Stephen Gan, Italo Zucchelli, Cecilia Dean, Francisco Costa, James Kaliardos
Stephen Gan, Italo Zucchelli, Cecilia Dean, Francisco Costa, James Kaliardos

NEW YORK, Jun 2, 2009 / FW/ — With the web and Wi-Fi very dominant forces when it comes to technology, Visionaire 56: SOLAR, the first publication of its kind to utilize patented, specially-formulated inks – which when exposed to direct sunlight – have the ability to transform simple black and white images instantaneously into brilliant color, takes center stage in the publishing industry.

Last evening, Calvin Klein Collection hosted an invitation-only event with Visionaire in celebration of Visionaire 56: SOLAR, a special collaborative limited edition issue.

The event, held at The Standard New York, was co-hosted by Calvin Klein Collection’s Creative Directors, Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli, along with Visionaire’s Co-founders Cecilia Dean, Stephen Gan, and James Kaliardos.

Visionaire 56: SOLAR
Visionaire 56: SOLAR

Additionally, many of the participating artists were on-hand to celebrate the issue, including Olaf Breuning and Richard Phillips, along with Diane von Furstenberg, Gerard Butler, Andre Balazs, Chloe Sevigny, Craig McDean, Ann Dexter-Jones, Antony Todd, Tara Subkoff, Terry Richardson, Alek Wek, Christian Louboutin, Hamish Bowles, Euan Rellie, Alex von Furstenberg, Alex de Betak, Ferebee Taube, Maggie Betts, Alexander Wang, Sean Patterson, Olivia Palermo, Leigh Lezark, Allison Sarofim, Lisa Marie Fernandez, Doutzen Kroes, Alyona, Behati Prinsloo, Kasia Struss, Valentina, Hanne Gaby, Paul Sevigny, Kylie Bax, Cameron Russell, Stas Svetlichnyy, Adam Senn, Tyson Ballou, David Smith, Tony Ward, Vladimir Ivanov, Magnus Berger, Lilian Dominguez, Sheila Marquez, Jon Kortajarena, Christian Brylle, Sara Ziff, Giorgos Tsetsis, Alex Lundqvist and Keytt Lundqvist, Jacques Naude, Karl Lindman, Heloise, Georgina, Carla Collado, Ben Hill, Taylor Fuchs, Julie Henderson and Ryan Kennedy.

For the evening, in addition to the event hosts, Calvin Klein Collection wardrobed Tyra Banks, Elettra Wiedemann Rosselini, Harley Viera Newton, Paz de la Huerta, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Rogers, Jamie Burke, Garrett Neff, Camilla Nickerson, Kathryn Neale Shaffer, Mike Furey and Tom Napack of Dangerous Muse, Gabriel Mann, Jesse Williams, and models Du Juan, Alanna Zimmer, Jamie Strachan, Ali Stephens, Hana Soukupova, Sophie Srej, Edita Vilkeviciute, Jaunel McKenzie, Travonne, Will Defiel, A.J. Abualrub, Elise Crombez, Rosie Tupper, Arlenis Sosa, Heather Marks, Iris Strubegger, Valerie Avdeyeva, Rose Cordero, Kathrin Thormann, and Shannon Click.

For the event, both Mr. Costa and Mr. Zucchelli each created a one-of-a-kind dress and suit, respectively, which were designed using the same patented inks that are featured in Visionaire 56: SOLAR. The looks were displayed as the centerpiece of the event, so that guests were able to experience the transformation of these seemingly white outfits which were immediately changed to color when exposed to UV rays.

Following the event, both looks will be on display at the Calvin Klein Collection global flagship store on New York’s Madison Avenue, beginning Wednesday, June 3rd.

For this limited edition special issue, some of the world’s most renowned photographers, artists, and designers participated, including David Sims, Mario Sorrenti, Richard Burbridge, Alex Katz, M/M Paris, Yoko Ono, Roe Ethridge, Peter Lindbergh, John Baldessari, Ugo Rondinone, Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Ryan McGinley, Olaf Breuning, Richard Phillips, and Glen Luchford.

Visionaire 56 SOLAR, can be purchased at the Calvin Klein Collection store on New York’s Madison Avenue, as well as in key specialty stores around the world at a suggested retail price of $250.

For more information and for retailers, please visit www.visionaireworld.com

Photos by Patrick McMullan