There are few names in fashion as legendary and rebellious as Vivienne Westwood. She wasn't just a designer, she was the architect of punk fashion, blending historical corsetry with rebellious tartan, provocative graphics, and an unapologetic, avant-garde attitude. Her pieces aren’t just clothes - they're statements.
If you're drawn to Westwood's unique blend of art, activism, and boundary-pushing design, you're in the right place. For those who love a bit of anarchy in their wardrobe, here are 18 similar brands that capture that same avant-garde spirit.
Known as the "Lord of Darkness," Rick Owens masters a world of dark, moody, and sculptural designs. Think brutalist architecture meets post-apocalyptic glamour. His pieces are famous for their elongated silhouettes, wrapped layers, and a palette that rarely strays from black, grey, and dust.
While Westwood channels chaos through color and print, Owens finds it in shape and texture. If you love Westwood's daring approach but crave something more minimalist and monolithic, Rick Owens delivers avant-garde fashion that feels both powerful and poetic.
Shop now at rickowens.eu
Maison Margiela is the master of deconstruction, taking familiar garments and turning them inside out - literally. The brand is famous for challenging what clothing can be, with pieces that feel like wearable art projects. Think jackets made from gloves, exposed seams, and the iconic Tabi split-toe boots.
Like Westwood, Margiela rejects fashion norms, but where Westwood is loud and politically charged, Margiela whispers with quiet, intellectual rebellion. It's the perfect choice for those who appreciate thought-provoking fashion that plays with perception.
Shop now at maisonmargiela.com
Founded by the brilliant Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garçons is a universe of its own. The brand is synonymous with conceptual, sculptural, and often abstract fashion that defies easy definition. Expect unexpected lumps and bumps, asymmetrical forms, and a fearless approach to proportion.
Both CDG and Westwood are punk at heart, but Comme des Garçons pushes further into pure art and abstraction. It’s for the true fashion intellectual who wants to wear a puzzle, not just an outfit.
Shop now at comme-des-garcons.com
Ann Demeulemeester's work is pure poetry in motion. Her signature style is built on a foundation of dark romance, blending sharp tailoring with long, flowing layers and a moody, monochrome palette. It's fluid, elegant, and deeply emotive.
Her clothes share Westwood's romanticism and historical inspiration but trade punk's aggressive edge for a quieter, more melancholy rebellion. For those who love a Byronic hero vibe, Ann Demeulemeester offers a wardrobe of brooding elegance.
Shop now at anndemeulemeester.com
Haider Ackermann is the king of effortless cool, creating languid, draped silhouettes in rich jewel tones and luxurious fabrics. His clothes look like they were made for glamorous travelers, featuring expert tailoring that's perfectly undone. The brand is a favorite of stars like Timothée Chalamet for its blend of masculine softness and sharp lines.
Ackermann shares Westwood's flair for the dramatic, but presents it with a more refined, elegant ease. It’s rebellion, but make it impossibly chic and ready for the red carpet.
Shop now at haiderackermann.com
A true master of the avant-garde, Yohji Yamamoto creates clothing that prioritizes volume, asymmetry, and sweeping, dramatic shapes. Deeply rooted in Japanese design principles, his pieces are philosophical and protective, often rendered in a sea of inky black. They envelop the body rather than constricting it.
Like Vivienne Westwood, Yohji is a foundational figure who carved his own path. He challenges traditional ideas of beauty and proportion, making him a perfect spiritual cousin for anyone who appreciates thoughtful, unconventional design.
Shop now at yohjiyamamoto.co.jp
Gareth Pugh creates fashion that belongs in a sci-fi blockbuster. His designs are intensely sculptural, futuristic, and often intimidatingly beautiful. Pugh works with unconventional materials to build clothing that looks more like wearable architecture, pushing shape and form to their absolute limits.
He shares Westwood’s gift for theatricality and provocation, turning every garment into a statement piece. If Westwood is the queen of punk, Pugh is the god of gothic futurism.
Shop now at garethpughstudio.com
A protégé of Rei Kawakubo, Junya Watanabe is celebrated for splicing genres and materials. He’s known for his "techno-couture," masterfully blending technical fabrics like nylon and gore-tex with traditional tailoring and deconstructed forms. He can take a classic trench coat and re-engineer it into something completely new and extraordinary.
His work shares Vivienne Westwood’s love of deconstruction and reinterpreting classics, but with a distinct focus on utilitarian and technical finishes. It’s wonderfully complex and intellectually satisfying fashion.
Shop now at instagram.com/junyawatanabe/
Craig Green’s exploration of uniform and utility has made him one of the most exciting designers today. His collections combine conceptual, sculptural elements with a very human vulnerability. Think quilted workwear jackets that bloom into abstract shapes or garments that double as personal kites.
His work resonates with Westwood's spirit of rebellion and social commentary, but he applies it to a more grounded, uniform-based aesthetic. Green’s clothing feels like emotional armor for the modern world.
Shop now at craig-green.com
Unravel Project takes everyday streetwear staples and rips them apart. The brand offers deconstructed hoodies, inside-out denim, and bombers with endlessly long lacing details. It's an elevated take on grunge and punk, perfectly capturing that I-just-woke-up-like-this rebellion.
This brand is for those who love Westwood's punk roots but want something more ingrained in contemporary streetwear. It’s edgy, cool, and a bit messy in all the right ways.
Shop now at unravelproject.com
Viktor & Rolf have always blurred the line between fashion and art, presenting haute couture collections that are as conceptual as they are beautiful. They're famous for their theatrical runway shows, whether it's meme-worthy slogan ballgowns or wearable picture frames.
Like Westwood, this Dutch duo embraces theatricality and is never afraid to make a bold statement. However, their execution is often more glamorous and fairytale-like, transforming avant-garde ideas into breathtaking couture.
Shop now at viktor-rolf.com
Boris Bidjan Saberi crafts dark, urban, and meticulously constructed pieces that sit at the intersection of streetwear and avant-garde tailoring. His work is known for body-molded leather jackets, heavily textured fabrics, and innovative dye treatments that give each piece a unique, lived-in feel.
He shares Westwood's affinity for edgy, rebellious aesthetics, channeling a similar raw energy through a monochrome lens focused on exquisite, almost gritty, craftsmanship.
Shop now at borisbidjansaberi.com
The daughter of Yohji Yamamoto, Limi Feu has carved out her own distinct punk-meets-avant-garde aesthetic. Her collections feature clever layering, asymmetrical cuts, and playful volumes, often mixing stark blacks with surprising pops of color or print. It's tough but also has a subtle femininity.
Limi Feu shares her father's and Westwood's appreciation for deconstruction and individualism, offering an artistic approach to fashion that feels both cool and creative.
Shop now at limifeu.com/
A trailblazing force in modern fashion, Hood By Air (HBA) deconstructs street and pop culture into something new and provocative. The brand is known for its bold graphics, genre-bending silhouettes, and unapologetic approach to identity and consumerism. After a hiatus, HBA is back and as disruptive as ever.
HBA embodies the same punk, anti-establishment energy as Vivienne Westwood, but for a new generation. It’s the perfect brand for anyone wanting to wear culture on their sleeve and challenge the status quo.
Shop now at hoodbyair.world
French designer Julien David strikes a balance between experimental design and real-world wearability. Known for playing with unconventional textures and developing his own fabrics, his collections often have a subversive, street-style energy mixed with classic tailoring. Think modern suiting with a graphic, quirky twist.
Like Westwood, David isn't afraid to push boundaries, but his clothes maintain a contemporary ease that makes them feel accessible, proving that avant-garde ideas can still be part of a daily wardrobe.
Shop now at juliendavid.com
Damir Doma explores a "silent," understated form of luxury through his draped, layered, and organically shaped garments. His color palette is often muted and earthy, focusing on texture and silhouette to create a sense of raw, poetic elegance. It's intellectual fashion for the introspective soul.
His aesthetic is quieter than Westwood’s, but they share a common thread of romanticism and a love for drapery that challenges traditional tailoring. It’s for those seeking a more refined, sculptural take on avant-garde.
Shop now at damirdoma.com
A true pioneer, Paco Rabanne became famous in the '60s for his "unwearable" dresses made of metal plates and plastic discs. Today, the brand continues that legacy of futuristic glamour with its iconic chainmail bags, metallic dresses, and shimmering Lurex knits. It's party-ready fashion from another galaxy.
Paco Rabanne shares Westwood's fearless experimentalism and revolutionary spirit. Both brands have a knack for turning unconventional materials into stunningly desirable pieces.
Shop now at pacorabanne.com
DRKSHDW is Rick Owens' diffusion line, offering his signature aesthetic in more accessible fabrics like denim, jersey, and canvas. It includes his famously exaggerated sneakers, elongated tees, and drop-crotch pants, capturing the core of his dark universe minus the high-fashion price tag.
This is the perfect gateway for Westwood lovers looking to explore the darker, more streetwear-inflected side of the avant-garde aesthetic. It’s all the architectural cool of the main line, but ready for everyday life.
Shop now at rickowens.eu/en/US/man/drkshdw
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