ticketsMember | Make a donation

Ensemble

Designer Vivienne Westwood British
Designer Malcolm McLaren British
Retailer Seditionaries British
1976–80
Not on view
The "Bondage" suit epitomized the maverick creative collaboration between Westwood and McLaren. McLaren brought some standard-issue cotton army trousers back from a trip to the United States, which Vivienne then copied in a shiny black sateen McLaren had seen on the back of British rail clerks' waistcoats and sourced in Manchester. McLaren added the bondage straps between the knees, which were an extension of the sado-masochistic look they promoted at the time for its shock value. Pushing this traumatic aesthetic to its obvious conclusion creates the feel of a straightjacket and plays with all of the implications of the insane. Ultimately, they had created one of the most iconic garments of punk style, one that is still in production to this day.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ensemble
  • Designer: Vivienne Westwood (British, 1941–2022)
  • Designer: Malcolm McLaren (British, London 1946–2010 Switzerland)
  • Retailer: Seditionaries (British, 1976–1980)
  • Date: 1976–80
  • Culture: British
  • Medium: cotton, metal
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Irene Lewisohn Bequest, 2004
  • Object Number: 2004.15a–c
  • Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
"Doc Marten", Stephen Jones British, wool, rubber, synthetic, cotton, British
"Doc Marten"
Stephen Jones
2006
T-shirt
Multiple artists/makers
1976–80
Sweater, Vivienne Westwood British, wool, British
Sweater
Multiple artists/makers
1978
"You’re Gonna Wake Up One Morning" T-shirt, Vivienne Westwood British, cotton, British
"You’re Gonna Wake Up One Morning" T-shirt
Multiple artists/makers
1976
Trousers, Vivienne Westwood British, cotton, metal, British
Trousers
Vivienne Westwood
Malcolm McLaren
1981

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.