Fashion is fast, vivid and sophisticated, and nothing breathes life into the energy and creativity of the industry like fashion illustration. Fashion illustration, also known as fashion sketching, is the art of communicating fashion ideas through drawing and painting.
Fashion illustration a decade ago may have seemed like a disappearing art when in 1930 Vogue began to replace its celebrated illustrated covers with photographic images. And now in 2019, and we’re officially in the digital age, fashion illustration has been experiencing something of a renaissance and artists finally have a platform, particularly Instagram and Pinterest, to share their work, get discovered by brands, and reach a wider audience of fans.
Fashion illustrators are the artists who become inspired by style and express it artistically with the mighty pen, creating absolutely fabulous illustrations that get the imagination soaring. It is important to state that many successful fashion illustrators are recognized by major fashion magazines such as Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar.
Instagram has a plethora of fantastic fashion illustrators, and we have chosen our favourite ones that are sure to leave you in awe.
1. Analucia_ilustracion
There are lots of obvious reasons to fall in love with @analucia_ilustracion Instagram account. Her art style is filled with water colours, oil paintings, pencil drawings and yet is considered to be elegant, sophisticated and Haute Couture. You will be swept away by her fabulous fashion illustrations. She is a Guatemala based fashion illustrator who has worked for a variety of fashion houses including Versace, Dolce Gabbana, Christian Dior and Valentino.
2. Eris_tran
Our next choice is absolutely gorgeous Instagram account of @eris_tran. If you admire stunning gowns and dazzling wedding dresses then this account will indisputably inspire you. You will be amazed by the bright colours and the textures the illustrator adventurously applies. Along with the fashion illustrations Eris is a designer of his own exquisite wedding dresses.
3. Meganhess_official
No wonder this Instagram account @meganhess_official has an impressive number of passionate followers. Megan Hess is an international fashion artist who works with some of the most prestigious fashion designers and luxury brands around the world, such as Dior, Fendi, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Montblanc, Givenchy, Valentino, Balmain, Jimmy Choo and Tiffany and Co. She illustrates all of her work with a bespoke Montblanc pen. Her absolutely fantastic high fashion illustrations will blow your mind away and leave you mesmerized.
4.Groehrs
@groehrs Instagram account will leave no one indifferent even the most worldly-wise followers will be impressed by the way the illustrator skillfully combines food to create unexpectedly beautiful pieces of art. The illustrator Gretchen Röehrs loves nothing more than creating a drawing of a couture dress, combined with a couple of pomegranate seeds and radish slices thrown in for good measure.
5. Lovelimzy
Lim Zhi Wei is a Malaysian artist based in Singapore. Her absolutely charming Instagram account @lovelimzy will capture the hearts of her followers. The artist mostly uses petals to create an incredible and dreamy art piece. Limzy’s works are curated on Instagram herself as she treats it as a gallery of its own and a place that conveys happiness through art for everyone to enjoy.
6. Kerriehessillustration
Kerrie Hess @kerriehessillustration sister of Megan Hess ( whose popular instagram account we have mentioned earlier) is an internationally acclaimed illustrator and has worked for some of the world’s most sought-after fashion brands like Chanel, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Printemps Paris, Net-a-Porter, Collette Dinnigan, and Kate Spade New York. You will always find a touch of French in her glamorous and graceful fashion illustrations; she calls her style ‘intuitive watercolor’ painting, as she usually works with black and white silhouettes and then often adds single contrasting pops of color.
7. Yigitozcakmak
@yigitozcakmak has the most extraordinary Instagram account among the other fashion illustrators. The artist miraculously transforms super pop stars into the Marvel heroes, or into the Disney princesses. Yiğit Özçakmak a Turkey based illustrator uses sketch pencils, fine liners and professional markers for coloring to create the artwork which combines humour, whim and the immense details in the designs which makes his brand purely unique.
8. Irenealvarezalaez
The welcoming Instagram page of @irenealvarezalaez will enliven you with its vibrant colours and quirky details. Madrid-based illustrator Irene Alvarez says she’s inspired by “surrealist, impressionist and renaissance paintings which made a subtle influence on her pieces of art. Her drawings are full of details which means you can spend forever on her Instagram page staring at the most extravagant illustrations. You will see her giving her own spin on Vogue covers or iconic red carpet moments, and she designs clothing which feature her own sketches.
9. Magdalena.kruszynska
The Paris based fashion illustrator designer @magdalena.kruszynska uses her own inspiration from fashion to tell you the absolutely enchanting stories that will leave you completely besotted. The followers will love the vibrant and real illustration and her works really stand out. You’ll find lots of edgy features and bright colors, along with striking poses and beautiful fashions.
10. Jaesukkim
A Seoul/Singapore/Sydney-based fashion illustrator, influencer and art director, Jaesuk Kim of the site So Susu’ is well known for illustrating the Susu girls. This series first started when he designed a series of quirky shaped bags under the name Susu. Along with it, he developed a signature character to support the design. Follow his Instagram account @jaesukkim if you are seeking for positive emotions and unforgettable impressions.
11. Shamekhbluwi
Our last but not the least fashion illustrator is @shamekhbluwi . We adore this outstanding Jordan based fashion illustrator who is one of the most prominent fashion illustrators in the region. Shamekh Bluwi grabbed an international attention when he created an exquisite series of photos where he mixed his talents as an architect and an illustrator as he applied cut-out illustrations in front of several ordinary landscapes from the city to create different unexpected pictures. His personal style is expressed through the amazing star sign collection, animal faced illustrations and the covers of high fashion magazines. Shamekh Bluwi has been loved and shared by several international fashion designers, such as Roberto Cavalli, Mary Katrantzou, Stefano Gabbana, Gigi Hadid, Valentino, Nicole Richie and many others.
