One of the things I most admire about the fashion industry is its constant ode to art. Throughout the past few decades, the fashion industry has been incorporating art into clothing. Whether it just be from inspirations or actually birthing a canvas to life, art is, and always will be, an important part of fashion.

One trailblazer of art-fashion collaborations is Elsa Schiaparelli. Schiaparelli was in awe of the Dada and Surrealist movement of the early 1900s. Inspired by Dadaist Jean Cocteau, she made her famous evening dress which had Cocteau’s Surrealist Motifembroidered on the back of the gown.

In 1938 she also collaborated with Salvador Dalí and made the trompe l’oeilor the ‘tears’ dress. Schiaparelli was an advocate for the arts and was one of the main reasons that art and fashion have started to come together in the past almost-century.

Going into the 1960s, the art-fashion collaborations continue with Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Mondrian dress.

And then more recently, in 2017, COMME des GARÇONS partnered with the Andy Warhol collection and released a perfume decorated and inspired by Warhol’s 1960s artwork.

Calvin Klein has followed the path paved by COMME des GARÇONS and has taken it a step further by launching clothes containing never-before-seen Warhol artwork.

This collaboration was announced in late 2017, but the collection has just debuted on its due date for Calvin Klein’s Spring 2018 collection. The Andy Warhol Foundation has agreed to let the brand license Warhol’s artwork throughout various clothing items through 2020.

Raf Simmons, who is the creative director for Calvin Klein has always been an admirer of the arts. In the past, he has made it a point to partner with various artists including Sterling Ruby, Peter Saville, and the Robert Mapplethorpe Estate. Artworks of Warhol’s that were never released will be featured on clothing items, as well as iconic diptychs and prints taken between 1963-1982.

On Calvin Klein’s official website, you can buy these various T-shirts, bags, jackets and even bandanas. Klein’s website states, “As a part of CALVIN KLEIN's unique, ongoing collaboration with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Spring 2018 CALVIN KLEIN 205W39NYC collection incorporates a selection of iconic Warhol artworks as placement screenprints; an exclusive series of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, denim, bandanas, and accessories.”

Be sure to check out the articles of clothing at Calvin Klein and see just what art Raf Simmons has created of his own.

As an advocate of the arts myself, I cannot wait to see what other art-fashion collaborations take place in the future. Specifically, with Raf Simmons, as he has proven time and time again that his devotion to fashion stems from his love of art. I’m also interested to see who the Andy Warhol Foundation will partner with next, keeping Warhol’s legacy alive.