Fashion illustration is the creation of artworks related to fashion on a sheet of paper or digital platforms. It involves visualising a new idea for attires or ornamentation and then sketching, labelling, painting, illustrating and creating new attires and garment styles in fashion design. Fashion design illustrations encourage artful and exceptional creations of garments and accessories, testing out and understanding different textures of textiles and fabrics, perfecting the positions of ornamentation and creating jewellery and visualising the perfect garment that is gorgeous distinctive and practical.

What is it about illustrations and art that draws people in? Drawing, sketching, painting and illustrating has the power to create a bigger platform of freedom, creativity, visualisation and creative development. Fashion studies and related subjects of fashion design, no matter what type of fashion design course you choose, give primary importance to the art of illustration and focus on the development of design and encourage the creation of unique ideas and sketches. Art is highly captivating, and art has always been an essential part of life. It promotes imagination which gives a path to the many wonders of innovation and creation. And Fashion designing is something that needs for this. Fashion needs uniqueness, innovation, creativity and art to exist and evolve. And the art of illustrating helps with the growth of fashion designing. Every curriculum, irrespective of the type of Fashion Design course the student has participated in or is interested in, has given Illustration and Sketching a vital role ever since the beginning semesters of the study. This subject remains a primary critical course till the very last semester, and the essence of art and the grip of illustration seeps into the daily life of every fashion designer, stylist, fashion blogger, fashion consultant etc. Thus to say the very least, illustrating is a significant part of Fashion Design. 

Famous Illustrators In The History Of Fashion Designing:

Like famous photographers and artists in the history of art, Illustrators of Fashion Design hold a significant position in the history of fashion design. Fashion illustrators such as these below-mentioned artists are some of the many famous fashion design artists who pioneered unique art styles for fashion, statement attires of fashion that remain iconic today.

1. Wenceslaus Hollar- 1607-1677

He was a talented and renowned graphic artist who had his unique take on art and lifestyle that he portrayed through his artworks. The title of the world’s first fashion illustrator goes to this London born man. Wenceslaus had the most beautiful art illustration of the clothing designs of 17th century England women, and his artworks remain iconic and one of the most beautiful and detail-oriented fashion illustrations in the history of art and fashion. 

2. Jacques Callot- 1592-1635

The French artists of the 16th and 17th centuries had been the pioneers of the world of fashion designing. Jacques Callot is one of the most admired graphic artists in history whose theatre inspired artworks of fashion illustration captured the eyes and interest of the world over time. He has over a thousand sketches of the social and occasion-formal attires of the people of his society and century. 

3. Paul Iribe- 1883-1935

The world of journalism and fashion illustration collided in the same decade of Paul Iribe’s prime years of practising fashion art. His unique take on fashion illustrations was showcased in Fashion enthusiasts, and fashion designer Paul Poiret’s book of fashion illustrations called Les Robes de Paul Poiret. His minimalist yet bright coloured and attention-grabbing fashion illustrations have given him an important position in the history of fashion design. 

4. Coles Phillips- 1880-1927

One of America’s most influential fashion illustrators and artists whose realistic portrayal of costumes on females in different postures and styles captured the world’s growing interest in fashion design. The dramatic transition in fashion design during the 19th century was what Phillips focused on in his illustrations. Apart from that, his unique technique of using fading colours in the background of his models also made him unforgettable and one of the most influential and pioneering fashion illustrators.

5. Carl Oscar August Erickson- 1891-1958

Carl Erickson was a renowned and well known American portrait artist, and fashion illustrator whose unique art style had become one of the most referred to works and admired fashion illustrations of all time. VOGUE picked up Erickson’s fashion illustrations. His artwork is still recognised uniquely due to his innovative fashion designs and effortless yet gorgeous painting and brush stroke work.

6. Gabrielle Coco Chanel- 1883-1971

Gabrielle Coco Chanel is one of history’s most essential and famous fashion designers, business entrepreneurs and fashion illustrators. She founded the Chanel brand that has earned its position as one of the world’s most luxurious and essential fashion brands. In addition, she was one of the best fashion illustrators who visualised unique fashion sketches, and her artworks on fashion are still loved and admired today. 

Join JD Institute of Fashion Technology to pursue your dream career in Fashion Designing:

JD Institute of Fashion Technology invites interested students and candidates to join us for degree courses, online classes, and diploma courses in Fashion Design, Jewellery Design, Make-up Art, Fashion Photography, and more. JD Institution of Fashion Technology delves deep into the world of fashion. It gives students a more refined understanding of the world of the fashion design industry, not just in India but also in the global industry. With friendly and highly educated experienced professionals and experts at JD institution of Fashion Technology, we have perfected the best education system with advanced lesson plans, regular and profitable workshops, skill training facilities that recognise every unique talent of candidates and brings out the highest potentials from the students thus overall helping them get a better understanding and knowledge of fashion design industry and professionally trains them to gain expertise in skills like illustrations and sketching, communication, business studies, creative take on assignments and projects and more. Some of JD Institution of Fashion Technology’s best features include the excellent opportunity to join the JD Global Programme to explore the international fashion design industry and the chance to create a profitable career off the numerous job placement opportunities that we offer.