Fashion, Music and Dancing have a lot to thank Malcolm Mclaren for. Back in the days, lets say in 1971, when collaboration was called partnership, McLaren and his partner Vivienne Westwood opened up a London clothing shop called Let It Rock on the Kings Road.

Open minded Mclaren continued to innovate, 1975 he was managing a band called The Strand, when he spotted an external source, Johnny Rotten, that had the attitude and appearance that the Strand was lacking. Johnny Rotten with his green hair and torn clothes was added to the band, which was renamed; Sex Pistols. Say no more, or McLaren said: “I want you to sound like sexy young assassins”.

We all know the vogue moves the Madonna way. However, a year before Madonna popularized and brought the New York underground vogueing worldwide, McLaren’s “Deep in Vouge” was a number one on the Billboard Dance Chart. If only number one for a week, it was enough to introduce the mainstream to vogueing and lead the way for Lady Madonna.

McLaren they way you have influenced Fashion and Music is to me a way of showing readiness to internalize external sources and your success was built upon the network around you. Your way have touched and motivated millions of people and for me you have become a source of inspiration on how to take on Open Innovation successfully.

Rest in Peace Malcolm McLaren,
Annelie Andersson