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Cowboys, T-shirt

SEX, London (retailer), Vivienne WESTWOOD (designer), Malcolm McLAREN (designer)
Cowboys, T-shirt
 (c. 1975)

Medium
cotton (jersey)

Measurements
44.5 cm (centre back) 41.5 cm (waist, flat)

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2024

Reproduction requests

Gallery location
Special Exhibitions Gallery
Ground Level, NGV International

 

About this work

Westwood and McLaren’s clothing was designed to provoke. In 1975, they printed this T-shirt depicting two cowboys naked from the waist down. One of the shop assistants at Seditionaries was arrested and fined for indecency after they wore the design, and Westwood and McLaren were prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act 1959. Their response was characteristically defiant – they produced more T-shirts emblazoned with hardcore and subversive imagery.

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
England

Accession Number
2024.979

Department
International Fashion and Textiles

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