On the final day of New York Fashion Week, Pier 17 tranformed into a heavenly oasis for the Spring-Summer 2019 Michael Kors runway show –with the help of Christina Zimpel.

Kors commissioned the Australian-born, Brooklyn-based artist to create custom artwork for the occasion. Zimpel’s vibrant portrayals of dreamy destinations provided the perfect backdrop for the CFDA member’s collection of bright floral prints and divine summer dresses that had everyone in the audience yearning for their next vacation.

Zimpel is no stranger to fashion – she created the memorable designer portraits for the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards in her signature sweeping brushstrokes and bold colors.

She called Kors a “dream client.” He even decided to translate her drawings into his designs, resulting in a standout handbag of the New York season.

We caught up with Zimpel to hear about her collaboration with the iconic American designer, the inspiration behind her work, and what’s next step for the increasingly in-demand artist.

How did your collaboration with Michael Kors come about?

I am not 100 percent sure, but I think he had his eye on me for a little while – perhaps through the CFDA Awards!

Can you describe the process of collaborating with Michael? What were your creative discussions like? 

Michael was a dream client. We hit it off right away! He wanted the runway show to transport people to a beautiful Mediterranean dreamscape – colorful, easy, and full of life! We talked about music, and beaches and memories.

What were you inspired by when creating artwork for the show? Any specific destinations in mind? 

I made these drawings right in the middle of multiple New York heat waves! I created my own dream vacation in my kitchen. Michael loves Capri, so there is a lot of images inspired the gorgeous cliffs and rocks, but also places I would have loved to be, such as Mallorca, the Greek Islands and the South of France.

In addition to the large-scale murals, you also had your artwork on some beautiful tote bags. How did this come about?

I was originally asked to create artwork for the runway show. The concept was to create a gallery experience, so my paintings were enlarged to an incredible scale. The artwork was also wrapped on the benches which were amazing, looking right out to the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River from Pier 17. When I presented my artwork to Michael, he got really excited, and decided right there that he wanted to put some of the drawings on totes – and he did! I was knocked out when I saw them walk down the runway. They were a beautiful addition to his vibrant collection! I really appreciated Michael’s confidence in me.

You’ve recently done a few huge projects within the fashion industry. What is it that interests you about the industry, and can we expect any more projects in the future? 

I majored in Graphic Design, and I was an Art Director for Australian and American Vogue, so that was how I grew up. My husband is a fashion photographer. We have worked closely over the years, so it was further ingrained. As an artist, the constant change and creativity of so many people in the industry inspires me. I’m not great at sticking to one style so it works for me! As for new projects, I have a few up my sleeve that involve Australia, France and Tokyo!