Julian Assange: Wikileaks founder to make modelling debut at London Fashion Week as catwalk show comes to Ecuadorian Embassy

Vivienne Westwood’s son, Ben, has hired the fugitive to feature in his forthcoming collection preview

(Reuters)

Julian Assange is expected to make his London Fashion Week debut this September.

The Australian WikiLeaks founder will reportedly model for Vivienne Westwood’s son, Ben Westwood, at a fashion show staged at the Ecuadorean Embassy, where he has been seeking refuge for the past two years.

He is avoiding extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over claims of sex offences.

“Julian’s been in the embassy for two years and it’s important that he doesn’t slip into obscurity,” said Ben Westwood.

“I want to highlight Julian Assange’s plight. What happened to him is totally unfair.”

Assange – who will be joined by six models during his catwalk outing – has also inspired some of the clothes.

Westwood told the Daily Mail his collection was influenced by costumes worn by Clint Eastwood’s western films and also Assange’s combat-beret look.

The show’s soundtrack will come by way of music from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

“I’ve designed something for him along those lines and will be getting him to wear it,” Ben added.

“I’ve got another garment with a Julian Assange print.”

The British Fashion Council was "unable to shed light on the story", said a spokesperson as the organisation does not oversee model castings.

Assange has courted publicity over his time spent at the embassy, having met with Lady Gaga and opening rapper MIA's New York concert with a 10-minute Skype chat, in which he addressed the audience. Last week, he hosted a Reddit ask-me-anything session, in which he offered life advice.