Before fashion photography was even a thing, there was fashion illustration. Fashion figure drawings don’t grace the covers of magazines as much as they used to, but you can still find this kind of art all over the place – from campaigns to murals to social media.
Read on to learn more about fashion drawings and discover 10 amazing illustrators you should keep on your radar.
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What Is Fashion Illustration?
Fashion illustration is the art of drawing, painting, or sketching fashion concepts, ideas, outfits, or industry figures. These can be used to ‘visualise’ a garment before it’s produced or as marketing for a brand or product line. Fashion illustration was also the go-to choice for magazine covers – that is, until fashion photography became industry standard.
Fashion sketches come in a variety of mediums. Illustrators can use traditional tools like ink, marker, gouache, and watercolour to create their art. Digital illustration is also incredibly popular, thanks to the rise of Photoshop, Illustrator, and other creative software.
Unlike fashion photography, which is a realistic and faithful reproduction of a model or outfit, fashion illustration is a more stylistic form of fashion communication. Each artist has their own unique vision and aesthetic, resulting in a wide range of looks and styles.
Which Brands Are Known For Their Fashion Figure Drawings?
Even in 2019, there are plenty of brands still using fashion illustration to promote new clothing lines or simply stand out from their competitors. Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany & Co, and Coco Chanel are just a few of the names that have used fashion illustration heavily in the last decade.
Famous Fashion Design Illustrators Throughout History
Paul Iribe (1883-1935)
Carl Erickson (1891-1958)
Rene Grau (1909-2004)
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Antonio Lopez (1943-1987)
The Top Fashion Illustrators Around The World
Kerrie Hess
Age: 39
Country: Australia
Most famous for: Her work with Louis Vuitton and Vogue
Brands worked with: Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Cartier, Lancome, Louis Vuitton, Net-a-Porter
Instagram: @kerriehessillustration
Check out Kerrie Hess’ website here.
Megan Hess
Age: 40
Country: Australia
Most famous for: Doing the illustrations for the Sex and the City books
Brands worked with: Dior, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, Givenchy, Tiffany & Co, Balmain, Valentino, Prada
Instagram: @meganhess_official
Check out Megan Hess’ website here.
Holly Nichols
Age: 28
Country: United States
Most famous for: Her popular Instagram account
Brands worked with: TRESemme, Disney, Nordstrom, Saks
Instagram: @hnicholsillustration
Check out Holly Nichols’ website here.
Jason Brooks
Age: 50
Country: England
Most famous for: His iconic art for Ministry of Sound’s record label Hedkandi
Brands worked with: Chanel, L’Oreal, Cartier, Vogue
Instagram: @jasonbrooksart
Check out Jason Brooks’ website here.
Soleil Ignacio
Age: 30
Country: Philippines
Most famous for: Her collaboration with Forever 21
Brands worked with: BYS, Forever 21, TRESemme, Aldo,
Instagram: @choleil
Check out Soleil Ignacio’s website here.
Gretchen Roehrs
Age: 30
Country: United States
Most famous for: Her ‘edible ensemble’ series
Brands worked with: Whole Foods, Harper’s Bazaar, The New York Times
Instagram: @groehrs
Check out Gretchen Roehrs’ Website here.
Sean Ryan
Age: 33
Country: England
Most famous for: His Badly Drawn Models series
Brands worked with: Armani, Calvin Klein, Selfridges, Missguided
Instagram: @badlydrawnmodels
Check out Sean Ryan’s website here.
Blair Breitenstein
Age: 29
Country: United States
Most famous for: Her Fresh Soy Face Cleanser design
Brands worked with: Saks Fifth Avenue, Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Prada, Chanel
Instagram: @blairz
Check out Blair Breitenstein’s website here.
JaeSuk Kim
Age: 32
Country: South Korea/Australia
Most famous for: His ‘Susu’ girls
Brands worked with: Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, Bulgari, Bloomingdales
Instagram: @jaesukkim
Check out Jaesuk Kim’s website here.
Donald Robertson
Age: 57
Country: Canada
Most famous for: Launching the US version of Marie Claire
Brands worked with: MAC, Bobbi Brown, Cosmopolitan, Glamour
Instagram: @drawbertson
Check out Donald Robertson’s website here.
A Beginner’s Primer To Fashion Illustration
From the Australian Hess sisters to Canadian Donald Robertson, fashion illustrators come from a variety of backgrounds and styles. The illustrators on this list are just the tip of the iceberg – there are plenty of talented artists working in the fashion industry today!
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