When fashion is inspired by art, garments become more than mere fabric; they transform into canvases, reflecting both the designer and the artist vision. Colors, textures, and patterns converge to echo the emotional depth found in art, creating garments that transcend mere utility. The runway can become a gallery, showcasing wearable masterpieces that bridge the worlds of aesthetics and self-expression.
New York-based designer Ulla Johnson looked in part to the abstract expressionist paintings of Lee Krasner for her spring-summer 2023 collection. Combining nature and art, and the fabric works of Louise Bourgeois, resulted in a highly colourful and textural presentation. Shibori silk twill separates appeared alongside hand-knit, appliqué-mesh, and floral-crochet dresses in shades of violet, rose, orange, cerulean, and pollen yellow.
Above: Ulla Johnson fashion.
Left: Lee Krasner artwork.
Designers Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta paid tribute to the artist Matthew Underwood in a recent show. Underwood, who passed away in 2019, was a friend of Latta. “He was a printmaker, someone who I had a creative dialogue with; printing on the textiles was like part of an experiment,” the designer explained. Underwood’s landscapes and still lifes adorned a range of colourful and metallic knit tops and dresses, appearing at once figurative and abstract.
Above: Art by Matthew Underwood; Right: Design by Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta.
In a recent New York show, Milan-based Italian fashion house Marni drew inspiration from the young Milan and London-based artist Flaminia Veronesi. Her fantastical watercolours and sculptural works were translated into silk dresses, crop tops, and short shorts in semi-transparent knits and jerseys.
Above: Styled by Italian fashion house Marni.
Left: Flaminia Veronesi textile artwork.
