Warhol’s Superstars Tribute explores fashion inspired by Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine and the enduring power of pop culture idols.
Ron Rivlin, June 29, 2016
A Warhol’s Superstars Tribute rooted in fashion and pop culture, Megastar draws inspiration from Andy Warhol’s iconic superstars of the 1960s and 1970s. The project stands behind the new line by Elle Azhdari and Cristina Aranda-Garson, titled The Fan. The collection translates Warhol’s visual language into wearable form, using hand-sewn and hand-painted recreations of Interview Magazine covers featuring cultural figures such as Michael Jackson, Yoko Ono, and Stevie Wonder.
When asked about the choice of idols, Elle explained that Interview Magazine embodied everything she admired: oversized celebrity, color, glamour, craftsmanship, and instant patina. After closing her previous label, Janvier, she felt creatively constrained by the conventions of luxury production. As a result, The Fan emerged as a deliberate shift toward expressive, tactile work rooted in admiration rather than status.
Warhol’s Superstars Tribute and the Legacy of Interview Magazine
Interview Magazine, founded by Andy Warhol and journalist John Wilcock, became a living archive of celebrity culture. Through conversations with figures ranging from Prince to Steven Spielberg and Lil Wayne, the magazine captured fame as performance rather than biography. Although it has evolved over time, it continues today under the direction of Fabien Baron and Glenn O’Brien.
The Fan line directly channels this legacy. Each jacket functions as a wearable homage to Warhol’s approach to celebrity, translating magazine imagery into fabric and form. Moreover, the collection is intentionally limited. Consequently, only thirty jackets exist, each produced once and accompanied by an authentication card. In this way, the project mirrors Warhol’s fascination with rarity, reproduction, and desire.
Fashion, Idolatry, and Contemporary Megastars
The collection’s campaign features musician Theophilus London, who appears walking through New York while discussing his own idols. He names figures such as Michael Jackson, Prince, and Party Next Door, placing himself within a lineage of admiration. Consequently, the campaign reinforces the idea that fandom remains central to contemporary culture.
Azhdari and Aranda-Garson update classic garments like the gilet and MA-1 bomber jacket in silver and orange tones. Moreover, through these designs, The Fan reframes everyday wear as a form of tribute. Ultimately, the project transforms the wearer into a participant in Warhol’s ongoing mythology, where anyone can briefly become a megastar.
Photo credits: Theophilus London modeling an Interview Magazine gilet by The Fan; Interview Magazine bomber jacket by The Fan. Designed by Elle Azhdari and styled by Cristina Aranda-Garzon. Courtesy of The Fan.