It is unclear why Van Gogh produced so many works featuring the sunflower, it is thought he painted them to decorate the room he would share with fellow impressionist Paul Gauguin. Others believe new advances in painting pigments yielded the possibility for a more intense vibrancy in color and sunflowers were a subject which Van Gogh could showcase this. When asked why choosing Van Gogh, the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte responded they were inspired by the vibrant colors in the Disney classic Cinderella and looked for another artist who utilized colors in a similar manner, coming upon Vincent van Gogh. The design duo would print and embroider Van Gogh’s signature sunflowers and Starry Night swirls onto several of their looks in Rodarte’s SS 2012 collection.