Vivienne Westwood x Mandarin Oriental, The Mayfair Fan

Designed by the house of Vivienne Westwood, this collectors’ handcrafted fan was commissioned by Mandarin Oriental Mayfair to illustrate the historic Hanover Square, one of London’s finest and oldest squares. Named in honour of George I, the Elector of Hanover, the square was laid out in the late 1710s and was originally lined with fine terraced houses, occupied by some of London’s most celebrated society figures. Taking this as inspiration, the design sees two ­silhouettes meeting,  framed on a hand drawing of the square, turned on its head. The two figures are inspired by traditional paper cut-outs and Vivienne Westwood campaigns.

As part of this special collaboration, the first of the unique handcrafted fans was created especially for auction, with the hope of raising valuable funds to support War Child’s Children's Emergency Fund which supports children in crisis when disaster strikes, such as the outbreak of war or the rapid deterioration of a conflict situation. This is the first fan to be fully crafted on British soil for over seventy years. The other fan is framed and on permanent display in the hotel.