When contemporary fashion label Alice + Olivia announced their recently-launched capsule collection featuring the work of renowned artist Keith Haring, it seemed pretty obvious as to why. The brand’s style is bright, colorful, and disruptive, just like Haring’s, whose iconic art was a response to New York City street life in the 1980s.
Alice + Olivia’s CEO and creative director Stacey Bendet commented on Haring’s aesthetic in a press release for the collection, and praised him for both his dedication to his community and his AIDS activism. "I have always been a fan of Keith Haring's work — the colors and graphics,” said Bendet. “I think at this time in our world it's especially important to support artists who have made a difference.”
And make a difference, he did. Before Haring’s passing due to complications of AIDS in 1990, he opened the Keith Haring Foundation, which funds non-profit organizations that work with children in need and/or engage in education and research around HIV/AIDS.
Haring’s bold work is a new addition to the brand, but over the years, Alice + Olivia has released a range of collections featuring the work of famous modern artists, including that of Domingo Zapata, Jean Michel Basquiat, and Donald Robertson. Given today’s political climate, a capsule featuring the work of an artist who dedicated his life to his work, his community, youth, and AIDS advocacy simply makes sense. Check out images of the collection’s pieces below, from denim skirts to boxy blazers to tennis shoes and heels.