Canadian artist Kris Knight had a shock one morning on his way to work when all of his fashion friends texted him simultaneously. The reason? The painter's impressive body of work, characterised by a pastel colour palette, was announced as a major source of inspiration for one of fashion's most illustrious brands, Gucci.
"I'm based in Canada, and I've had lots of interviews in art magazines in the past few years. But I never thought that my work was being noticed to that degree, especially by Gucci," Knight says.
"It was a huge surprise and honour. A month later, I was invited by Gucci to go to Rome to meet creative director Frida Giannini, and that's when our collaboration began."
Using Knight's print, Giannini applied the new pattern to a variety of pieces for Gucci's 2015 cruise collection, including ready-to-wear, accessories, handbags, luggage and leather goods.
