. Former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called the initial decision "good news," but warned it was "alarming that the judge has accepted US government arguments threatening freedom of speech and freedom to publish."

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Twitter post.

Westwood's support for her friend Assange stretches back to 2012 when she made "I'm Julian Assange" T-shirts. She dedicated her SS17 collection to the whistleblower, and then came last year's giant birdcage protest outside the Old Bailey Courthouse. Evidently, this is a fight the godmother of punk won't be giving up anytime soon.

We Recommend
  • Patek Philippe’s New Watch Divided Collectors. That’s a Good Thing
    • Watches
  • Julian Klincewicz Reimagines Creativity With the New Google Pixel 9 Pro
    • Design
    • sponsored
  • Palace & Vivienne Westwood's Collab Is a Trip
    • Style
  • SEEKINGS Makes the Case for Nostalgia
    • Style
  • How to Get the It Girl Look in Charli XCX's New '360' Music Video
    • Culture
What To Read Next
  • Junya Watanabe Made The North Face's Classic Jacket Luxurious (& Leathery)
    • Style
  • Salomon & Boris Bidjan Saberi's New Futuristic Bouldering Shoe Goes Hard
    • Sneakers
  • That One Margiela Artisanal Collection Is Everywhere (Again)
    • Style
  • Nike's New Icy Jordan 4 "Skate Shoe" Is Too Chill
    • Sneakers
  • Arc'teryx's First-Ever Print Is a Very Arc'teryx Take on Camo
    • Style
  • Nike's Gorgeously Aged Jordan 1 Is a Rare Air Beauty
    • Sneakers