The TikTok Pearl Necklace everyone is talking about isn’t new, it’s 34 years old. Vivienne Westwood designed the necklace in 1987 to rebel against prim and proper pearls.

The bas relief choker with its three rows of pearls from Swarovski; has appeared on so many influencers and celebrities like Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid that it’s now called the TikTok necklace.

Viviane Westwood is considered one of the most unconventional and outspoken fashion designers in the world, she rose to fame in the late 1970s when her early designs helped shape the look of the punk rock movement. Dame Vivienne Isabel Westwood is an English fashion designer and businesswoman, she’s responsible for bringing modern punk and new-wave fashions into the mainstream. 

First created in the late 80s, the emblem is a hybrid of the sovereigns and the rings of Saturn. Her logo, named “The Orb,” was created in 1986; it resembles the Sovereign orb, one of the British crown jewels that were created for the coronation of the King. Combining British royal iconography and outer-space symbolism, it represents the importance of the past while nodding toward the future. 

Vivienne began designing and making Teddy Boy clothes for Malcom and in 1971, they opened a small boutique called “let it rock” at number 430 Kings Road, Chelsea, London. A year later, Vivienne’s interests had turned into biker clothing zips and leather.

In the currently trending manga, Nana, a story about two women who move to Tokyo at the age of 20, adapted into an anime series from 2006 to 2007, heavily promotes Westwood’s orb design. Its author, Ai Yazawa, a former fashion student, was charmed by the British designer’s creations. This sparked a craze for Westwood’s jewelry with the show’s cult following.

Westwood has carried her rebellious spirit into her collections throughout her career, often combining punk symbolism with traditional feminine themes, and she’s now considered one of the greatest architects of British style. Lately, Vivienne Westwood has largely stepped away from designing. Now, she’s retired, and she has turned her attention towards tackling climate change and political injustice.