[After much anticipation](https://www.flaunt.com/content/sterling-ruby-sr-studio-la-ca), the renown multimedia contemporary artist [Sterling Ruby](https://www.instagram.com/sterlingruby/) debuted his first runway collection in Florence, Italy earlier in June. Titled [S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA.](https://srstudio.com), the ready-to-wear line merges high fashion and contemporary art in a swanky confection that takes the best of both worlds.
It’s not Ruby’s first venture into garment-making — he started using his sewing machine at age thirteen and has previously collaborated with Raf Simons for Dior, Calvin Klein and 2014 Simons collection. Though the artist has 33 years of fashion design experience under his belt, it is the first time his own collection has become widely available to the public. Ruby opted for the See Now, Buy Now approach and made his pieces available for purchase online as the show took place.
It’s easy to see the artist’s works being referenced in his garments — with patterns and shapes found on his paintings and ceramics. Printed dresses and shirts also feature imagery of candles and weeds shot by Ruby’s wife [Melanie Schiff](http://www.melanieschiff.net). The artist-turned-designer drew inspiration from his childhood and his own personal journey; quilted ponchos and modestly cut dresses echo the spirit of the Pennsylvania Dutch community he was partially raised in.
Ruby’s success in contemporary art means the line was destined to create a lot of buzz in the fashion industry. The artist finds the clothes-making process very similar to that of producing an art object and is excited to put his fashion pieces out into the world. And who knows — this might be one of the turning points in history of fashion.
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Photos courtesy of [S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA.](https://srstudio.com)
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