The CFDA has a longtime connection to the arts going back to when Eleanor Lambert founded the organization in 1962. With the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards moving to the Brooklyn Museum for the first time, it’s only natural that artistic expressions of various forms will be central to the evening.

Take a closer look at the water bottles and carafes, and you will find that they feature three inspired artistic renderings. That’s because they are part of LIFEWTR’s Series 5 which is themed Art Beyond Borders. It features the work of artists Laercio Redondo, AIKO and Yinka Ilori. Brazil native Redondo’s artwork pulses with Latin vibes and looks to culture’s collective memory and its impact on society. Tokyo-born, New York City-based AIKO creates large-scale works that merge Western and Eastern cultures, while London-based Ilori reinterprets vintage furniture inspired by the traditional Nigerian parables and African fabrics.

According to LIFEWTR, the series “highlights artists who are inspired by multiple cultures and showcases artwork that embraces intersections of culture – from languages and travels to experiences and commonalities.” The aim of the series is to create an “open-minded dialogue to bridge divides, uniting people around the world.”

Sounds a lot like fashion itself!