Fostering emerging talent has been an ongoing initiative of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and now its efforts include a featured collection by alice + olivia inspired by the late artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Stacey Bendet, CEO and creative director of alice + olivia, is conjuring the spirit of Basquait — best known for his unique street art aesthetic — on the designer’s second CFDA capsule collection, with proceeds benefitting the organization’s efforts to support rising designers. The new line, announced Wednesday, comes on the heels of Bendet’s April 2015 partnership with Spanish-American artist Domingo Zapata, and includes a number of apparel items that integrate Basquiat’s artistry with Bendet’s whimsical style.
“Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of my favorite artists. This partnership is exciting for me as it is very reflective of my brand and our continued collaboration with artists,” Bendet said in a statement. “It is also wonderful to be able to raise funds for the CFDA and support their ongoing initiatives within our industry that develop new talent.”
While 100 percent of the proceeds from the Zapata collection benefited CFDA, this time 50 percent of select items will support the organization. For the latest installment, Bendet selected a handful of Basquiat’s well-known works from the 1980s as inspiration, which was showcased as part of the brand’s 2017 resort season show. The full collection will be available in stores and online beginning this November.
Basquiat first rose to prominence at the age of just 27 after becoming the youngest solo artist to be featured in the prestigious KestnerGesellschaft gallery in Germany. He formerly collaborated with Andy Warhol and was an active participant in American art, establishing himself as a natural fit for fostering young artists following in his path, according to the CFDA.
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“Thanks to this initiative, the support we will be receiving from alice + olivia is of great value to our organization,” Steven Kolb, president and CEO of the CFDA said in a statement.
