Fashion illustrator: how to become successful in the fashion industry?
By: Artlife Academy
Tags: Artist, Art, Fashion, Fashion Illustration, Contemporary Art

Well-known and commercially successful fashion illustrators from Sweden, UK, the USA, Canada, and Japan explain why their profession is so popular again, which artists inspire them and how to get orders from the world’s largest brands via Instagram.

The history of the profession

The profession of fashion illustrator is over a hundred years old. Initially, fashion designers drew sketches for future collections in order to present their ideas to customers and seamstresses. It was cheaper than sewing fabric samples. With the development of the fashion industry and the appearance of the first glossy magazines, fashion illustrations moved to their covers and pages. In the 1920s, photography was not as popular and accessible as it is today. Therefore, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and other magazines asked artists to create illustrations.

In the future, photographers almost completely ousted artists in this field, but today the profession of a fashion illustrator is incredibly in demand again.

Japanese fashion illustrator Hiroshi Tanabe considers, that in the past, it was much more difficult for fashion illustrators to become famous. Now, with the development of technology and, in particular, Instagram, it is easier for artists to declare themselves, present their work and find clients. Plus, anyone can take a photo today. Perhaps that is why the work of artists has become more valuable: it gives uniqueness and individuality.

He collaborates with leading international brands and designers: Anna Sui, Issey Miyake, Escada, Estee Lauder, Guerlain, Shiseido, and his artworks regularly appear on the pages of The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, GQ.

Hiroshi Tanabe. LIP Print Dress 1971 for L’OFFICIEL Magazine

What does a fashion illustrator do?

The profession opens up many opportunities for an artist, and this is far from only creating illustrations for magazines. Fashion illustrator Laura Gulshani (Canada) talks about her work experience. The artist creates illustrations for Burberry, Chanel, Missoni, Salvatore Ferragamo, Vogue, participates in exhibitions in Canada, Great Britain, France, and Spain, works as a guest illustrator at Fashion Weeks in Paris, Milan, and London. Her expressive style, which is characterized by underlined detail, is incredibly in demand in the fashion industry, and her use of acrylic and oil paints allows her to turn illustrations into works of art.

«Aside from painting backstage at fashion weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to also have done fashion week recaps for magazines, completed portrait residencies for fashion brands, created in-store murals and artworks for magazine editorials, migrated into textile design, and participated in painting live at events.

I think brands are eager to try new, unique methods of marketing, perhaps because of the increasingly digital age and as a contrast to mass production. An artist can provide a very personalized experience because they can bring any dream to life, so I hope this decade will continue to bring more work for artists» — Laura said.

Laura Gulshani. Celine Pre-Fall 2018

Where to look for clients and orders?

With the development of technology, it has become easier to declare yourself, create a portfolio, and receive the first orders: just register on Instagram and publish your illustrations there. Sounds too easy? But this is how success has come to many of today’s illustrators. Among them are Blair Breitenstein, Katie Rogers, Laura Gulshani. All of them are self-taught artists who came to fashion illustration from completely different professions. Nevertheless, a passion for art and self-confidence helped them to succeed.

«I created the blog in 2009 — it feels like another life ago! At the time, I did it purely for the fun of it. I had some free time and wanted to paint, and eventually decided to post it online…with no intention of it becoming a business. I think it’s a testament to passion coming through in an authentic way — with no agenda. To me, that is what resonates with other people the most. To connect with my own audience directly is such a nice way to build a community and network. However, I don’t want to say it’s ‘needed’ for success — because I believe things can be done in a million different ways with a little creative thinking. It’s all about discovering what works best for you and your work», — says Katie Rogers (USA).

Today, her blog @paperfashion has about 600,000 subscribers, and the artist’s list of clients includes Estee Lauder, Christian Louboutin, Google, Boston Ballet, Disney, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamor and Elle magazines.

Katie Rodgers.

How to know if the profession of a fashion illustrator is right for you?

Most illustrators who have achieved success in the fashion industry, in one way or another, were fond of not only painting but also design and fashion. The living legend of fashion illustration David Downton (Great Britain) shared his story. The illustrations of the legendary artist, made with ink and watercolors, are distinguished by elegance and conciseness, and the list of his clients is impressive: Tiffany & Co, Van Cleef, and Arpels, Chanel, Dior, Oscar de la Renta, Omega, Bloomingdales, Barney’s, Harrods, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Vanity Fair, The Times. In his portfolio, there are many books devoted to fashion illustration, as well as portraits of the most famous and beautiful women in the world: Elizabeth Taylor, Paloma Picasso, Linda Evangelista, Catherine Deneuve, Dita von Teese.

«By 1996, I was a busy commercial illustrator. There was a lot of work around then. I didn’t have a specialty, I did whatever I was asked to do: theatre posters, cookbooks, romantic fiction…. fashion came up from time to time, but I had no connections with that world until I was sent to Paris for the Financial Times. It was a heady baptism, I found myself in the ateliers of Valentino and Christian Lacroix. The drawings were not good. I think I was overwhelmed. But what that first trip gave me was the desire to do more, to get better, to ‘become’ a fashion illustrator», — he said.

David Downton. Carolina Hererra

Where do famous fashion illustrators get their inspiration?

The amazing history of this profession is full of inspiration.

«To name a few, René Grau, Georges Lepape, Cecil Beaton, Gustav Klimt, Aubrey Beardsley… I can’t choose just one… But these three I regularly return to for different qualities — Georges Lepape, for composition and delicate graphicness, Matisse for his bold colleges, and Marlene Dumas for her seductive ink paintings. I would say that fashion illustration is a piece of art that has been inspired in some way by the fashion world. The fashion industry is like a melting pot of every design and art discipline out there and therefore an endless source of inspiration. I think this is what pulled me towards making ‘fashion illustrations’, to be a part of this melting point of creativity» — says Swedish fashion-illustrator Cecilia Carlstedt.

In her works, she uses the techniques of watercolors, graphics, collage, combining them with digital illustration tools. Thanks to her authorial vision, Cecilia is a successful fashion illustrator and collaborates with major companies, designers, and brands. Her clients are Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nina Ricci, Victoria Beckham, La Perla, Paul Smith, H&M, Sisley, L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, Lancome, La Perla, Sephora, Vogue, ELLE, The New York magazine.

Where to study fashion illustration?

The best part about this profession is that it is not necessary to graduate from an art school or receive a higher profile education in the field of design and/or art. International Online Academy of Art ARTLIFE offers an online course «Fashion illustration» by successful American artist Blair Breitenstein.

This course includes 13 video lessons, 3 longreads, and 8 final illustrations for your portfolio. You will learn:

✅the secrets of the profession,

✅the peculiarities of working with famous publishers and fashion houses,

✅to find inspiration and develop your style,

✅you will create fashionable looks in different techniques,

✅learn how to work with references and stylize accessories and prints.

Now you can purchase the online-course «Fashion illustration» by Blair Breitenstein and also get her online-class «Commercial fashion-illustration on the American market» for free! All pack is just 240$ instead of 280$.

Go to ARTLIFE Academy’s website to know more and start your professional career as a fashion illustrator!